New Florida law bans homeless from camping outdoors

Oct 2

Karah Rucker Reporter

By Karah Rucker (Reporter), Alex Delia (Producer), Zachary Hill (Video Editor)

A new law in Florida prohibits homeless individuals from sleeping in streets, sidewalks and parks. The legislation requires local governments to provide temporary housing and treatment services for those in need.

Bias Distribution Powered by Ground News™

House Bill 1365 bans camping and sleeping on public property without certification, with Gov. Ron DeSantis, R, stating it is necessary for public safety.

Critics argue the law does not address root causes of homelessness. Under the law, citizens can sue counties that fail to enforce the ban, though a three-month grace period is in place before lawsuits can begin.

Download the SAN app today to stay up-to-date with Unbiased. Straight Facts™.

Point phone camera here

Local organizations are responding by increasing shelter options, such as The Homeless Trust in Miami-Dade, which plans to convert a hotel into housing for seniors.

Counties can designate land for homeless camps, provided they offer basic services like showers and mental health care, and prove a lack of shelter beds.

Concerns have been raised about potential increases in arrests, as Florida has an estimated 31,000 homeless individuals.

Tags: Florida, Homelessness, Human Rights, Ron DeSantis

Karah Rucker

A NEW LAW IS NOW IN EFFECT ACROSS FLORIDA, BANNING INDIVIDUALS FROM SLEEPING IN STREETS, SIDEWALKS, AND PARKS.

HOUSE BILL 1365 PROHIBITS COUNTIES & MUNICIPALITIES FROM ALLOWING PUBLIC CAMPING OR SLEEPING ON PUBLIC PROPERTY WITHOUT CERTIFICATION. LOCAL GOVERNMENTS ARE REQUIRED TO PROVIDE TEMPORARY HOUSING FOR THOSE IN NEED, WHILE ALSO OFFERING MENTAL HEALTH AND SUBSTANCE ABUSE TREATMENT.

GOVERNOR RON DESANTIS SAYS THE LAW IS NECESSARY TO PROTECT PUBLIC SAFETY. BUT CRITICS ARGUE IT DOESN’T ADDRESS THE ROOT CAUSES OF HOMELESSNESS.

UNDER THE LAW… CITIZENS CAN SUE COUNTIES THAT DON’T ENFORCE THE BAN, BUT THERE IS CURRENTLY A THREE-MONTH GRACE PERIOD BEFORE ANY LAWSUITS CAN BEGIN.

IN RESPONSE, LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS ARE WORKING QUICKLY TO INCREASE SHELTER OPTIONS. IN MIAMI-DADE, ‘THE HOMELESS TRUST’ PLANS TO CONVERT A LA QUINTA HOTEL INTO HOUSING FOR LOW-INCOME SENIORS, WITH HOPES OF MOVING OVER 140 PEOPLE BY THE END OF THE YEAR.

COUNTIES ARE ALLOWED TO DESIGNATE COUNTY-OWNED LAND FOR HOMELESS CAMPS IF THEY PROVIDE ACCESS TO SHOWERS AND MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES. BUT THEY MUST PROVE THEY DON’T HAVE ENOUGH SHELTER BEDS AND ENSURE THESE CAMPS DON’T HARM LOCAL PROPERTY VALUES OR SAFETY.

MANY EXPRESSED CONCERNS AS TO WHETHER THE NEW LAW WILL LEAD TO A LARGE SURGE OF ARRESTS. FLORIDA ESTIMATES THE STATE HAS AROUND 31-THOUSAND HOMELESS INDIVIDUALS AS OF 2024.

FOR MORE UNBIASED UPDATES AND STRAIGHT FACTS… DOWNLOAD THE STRAIGHT ARROW NEWS APP OR VISIT SAN DOT COM.

FOR STRAIGHT ARROW NEWS… I’M KARAH RUCKER.