The government is repealing the Vagrancy Act, introduced in 1824 in the Georgian era, as its use has significantly fallen in line with modern attitudes.
But it still remains enforceable by law, Haringey Council points out.
“Overcoming homelessness must be about support — not prosecution,” Haringey’s deputy council leader Sarah Williams said.
“Interventions are by far the best way of getting people off the streets and into permanent homes.
“The government is making an historic and much-overdue change to the law.”
The council’s own homeless team has helped reduce rough sleeping in Haringey by a third over the past three years.
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It runs the homeless centre at Mulberry Junction in South Tottenham High Road, which offers temporary accommodation for 12 weeks and essential services under one roof, including a women-only ‘crash pad’.
Cllr Williams, who is also the council’s cabinet member for housing, added: “We are supporting those who are homeless to make sure they’re treated with dignity. But there is still much more work to do.”
The council aims to build 3,000 new homes by 2031, “doing what we can” to end the homeless crisis.
It has also earmarked £22million for a scheme to bring 230 Victorian and Edwardian properties up to standard at Noel Park in Wood Green for families on the waiting list.
The first phase has been completed with 100 properties made more energy-efficient to keep heating bills down.
The government is putting up an extra £233m towards dealing with homelessness, topping up the 2025-26 funding to almost £1billion.
This aims to prevent more families having to go into temporary accommodation while also tackling rough sleeping head-on.
Amendments to the Crime and Policing Bill are focussed on “real crime and not rough sleeping”. There is no replacement of previous legislation that had criminalised people for simply sleeping rough.
New legislation, instead, is targeting organised begging by gangs and trespassing.
