South Florida Rushes to Implement Anti-Homeless Measures as State Deadline Looms, Citizens will be able to Sue Police and Municipalities if Nothing Done
Fort Lauderdale, FL. - South Florida’s local governments are urgently seeking solutions to address a new Florida law that will ban the homeless from sleeping in public spaces. 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.
With the devastation seen in San Francisco and Portland, Oregon, to their financial districts and downtown businesses and the related crimes, Governor DeSantis put his foot down, saying, "Not in Florida." As more and more Florida cities have been taken over by hoards of homeless people taking over parks, libraries, beaches, and other public areas, tourists and locals have had enough.
In recent weeks, several counties and cities in the region have announced plans to roll out new anti-homeless initiatives, aiming to reduce the number of people sleeping on streets, sidewalks, and other public areas.
As one resident said, "People are not free-range chickens, and our city streets and parks are not designed for public living, sleeping, urinating, and defecating."
When The Law Starts The law, which takes effect on October 1, 2024, has sparked a scramble among South Florida’s cities and counties to find homelessness solutions. Broward 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.
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 sleep12. According to county officials, state property is exempt.
Starting January 1, 2025, the law will allow residents, local business owners, and the state attorney general to file a lawsuit to stop any city or county from allowing the homeless to camp or sleep on public property. This means that if the police and/or municipality do not address a complaint, they can be sued.
Broward County Broward County, home to Fort Lauderdale, has launched a comprehensive plan to tackle homelessness. The county has allocated $10 million to establish a network of emergency shelters and transitional housing facilities. Additionally, the county will increase funding for outreach programs, providing mental health and substance abuse services to those in need.
Miami-Dade County Miami-Dade County, which includes the city of Miami, has implemented a Homeless Outreach Program, deploying teams of social workers and law enforcement officers to engage with homeless individuals and offer assistance. The county has also established a Homeless Trust Fund, providing financial support for housing and services.
Palm Beach County Palm Beach County, home to West Palm Beach, has launched a homeless prevention program, providing emergency financial assistance to individuals and families at risk of becoming homeless. The county has also partnered with local non-profits to increase the availability of affordable housing.
City of Fort Lauderdale The city of Fort Lauderdale has implemented a Homeless Ordinance that prohibits sleeping on public property, including sidewalks, streets, and parks. The city has also established a Homeless Response Team that provides outreach services and connects individuals with local resources.
However, permitted encampments will be sanctioned and monitored, with security and health care—which the county called “a shelter without walls”1. Broward has an estimated 10,000 homeless adults, and the number of children is approaching 3,000, county officials said.
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, officials said1. Small cities that have not dedicated resources to homelessness now have to do something “because the liability associated with one complaint is real,”
As the deadline approaches, South Florida’s local governments are working diligently to find solutions that will comply with the new law while also addressing the needs of their homeless populations. The coming months will be a critical period as these new measures are implemented and their impacts begin to be felt.
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