Criminalising rough sleeping? We say no and housing is a human right.

We’ve had calls today, Tuesday 2nd April 2024, from worried people who have heard that the government are proposing to criminalise what they call 'nuisance rough sleeping' and that even ‘causing excessive smells’ is to be included in the Criminal Justice Bill which is meant to be replacing the outdated 1824 Vagrancy Act.

You might think ‘that can’t be right – no one can think that is a kind or reasonable way to talk about people who are forced to sleep on the street and have few ways to keep clean! Surely it can’t be right to de-humanise people like that.’

We wish that were the case! Given the Education Secretary, Gillian Keegan, has already said, "people should not be arrested just if they smell" there is clearly confusion about the bill already!

The BBC report that the legislation would ‘allow police to move on "nuisance" rough sleepers and, if they do not comply, issue a fine or arrest them.’

This is unfair, stigmatizes people and will not help tackle rough sleeping and real anti-social behavior. 

No one sets out to live outside on the street. It's cold, it's dangerous and it robs people of their dignity. And we are moved to ask ‘move on to where?’ when there simply aren’t enough homes for everyone who needs one!

Everyone has the right to a safe home, to be treated with dignity and like human beings. 

The people we work with who are sleeping rough are often dealing with difficult personal circumstances such as a mental health crisis, losing a job, ill health, or a relationship break up; sometimes it's all of those things and more.

People in this desperate, life-threatening situation should be offered help to access affordable homes and all the support they need to begin their recovery. And, of course, the best thing to do is to help people avoid becoming homeless in the first place, preventing trauma and hopelessness. Wycombe Homeless Connection runs a successful homelessness prevention project to do just that.

The government must show that they're committed to not making things worse than ever by redrafting this bill so it is clear that people who are forced to sleep rough are not criminals or through their suffering, causing anti-social behaviour.

Please let your MP know if you feel as strongly about this as we do. Ask them to make sure the act protects and enshrines the rights of people who don’t have a home, rather than criminalising and stigmatising them.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-68713436