Supreme Court rules in major homelessness case that outdoor sleeping bans are OK: Now Cities Must Act!
Fort Lauderdale, FL. - South Florida cities are in a race against time as they scramble to find solutions to homelessness in response to a new state law set to take effect October 1. The law, known as Florida HB 1365, titled “Unauthorized Public Camping and Public Sleeping,” prohibits counties and municipalities from authorizing or allowing public camping or sleeping on public property.
The New Law Governor Ron DeSantis signed a law banning homeless individuals from camping on city streets, sidewalks, and parks. Instead, these individuals will be placed in temporary shelters monitored by law enforcement agencies. The law, which takes effect on October 1, 2024, also provides alternatives for when homeless shelters have reached maximum capacity.
Starting January 2025, residents, local business owners, and the state attorney general can file a lawsuit to stop any city or county from allowing the homeless to camp or sleep on public property. The law requires regional entities to provide necessary behavioral treatment access as a condition of a county or city creating an encampment.
The Response County administrators recently addressed a handful of Broward’s 31 cities to brainstorm what would be an “appropriate response” to what they called a “pretty devastating statute.” With time running out to raise the money to build new homeless shelters to accommodate people off the streets, county officials said they need “any and all ideas” for answers and a “collective assessment” of what is still to come.
“We can’t do it by ourselves,” Broward’s Deputy County Administrator Kimm Campbell told city leaders. On October 1, cities and counties will be required to enforce bans on sleeping on public property, including the beach, sidewalks, bus stops, and parks, where the homeless may sleep.
Possible Solutions Among the possibilities tossed out for future consideration as officials weigh “liability and risk assessment” is a coordinated appeal by mayors to Gov. Ron DeSantis for an extension of when enforcement of the new law would begin.
Cities are exploring various solutions, including:
Affordable Housing Initiatives: Developing and rehabilitating affordable housing units, rental assistance programs, and homeless prevention services.
Support Services: Providing access to mental health and substance abuse treatment, job training programs, and case management services.
Another innovative idea being considered is the construction of easy-to-build mini homes that serve as shelters. These tiny fiberglass shelters are intended to be transitional, temporary homes with just enough room to sleep and use the bathroom. Broward Mayor Nan Rich has requested the county set aside $750,000 for this new type of housing.
Challenges Ahead The challenge of homelessness in South Florida is complex and multifaceted. Broward has an estimated 10,000 homeless adults, and the number of children is approaching 3,000. An estimated 24% of Broward’s homeless have a mental health issue, which could contribute to a segment of the population refusing to leave the street.
Despite the efforts, cities face significant challenges, including:
Funding: Securing sufficient funding to support the development and implementation of comprehensive plans.
Resources: Coordinating resources, services, and agencies to provide a unified response to homelessness.
Community Resistance: Overcoming community resistance to new affordable housing developments and homeless shelters.
As South Florida cities scramble to find solutions, the clock is ticking. The new law promises to change how homelessness is addressed in the state significantly, and local governments are working diligently to ensure they are prepared for the challenges ahead.
Thank you for reading this article. I would appreciate hearing what you think. Please hit the LIKE, SHARE, and FOLLOW buttons.
No one wants to have to sleep outside. It’s very scary having nowhere to go. That’s why I try to give at least a dollar to people who ask for help when I can tell they’re needy. I hope the police don’t have to use the jail to house the homeless as they’re not being charged with a “ crime “ the system is already overloaded the police have a hard enough job. Am glad that cities behave to figure out the homeless issue.
Get updates delivered to you daily. Free and customizable.
It’s essential to note our commitment to transparency:
Our Terms of Use acknowledge that our services may not always be error-free, and our Community Standards emphasize our discretion in enforcing policies. As a platform hosting over 100,000 pieces of content published daily, we cannot pre-vet content, but we strive to foster a dynamic environment for free expression and robust discourse through safety guardrails of human and AI moderation.
Local News
