Invisible People: The UK’s repeal of the 200-year-old Vagrancy Act marks a historic shift away from criminalizing homelessness. Still, with rough sleeping at record levels, advocates say lasting change depends on listening to people currently living it.

After two centuries, the UK repealed the 1824 Vagrancy Act on June 29, 2026. The law punished people for sleeping rough (also understood as unsheltered or homeless in the United States) or begging. This law pushed society’s most vulnerable people away from support, while also issuing fines and increasing criminal records for homeless people, making it that much more difficult for them to get off the streets.

“For more than 200 years the Act has been used to criminalize people who have no other option but to sleep on the streets. But we want the repeal of the Act to be more than symbolic; we want this to be part of a change in approach to supporting people off the streets,” said Chief Executive of Housing Justice, Bonnie Williams. “An approach that puts the emphasis on compassion, not condemnation, and recognizes that homelessness does not truly end until a person has not only housing, but the relationships, community and belonging they need to thrive.”

Read full article: Two Centuries of Criminalizing Homelessness Just Ended in the UK. Why Isn’t It Getting Better?