A Southampton charity has said it would be "unacceptable" if the UK government was to introduce a law critics have said would "criminalise homelessness".
Two Saints – which has a day centre for homeless people in Cranbury Avenue – has urged the government to instead provide funding to local authorities and other agencies to prevent rough sleeping.
This comes after reports that more than 40 Conservative MPs will rebel against parts of the government's Criminal Justice Bill, which would see police given powers to fine "nuisance" rough sleepers.
Critics say the Bill is drafted so widely it could result in people being arrested or fined for having an “excessive odour”, or merely appearing as though they intend to sleep rough.
Speaking to the Echo, Richard Gammage, chief executive of Two Saints, said: “It would be unacceptable to criminalise homelessness, because it would have the effect of criminalising vulnerable people who have no choice but to sleep on the streets.
“To end rough sleeping the government must provide adequate funding to local authorities and other agencies to address the root causes of and to prevent rough sleeping, and to support those who do experience homelessness.”
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Stacey Harbut, Two Saints service leader at the Southampton Day Centre, added: “The people we support daily in Southampton don’t choose to rough sleep, far from it.
“They’ve often experienced trauma in their lives and they’re vulnerable individuals who deserve our support.”
She went on to say: “To criminalise them would deter them from accessing the day centre, creating more problems for them and for the police and courts and it wouldn’t help tackle the growing numbers rough sleeping in our area.”
Ryan Rogers, 26, who himself is homeless and last year organised a protest outside the Civic Centre to try and force Southampton City Council into doing more to help the homeless community in the city, said: “Homelessness should not be illegal.
“Homeless people are just the same as everyone else in this world.”
He added: “Local authorities need to step up and help the homeless and not let them suffer, it's just not fair.”
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