The Florida House passed a bill requiring homeless individuals to stay in designated camps instead of public places.
This bill is a way to “combat homelessness and keep Florida’s streets clean,” Gov. Ron DeSantis said.
“We cannot allow any city in Florida to become like San Francisco, where homelessness, drugs, and crime have decimated the quality of life, hurt the economy, and eroded freedom,” DeSantis said. “In Florida we will continue to enact policies that promote accountability and community safety, unlike in California where they are promoting dangerous policies that harm their communities and economy.”
It prohibits sleeping on public property and allows residents to sue local governments for homeless encampments.
The designated areas must meet specific standards and be drug and alcohol-free.
“This is not a bill designed to put people out of sight, out of mind. It’s quite the opposite,” Rep. Sam Garrison said.
The bill faces criticism from Democrat representatives who argue for investing in transitional housing instead.
“We must acknowledge that pushing the unhoused out of sight isn’t a solution. It is a failed attempt to sweep a societal problem under the rug,” Rep. LaVon Bracy Davis said.
Florida lawmakers ought to make “robust investments in transitional housing and shelters,” Rep. Anna Eskamani said.
“But no, instead, we want to designate a location that’s probably going to be really hard to identify,” she said.
Most Popular:
FBI Informant Who Criticized Biden Gets Bad News
Drag Queen Principal Learns His Fate Amid Controversy