PEMBROKE PARK, Fla. – In March, Gov. Ron DeSantis signed HB 1365 into law prohibiting the homeless from camping on city streets, sidewalks, and public parks in Florida. The new law — which goes into effect on Tuesday — also directs the Florida Department of Children and Families to authorize campsites with restrooms and access to treatment for substance abuse and mental health.
During This Week In South Florida on Sunday, Dean Trantalis, the mayor of Fort Lauderdale, said the state did not provide local governments with funding to implement the law. He said the city “will have to be stricter” and spend taxpayers’ money to buy temporary emergency shelters built on construction pallets to house the homeless.
“It’s mobile and we can move it to different parts of wherever the locations may be,” Trantalis said. “We talked about putting it on some city property.”
Related document: (HB 1365) Unauthorized Public Camping and Public Sleeping
During this Week In South Florida, Steven Meiner, the mayor of Miami Beach, said his city pays for about 89 beds daily and can add to that if necessary. He said city officials already have a similar law that he supports, so he praised the new state law as progressive.
“Sleeping on the streets is not safe,” Meiner said.
The city also has a homeless outreach center with a team marketed to be focused on “an assessment-driven” approach. The center is next to City Hall, along 17 Street between Convention Center Drive and Merdian Avenue.
“People could literally just walk in,” Meiner said.
The outreach center is an investment in rehabilitation. Meiner said the Miami Beach Police Department has a police officer who is open about having been homeless for years. He said that despite his example some homeless people just don’t want the help and end up in jail.
“It’s tough love, but ultimately the public spaces are for the public and we are going to keep people safe,” Meiner said.