MIAMI – A new state law that bans homeless individuals from sleeping in public spaces is set to take effect Tuesday. South Florida cities and counties are preparing for the change.
Fort Lauderdale is set to vote on a related anti-camping ordinance on Tuesday when the new state law takes effect, as voters in two Miami-Dade municipalities will get a chance to weigh in on whether they want to expand the county’s 1% food and beverage tax to help house and provide services to the homeless.
“It’s breathing down our necks,” Miami-Dade Homeless Trust Chairman Ron Book said.
Fort Lauderdale City Commissioner John Herbst said the new law means “the status quo is no longer going to be acceptable.”
When the state’s anti-unauthorized camping and public sleeping law takes effect on Oct. 1, the homeless are banned from camping on city streets, sidewalks, and parks.
Related: ‘Futile effort’: Homeless advocates decry proposed Miami Beach camping ban
“And then on January 1st, the law stated we could be held liable,” Fort Lauderdale Acting Assistant City Manager Chris Cooper said.
Fort Lauderdale city commissioners are set to vote next week on a related anti-camping ordinance, similar to the one already in place in Miami Beach.
“Our goal here really is not to arrest people; the goal really is to try and connect people with the services that we already have,” Herbst said.
Cooper said the city has added two people to its homeless outreach team and two administrative staff to its neighbor support team.
Book said Miami-Dade’s plan for state law compliance includes bringing additional housing units online.
“We will meet the letter of the law to its fullest; we do not anticipate an encampment,” he said.
He pointed to the recent county commission vote to approve with the the La Quinta Inn Cutler Bay hotel-to-housing plan for homeless seniors.
“We see a light at the end of the tunnel,” Book said. “We are short of revenue, but those two referendums in Miami Beach and Bal Harbour will provide those funding streams.”
Book is referencing a November ballot question in Miami Beach and Bal Harbour, asking voters if they want to approve a Miami-Dade County $1 tax on food and beverage sales for homeless assistance.
“Right now, it is charged in the restaurants in 32 of our 35 municipalities that have a beverage license, meaning a liquor license on-premises, that gross over $400,000,” Book said. “Assuming the voters approve those two referendums, I believe that the financial resources we need to reach an actual end to homelessness in Miami-Dade is in the near future.”
The town of Surfside chose not to offer the referendum to its voters as a ballot question. Instead, the town’s vice mayor tells Local 10 News it has provided a donation of $12,000 to the Homeless Trust.
What other cities and counties are doing:
From @FTLCityNews to @CityofMiami - this post contains what municipal/departmental spokespeople had to say as cities, counties, and law enforcement look ahead to the October 1 start to Florida’s new anti-unauthorized public sleeping and camping law. https://t.co/swi3Qzcz3b 5/ pic.twitter.com/WF3PntpbhF
— Christina Boomer Vazquez, M.S. (@CBoomerVazquez) September 6, 2024