Florida law banning homeless people from sleeping in public spaces takes effect

A Florida law banning homeless people from sleeping in public spaces, one of the strictest anti-homeless statutes in the country, took effect Tuesday.

Under the law, municipalities are required to create designated spaces for camping and sleeping if homeless shelters are full. The spaces must have access to “clean and operable restrooms and running water.”

Florida residents, business owners and the state will be able to sue municipalities they don’t think are doing enough to deter homeless people from sleeping in public spaces, including in parks or on benches, starting Jan. 1, The Associated Press reported.

The state estimates it has about 31,000 homeless people, but advocates say that’s an undercount.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) signed the bill in March and said the state will not allow homeless encampments to “intrude on its citizens or undermine their quality of life.”

Shelters and additional spaces will be monitored by law enforcement at all times and will have access to behavioral health services, including substance abuse and mental health resources. Drug and alcohol use will be prohibited on the properties, DeSantis said.

The state budgeted $30 million to help municipalities enact the law, but many officials say it’s not enough. The largest allotment going to a county is about $600,000, the AP reported.

In some South Florida cities and counties, officials are scrambling for solutions to avoid potential lawsuits that wouldn’t lead to mass arrests of homeless people.

In Miami-Dade County, an abandoned hotel was converted into a shelter for older homeless people and the county is eyeing purchasing nearly 200 houses. Palm Beach is considering designating overnight parking lots for those who live in their car.

Local advocates say they can help people to the doors of shelters, but after that, “our hands are tied,” the AP reported.

The Associated Press contributed.