Gov. Ron DeSantis said he's working with the Florida legislature on an initiative that would ban public camping throughout the state in what he says is an effort to maintain law and order and fight homelessness.
DeSantis held a news conference in Miami Beach Monday morning to discuss the initiative with Florida Department of Law Enforcement Commissioner Mark Glass.
“I think what we're envisioning is providing some support for counties for additional sheltering, providing some financial support for both substance abuse (programs) and mental health,” DeSantis said
Speaking at a podium with a sign reading "Don't allow Florida to become San Francisco," DeSantis said he wants to prevent homeless encampments like the ones seen in the California city, as well as in Seattle and New York.
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"You can look around there, know what has failed and know where we have to go as a state," DeSantis said.
The Republican governor said the initiative would prohibit camping on all city streets and sidewalks, and in parks in an effort to ensure public order and quality of life.
A measure, House Bill 1365, was filed last month that prohibits public sleeping or camping on public property without a permit.
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DeSantis said he's open to providing funding for sheltering and to address mental illness and substance abuse as a component of the initiative.
“What we don't want to see in the legislation is any incentive to create homeless camps, particularly in areas that would interfere with the public conducting normal business,” DeSantis added.
The bill, proposed by Sen. Jonathan Martin, R-Fort Myers, would give local governments the option to designate certain property for sleeping or camping if they meet standards set by the Florida Department of Children and Families.
The Senate proposal would limit to one year the continuous use of areas designated for homeless people and would require that the locations have access to such things as restrooms and running water, have security, provide access to health care and be deemed alcohol and drug free. Also, under the bill, the sites could not adversely affect values of nearby properties or safety.
Martin said the aim is to help homeless people get needed treatment, not to “step on the toes” of local not-for-profits. Also, he pointed to wanting to make sure public spaces can be enjoyed by taxpayers.
“The goal is to take people who have mental-health issues, who have substance-abuse issues, who are sleeping in public parks, public parks that we fund with a lot of money every single year here in Tallahassee, making sure those public parks and those public space are used for what they are intended,” Martin said.
The bill, which needs to pass the Rules Committee before it could go to the full Senate, also would encourage people and businesses to file lawsuits if local governments don’t follow the proposed rules.
“Since enacting our new ordinance against public camping this past October, we have seen more homeless individuals using available beds in shelters and therefore receiving the services they need,” said Miami Beach Mayor Steven Meiner. “I am thankful for the governor’s leadership and vision for Florida, and we all continue to bolster services and provide help to those individuals who need it.”
Meiner added that arresting people who are homeless works.
"A person is homeless, and is camping on public streets, on a public right of way and they are offered shelter, and they refuse it, the police officer has the discretion to make that arrest," Meiner said.
"I think Mayor Meiner thinks you can arrest your way out of the problem, you cannot do that," said Ron Book, the chairman of the Miami-Dade Homeless Trust.
But Book called the governor’s proposal a very good start.
"This has bipartisan support...I think you will see people supporting this across the board. We need to end homelessness in the state and this is the beginning of that dialogue," Book said.
