The State of Florida is about to pass a bill banning homeless people from sleeping on public property. However, the proposed legislation has sparked outrage among those who see it as an infringement on the rights of people experiencing homelessness. They also believe it fails to address the root causes of homelessness.
The bill defines public camping as “residing overnight in a temporary outdoor habitation used as a dwelling or living space and evidenced by the erection of a tent or other temporary shelter, the presence of bedding or pillows, or the storage of personal belongings.”
The SB 1126 bill, which the Senate approved with a 27-12 majority on Tuesday, aims to prohibit sleeping, camping, or storing personal belongings on public properties. Supporters of the bill argued that it is necessary to maintain public spaces and ensure the safety and cleanliness of communities.
They contended that allowing people to sleep on sidewalks, parks, and other public areas contributes to disorder and poses a risk to public health. Additionally, they believe that concentrating homeless people in one place will make it easy to provide assistance and local services for people experiencing homelessness.
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Upon receiving approval from the state Department of Children and Families, counties would have the authority to designate specific areas for homeless people to camp for up to one year. People using these designated encampments would be prohibited from using alcohol or illegal drugs.
“It’s our responsibility to deal with homelessness, and that’s why we can’t wait any longer to come up with this solution. The current model is not working,” said Republican Sen. Jonathan Martin, the bill’s sponsor. “This bill is a compassionate response to the shortage of shelters,” he added. Martin said that around 30,000 people in Florida are homeless, and about half of them don’t have anywhere to stay.
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However, not everyone supports this bill. Opponents argue that the bill is just a way to round up homeless people and push them out of public sight. “This bill does not, and it will not address the more pressing and root cause of homelessness,” said Democratic Senator Shevrin Jones. “We are reshuffling the visibility of unhoused individuals with no exit strategy for people who are experiencing homelessness.”
They also raised concerns about the protection of children. They argued that the bill lacks provisions to prevent situations where sexual offenders and children might end up living near the government-designated encampments. Additionally, they pointed out that there were no guarantees regarding the safety and sanitation of these encampments.
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However, the bill wouldn’t affect people sleeping in legally parked vehicles. If signed by DeSantis, it will become effective on October 1st. But as the bill heads to the governor’s desk, many label it cruel and unworkable.
Johnna Coleman, executive director of Big Bend Continuum of Care, an agency that helps homeless people, expressed her disappointment with the bill: “There are thousands of tiny…ants, but one giant smashes lots of ants at one time. That’s how this feels.”
But she is not the only one. Senator Rosalind Osgood, who has experienced homelessness and addiction recovery, believed the bill overlooks essential issues. “If we’re going to eliminate homelessness, we need to be intentional about addressing the needs of every single homeless person across the entire state,” she said.
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