With 31,000 people without a home, Florida is ranked third in the country for our homeless population. Without a covered house or apartment to return to, sidewalks and public parks are common places for these people to stay. But due to House Bill 1365, homeless people can no longer sleep in any public spaces, facing potential arrest if they do so.
According to the Official House Bill 1365 (House Bill 1365 (2024) – The Florida Senate), “[The law] prohibits counties & municipalities from authorizing or otherwise allowing public camping or sleeping on public property without certification of designated public property by DCF; authorizes counties to designate public property for such uses for specified time period.”
“I think that if they do that, they should make spaces for them, like first come first serve,” Connor Garcia, freshman, said.
The law isn’t popular among the homeless population, many of whom are on the streets not because of bad decisions, but because of rising costs. The county is given a 3-month grace period before people are allowed to sue them for not following the proper law. During this time, many temporary shelters will be made to provide room and board until people can get back on their feet.
“I think it’s necessary, but cruel,” Axl Shaffer-Petrusa, freshman, said, “It’s a step in the right direction, but a lot more needs to be done in the US to end homelessness.”
After COVID-19, inflation skyrocketed, resulting in many people being unable to afford rent or a mortgage and being forced out of their home with nowhere safe to go. Instead, they find themselves on the streets, filled with violence, crime, and drugs. Being forced into the fight-or-flight lifestyle often leads people further down a dark path.
During this time, the case known as Grants Pass v Johnson was enacted, stating that homeless people could be forcibly removed from sleeping on the streets. This was overturned June 28th, 2024, but the seeds had already been sown. This led to House Bill 1365, which took effect October 1st.
“Florida will not allow homeless encampments to intrude on its citizens or undermine their quality of life like we see in states like New York and California,” said Governor Ron DeSantis. (Governor DeSantis Signs Legislation to Address Homelessness and Protect the Public and Quality of Life for Floridians ).
While many people don’t appreciate the presence of homeless people, they still believe that they should be given opportunities to better themselves. This includes encouragement, shelters, and the resources to get a job.
“We should encourage homeless shelters and basic job opportunities for homeless people, and encourage them to participate in community service,” An anonymous source said.
As of January 1st, 2025, cities may face lawsuits due to not properly enforcing the law. This means that county governments could lose money that could be used to build shelters and provide support for the growing homeless population. However, this will provide extra incentive for local governments to work hard to help those without a home, likely decreasing homelessness rates within Florida.
