As public camping ban looms, Miami-Dade considers ‘tiny homes’ for the homeless

As the state’s Oct. 1 ban on sleeping in public approaches, Miami-Dade County is moving to figure out emergency accommodations for its population of about 1,000 unsheltered homeless people, who could otherwise face jail time.

Under the law signed by Gov. Ron DeSantis in March, counties and cities will be legally responsible for prohibiting unauthorized camping in public places. Local governments across the state are now scrambling to get their homeless populations off the streets.

A memo circulated in September by Miami-Dade Mayor Daniella Levine Cava’s office highlights the possible use of “tiny homes” as short-term crisis housing that could lessen pressure on the county’s jails.

At roughly 450 square feet each, the 175 two-bedroom units could provide stable accommodation to hundreds of homeless Miamians. Miami-Dade County’s homeless agency, the Homeless Trust, would manage the modular units, should county officials approve their implementation.

Ron Book, chairman of the Homeless Trust, said the agency is prioritizing the acquisition of air-conditioned units with bathrooms, kitchens and living rooms.

“If you’re going to build a tiny home project, it needs to be a real home,” Book said.

The county has entertained similar ideas in the past, though a proposal to build 100 such homes on Virginia Key ran aground in 2022 amid pushback from community members.

More details about the proposed tiny homes, including their cost and where they would be placed, remain unclear. But to county officials, their necessity is evident, especially compared to the alternative.

The state’s camping ban also permits counties to designate spaces for homeless “encampments,” which can exist for up to a year. They must maintain adequate levels of sanitation, bar illegal substance and alcohol use, and provide behavioral health services.

But encampments pose an inadequate solution, even in the short term, according to the county government. Levine Cava’s office described them as “fraught with concerns” that include less-than-dignified standards of care, the exclusion of certain people in need, including those struggling with substance abuse, and the potential security risks associated with mixing disparate homeless households.

On top of that, the mayor’s memo says it would be a costly and logistically difficult feat to open and operate an encampment with a one-year lifespan.

“I hope,” said Book, “that we would never have an encampment.”

In addition to the tiny homes, the Homeless Trust is considering a series of crisis housing options to avoid the construction of encampments.

Enlisting and funding faith-based organizations that already have some emergency shelter capacity, for example, could free up beds for people who would otherwise face jail time for sleeping on the street.

Miami-Dade is also exploring expanding its existing shelter capacity to create immediately available crisis housing for those who need it. According to the Homeless Trust, those centers have lower barriers to entry than traditional shelters and could be an option for those who are otherwise hesitant to stay in shelters because of their stricter requirements.

Other proposals include hotel-to-housing conversions, like the proposed project in Cutler Bay for homeless seniors. That project is up for a final vote Tuesday.

Tiny homes remain a preferred option, but the clock is ticking. Book is working to shuttle the proposal through the approval process without compromising safety and health.

“The Oct. 1 deadline is important,” stressed Book. “But the Jan. 1 [2025] deadline” — at which point residents can sue local governments that don’t enforce the camping ban — “is even more important.”

This story was produced with financial support from supporters including The Green Family Foundation Trust and Ken O’Keefe, in partnership with Journalism Funding Partners. The Miami Herald maintains full editorial control of this work.