A new law in Florida that criminalizes sleeping in public spaces is set to take effect next month and is expected to lead to a surge of legal challenges while doing little to resolve the state’s homelessness crisis, according to Fort Lauderdale’s mayor, Dean Trantalis. The law, signed by Governor Ron DeSantis in March, mandates that municipalities lacking adequate shelter capacity create designated encampments for people experiencing homelessness.
During a recent heated Fort Lauderdale city commission meeting, various proposals were discussed, including setting up camps in a parking lot for David Beckham’s soccer stadium or on the roof of city hall, as well as offering one-way bus tickets for homeless individuals to leave the state. However, no specific actions were decided upon.
Trantalis expressed frustration with the state’s mandate, stating, “While the state has handed all the communities this draconian mandate, it failed to provide a remedy to partner with us.” He emphasized that the city has expanded its homeless outreach efforts but views the state’s requirements as a burdensome responsibility.
Recent statistics reveal that the number of unsheltered individuals in Fort Lauderdale nearly doubled from 2022 to 2023, contributing to an 18.5% rise in homelessness across Florida and a national increase of 12%. Trantalis fears that funding currently allocated for supportive services for the homeless may diminish when a provision of the law allows for legal action against municipalities that do not address public sleeping adequately.
“This will create a cottage industry for lawyers seeking to profit from lawsuits rather than providing help for the homeless,” he warned, predicting a “tsunami of lawsuits” that would not benefit those in need.
Homeless advocates share similar concerns. Diana Stanley, the CEO of The Lord’s Place, a major homeless shelter in Palm Beach County, criticized the law for imposing financial and logistical demands on local governments without offering necessary resources and support. She urged leaders to seek collaborative solutions rather than punitive measures.
Trantalis also mentioned a lack of cooperation from law enforcement and the judiciary in crafting guidelines for enforcing the law against those who sleep in public. In response, Broward County Sheriff Gregory Tony published an op-ed asserting that homelessness should not be criminalized and that jails are not the solution to the crisis.
While Trantalis suggested involving the court system as a means of providing shelter and services, he clarified that arresting homeless individuals was not the intended course of action. He explained that the jail system might serve as a temporary refuge while accessing necessary treatments.
Ron Book, chair of the Miami-Dade Homeless Trust, noted the positive conversation spurred by the new law regarding homelessness solutions, despite his objection to encampments as a viable tactic.
Legal scholars observing the law suggest it may be an overreach by the state, shifting the authority to manage homelessness from local jurisdictions to the state level without adequate funding or a comprehensive strategy for addressing the issue. They argue that the creation of encampments is impractical and that local governments face a dilemma in handling the situation amid potential legal repercussions.