A new bill in Florida awaits approval from Governor Ron DeSantis that is set to ban homeless people from sleeping on public property, such as park benches. On March 5, 2024, the Florida Senate, which is controlled by the Republican party, voted 27-12 to pass the bill. The House then approved the bill and DeSantis soon voiced support for it.
The Senate sponsor for Fort Myers, Jonathan Martin, claims the bill is meant to provide safer sleep locations to homeless people.
Measures within the bill require local governments to designate certain properties for sleeping or camping if the sites meet standards set by the Florida Department of Children and Families. These areas would need year-round electricity, restrooms, running water, and to be drug/alcohol-free while not harming the value of nearby properties.
This bill also gives residents and business owners the ability to file civil lawsuits against local governments for allowing illegal sleeping or camping on public property.
“This bill is a compassionate response to the shortage of shelters and supportive housing by providing an alternative to sleeping in the streets,” Martin said to Click Orlando News.
However, democrats argue that if the bill passes the state will provide limited resources to local governments. This will make it difficult to follow through with these measures.
Senator Rosalind Osgood, a Fort Lauderdale Democrat, said the approach would create greater mistrust between people experiencing homelessness and law enforcement which could lead to a divide in communities.
If this bill passes there’s a possibility for the rise of hostile architecture. This type of defensive architecture uses elements of the built environment to prevent homeless people from sleeping in public areas. Local governments may add fences with spikes and locks, a feature that can make many homeless people feel like a pest.
