Florida Acknowledges Homeless & Provides No Funds
What was behind the legislature enacting a new bill banning the homeless from sleeping in parks or pitching a tent on a sidewalk?
Don’t get me wrong. I applaud the legislature for doing this if it comes with a few benefits for cities and counties…mainly money. I hate when I see people just deciding to take over a park and call it theirs for the night. I hate it when I see people sleeping on our sidewalks. I hate disorder and what is more disorderly than public spaces being turned into private ones.
How much money did the state allocate for this attempt to rid us of homelessness? The grand sum of $10 million was put in the budget to aid local governments. Perhaps Miami or Fort Lauderdale can do something to house the homeless but Stuart and Martin County?
Local government will have the option, in addition to having the cops continuously move people along, of creating homeless camps if their shelters are full. In Martin County, whatever few shelter beds are for women and young children (there are none for men) are already full. The alternative then is to designate a property owned by the local government as a campground if it is not next to residential property.
There needs to be sanitation as well as access to substance abuse and mental health treatment. No alcohol or drugs allowed. It is to be monitored and patrolled by law enforcement. If a local government does not move the homeless along, then businesses and residents can sue the government.
I agree with the intent of moving the homeless to homes and treatment if need be. That requires plenty of money. Just outlawing the homeless won’t make the problem disappear. And $10 million won’t build one shelter never mind all that is needed.
I guess we should applaud Representative Garrison for sponsoring the legislation. He is slated to lead the House in the 2026–2028 term. I will assume his intentions are in the right place. Without real funds to implement real programs this like, so much government does is a waste of time.
