Florida Implements New Law Prohibiting Homeless Camping: What You Should Know
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| A new Florida law prohibiting homeless people from sleeping outside went into effect on Tuesday. (Getty Images) |
On Tuesday, Florida put into action the new law aimed at homeless populations by promoting a sleeping ban from outdoor public grounds. Known as House Bill 1365, this policy affects where homeless individuals sleep and offers them both temporary shelter and assistance programs.
House Bill 1365: Key Details
A camping ban in open public spaces, such as:
- Avenues
- Walkways
- Parks
Local governments will accommodate the displaced people temporarily. The accommodation will:
- Detoxify Drug use
- Offer detoxification and psychiatric disorder treatment services
Governor Position
Fla Governor Ron DeSantis is strongly in support of the new law. He describes it as wanting to be sure they put public safety first in everything. According to the Governor, the law is particularly necessary to find a balance between providing care and keeping public safety intact.
Legal Impact
This law is different in the respect that it gives subjects the right to sue counties that are not enforcing the public sleeping ban. Nevertheless, the grace period of three months has been enacted before lawsuits can be filed. The ban on public sleeping remains in force notwithstanding the grace period.
Florida's Homeless Crisis
Currently, Florida statistics indicate approximately 31,000 homeless persons. Most of them express the opinion of Mildred Forti who just last week expressed her frustration with a new law. Forti relates that she has been sleeping on the streets of Miami for months and continued, "This is another silly law. We will begin to move around and find a new place again."
Homelessness in Local Context
Miami-Dade County
Ron Book, chairman of the Miami-Dade Homeless Trust, is well on his way to increasing available shelters. He unveiled plans to:
Turn the La Quinta Hotel in Cutler Bay into low-income housing for seniors, which will house 140 residents by the end of 2024.
Build an 8-unit building in Overtown and 190 single-occupancy units for men near Krome.
Open another new shelter with 80 new beds within 30 days.
Book also envisioned building a navigation center, yet another type of more flexible shelter than the traditional facilities. The navigation center is expected to be launched by the end of the year.
Response by Broward County
Broward Sheriff Gregory Tony is among those who commented on social media, claiming that "Homelessness is not a crime." Such are the views of the public, arguing that the new policy may, in a way, criminalize individuals already diagnosed with homelessness problems.
Transitional Sheltering
Local governments may approve county-owned property for homeless tent cities where these conditions are met:
- The tent city is clean and free of criminal activity.
Residents have access to shower facilities and mental health services.
Counties demonstrate that shelters in the counties lack adequate bed capacity.
The tent city will not have a negative impact on property values or safety along adjacent dwellings and commercial properties.
The new piece of legislation in Florida is looking to try to address homelessness while maintaining a threshold of public safety in the interim. This has created a huge controversy over itself and compelled local governments to seek ways of ensuring the homeless are given their basic needs. Shelter capacity is expected to keep rising as the effects of the law are known only in the long term.
Florida homeless law
Public sleeping ban
House Bill 1365
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis
Miami-Dade Homeless Trust
Homeless shelters Florida
Florida homelessness statistics