Current:Home > NewsFlorida's new homeless law bans sleeping in public, mandates camps for unhoused people-LoTradeCoin
Florida's new homeless law bans sleeping in public, mandates camps for unhoused people
View Date:2024-12-23 20:07:24
Florida's homeless law is now in effect. On Tuesday, sleeping or camping on public property in the state was made illegal, and camping areas must be set up to accommodate the homeless community.
Statute 1365, formerly House Bill (HB) 1365, will make it illegal for people struggling with homelessness to sleep outside on public land.
"HB 1365 prohibits counties and municipalities from authorizing or allowing individuals to regularly sleep or camp on public property, at public buildings or their grounds, or on public rights-of-way within their jurisdictions," said the county's mayor, Daniella Levine Cava, in a memorandum sent to the Board of County Commissioners in September.
Starting January 1, 2025, cities or municipalities that fail to comply within five days of a written complaint could "face legal action from any resident or business owner within their jurisdictions or the Florida Attorney General," stated the memorandum.
The camping areas the municipalities are mandated to provide must be approved by the Florida Department of Children and Families and include security, behavioral health services, and bathrooms with running water.
Homeless crisis:I lived in a homeless encampment for a week. I saw how Housing First doesn't work.
Florida cities react to new homeless law
The mayor of Pensacola, D.C. Reeves, announced that he planned to use $1 million in unencumbered American Rescue Plan Act funds to purchase small, semi-permanent shelters, according to the Pensacola News Journal.
"Arresting our way out of homelessness is not going to solve our problem," Reeves said. "So, having that release valve of additional units coming online much faster than a long process, it's really why I pivoted from the low-barrier shelter that we were talking about."
Reeves was previously interested in using the funds to kick-start a low-barrier homeless shelter, but that idea was taken off the table earlier this year when a report from Jon DeCarmine, executive director of GRACE Marketplace in Gainesville, showed start-up cost would be between $2.19 million and $3.47 million.
Shelters will be placed throughout the community to increase the stock of housing available and get people off the street.
Meanwhile, one agency in Miami-Dade County doesn't think the new statute will help reduce homelessness.
“We reject sanctioned encampments and believe there is no evidence that they reduce homelessness,” said Ron Book, Chairman of the Miami-Dade County Homeless Trust, in a statement. “We are committed to investing in solutions that deliver long-term results and bringing new partners in, as we firmly believe we can end homelessness in Miami-Dade.”
In the last year, the City of Miami, City of Miami Beach, and Miami-Dade County have seen a a 2% increase in homelessness since 2023, according to an annual census conducted by the trust.
It will conduct the census again in January, as mandated by the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development.
USA TODAY has contacted Miami-Dade County and the City of Tampa about the new law, but has not yet heard back.
Julia is a trending reporter for USA TODAY. You can connect with her on LinkedIn, follow her on X, formerly Twitter, Instagram and TikTok: @juliamariegz, or email her at [email protected].
veryGood! (587)
Related
- Why Outer Banks Fans Think Costars Rudy Pankow and Madison Bailey Used Stunt Doubles Amid Rumored Rift
- Beryl set to strengthen on approach to Texas due to hot ocean temperatures
- Shark attack on South Padre Island, Texas leaves 2 injured, 2 others report encounters
- Imagine Dragons’ Dan Reynolds Shares “Strange” Way He First Bonded With Girlfriend Minka Kelly
- Jamie Lee Curtis and Don Lemon quit X, formerly Twitter: 'Time for me to leave'
- A dangerous heat wave is scorching much of the US. Weather experts predict record-setting temps
- Selena Gomez's Latest PDA Pic With Boyfriend Benny Blanco Will Make You Blush
- Summer House's Lindsay Hubbard Pregnant, Expecting First Baby
- Man killed by police in Minnesota was being sought in death of his pregnant wife
- Multiple injuries reported after July 4 fireworks malfunction in Utah stadium, news report says
Ranking
- Hurricane-stricken Tampa Bay Rays to play 2025 season at Yankees’ spring training field in Tampa
- The 8 best video games of 2024 (so far)
- Russia says forces seize part of key Ukraine town of Chasiv Yar as deadly airstrikes continue
- Lindsay Hubbard is pregnant! 'Summer House' star expecting after Carl Radke split
- Duke basketball vs Kentucky live updates: Highlights, scores, updates from Champions Classic
- What to watch: All hail the summer movies of '84!
- Powerball winning numbers for July 3: Jackpot rises to $138 million
- Olivia Culpo Reacts to Critic’s Comments on Wedding Makeup
Recommendation
-
Jason Kelce Offers Up NSFW Explanation for Why Men Have Beards
-
Accessorize With Early Amazon Prime Day Jewelry Deals: 42 Earrings for $13.99, $5.39 Necklaces & More
-
After hitting Yucatan Peninsula, Beryl churns in Gulf of Mexico as Texas braces for potential hit
-
This Proxy Season, Companies’ Success Against Activist Investors Surged
-
Opinion: Chris Wallace leaves CNN to go 'where the action' is. Why it matters
-
Critically endangered gorilla with beautiful big brown eyes born at Ohio zoo
-
Off the Grid: Sally breaks down USA TODAY's daily crossword puzzle, The Sims
-
A Low-Balled Author, a Star With No Salary & More Secrets About Forrest Gump