Homeless people in Florida will no longer be allowed to sleep on sidewalks, in parks and other public spaces, under a law signed Wednesday by Republican Governor Ron DeSantis. It also promises homeless people greater access to services for issues like substance abuse and mental health issues.
The state Department of Children and Families would oversee local governments setting up special areas where homeless people can camp for up to a year under the new law, which takes effect Oct. 1. Anyone using these encampments should not consume alcohol or illegal liquor. drugs, while ensuring sanitation and safety.
The encampments would be created when local homeless shelters reach maximum capacity, according to a news release from the governor’s office. The law requires regional entities to provide necessary access to behavioral health services as a condition of a county or city establishing an encampment.
Allowing homeless people to camp in public spaces impacts local quality of life, can be a nuisance to businesses and makes it harder to provide them with needed services because they are spread out, DeSantis and other supporters of the measure said at a press conference in miami beach.
“I think this is absolutely the right balance to achieve,” DeSantis said. “We want to make sure we put public safety above all else.”
During the last legislative session, Florida’s homeless population was estimated to reach about 30,700 by 2023. That’s a fraction of the homeless population in many major U.S. cities, but lawmakers said that could worsen because of Florida’s rapid population growth .
“This bill will not eliminate homelessness. But it’s a start,” said Republican state Rep. Sam Garrison. “And it clearly says that our public spaces in Florida are worth fighting for.”
Opponents of the law say it is intended to round up homeless people and hide them from the public.
“This bill does not and will not address the more pressing and deep root cause of homelessness,” Democratic state Sen. Shevrin Jones said during a debate this year. “We are literally rearranging the visibility of unhoused individuals without an exit strategy for people experiencing homelessness.”
However, DeSantis said the new law is a unique approach to providing the services homeless people often need.
“This requires that the services are there to help people get back on their feet,” the governor said. “I think it’s important that we preserve the quality of life for Floridians.”
Beginning in January 2025, the law will allow residents, local business owners and the attorney general to file a lawsuit to prevent any city or county from allowing homeless people to camp or sleep on public property.