Cardiff charities have applauded the UK Government for striking out a Regency-era law that criminalised rough sleeping, but they insist that significant work remains to be done. On June 29, the government repealed the Vagrancy Act of 1824, which was originally introduced to combat the surge in street homelessness following the Napoleonic Wars. The repeal is part of a broader national plan to end homelessness, backed by a £3.6bn investment over three years aimed at halving long-term rough sleeping and ending the unlawful use of B&Bs for families.
Rough Sleeping in Cardiff
According to Stats Wales, Cardiff consistently records the highest rate of rough sleeping in Wales. On April 30, 2026, of the 149 recorded rough sleepers across Wales, 46 were found in Cardiff. While this figure aligns with Cardiff's status as the most populous city in Wales, it underscores the persistent challenge. Crisis, a homelessness charity, defines rough sleeping as one of the most visible forms of homelessness, encompassing sleeping outdoors or in places not designed for habitation, such as cars, doorways, and abandoned buildings.
Charity Responses
Robin White, head of campaigns at Shelter Cymru, described the repeal as a landmark moment. He stated: 'The repeal of the long outdated Vagrancy Act is a landmark moment, one that sends a clear message about how we – as a society – view rough sleeping and homelessness.' He noted that progressive steps by Welsh Governments, such as extending priority need to cover street homelessness and legislating to end priority need altogether, have already provided support for most street homeless individuals, as local authorities now have a duty to offer accommodation.
However, White stressed that more action is needed. He said: 'Despite these positive steps Wales continues to experience a serious housing emergency with 10,500 people homeless and trapped in temporary accommodation, more than 170,000 stuck on waiting lists for a social home, and hundreds of thousands reliant on a private rented sector that for many simply isn’t affordable. To end this once and for all we need urgent action to deliver on the commitments already made by the new Welsh Government to expand the supply of social homes, end no-fault evictions, and implement the potentially transformative Homelessness and Social Housing Allocations Act.'
The Homelessness and Social Housing Allocations Act
Passed by the Senedd in February 2026, the Homelessness and Social Housing Allocations Act aims to shift Wales' homelessness system toward early identification and prevention. Sian Aldridge, interim chief executive at The Wallich, Wales' largest homelessness and rough sleeping charity, called the 200-year-old Vagrancy Act 'cruel' and 'inhumane.' The Wallich, along with other charities, had long campaigned for its repeal. Aldridge said: 'The final repeal of the Vagrancy Act shows that when we speak out together change is possible. Change that could be transformative to tackling homelessness in Wales. The repeal of the Vagrancy Act is a clear move away from marginalisation and criminalisation, towards positive help for people living on our streets, and we are relieved to see it consigned to history.'
Nevertheless, Aldridge cautioned: 'We only hope now that policing and local authorities in Wales do not use other means to unnecessarily penalise people for sleeping rough.'
