By The News Service of Florida
The sponsor of a new Florida law designed to prevent homeless people from sleeping in public places praised a U.S. Supreme Court ruling Friday that upheld the constitutionality of an Oregon city’s ordinance cracking down on public camping. Rep. Sam Garrison, R-Fleming Island, called the Supreme Court ruling in a Grants Pass, Ore., case a “victory for common sense.”
The ruling came after Florida lawmakers in March passed a controversial measure (HB 1365) that will prevent cities and counties from allowing people to sleep on public property, including at public buildings and in public rights of way.
It will allow local governments to designate certain property for sleeping or camping if the sites meet standards set by the Florida Department of Children and Families. Such areas, which could only be used for one year, would have to include access to such things as restrooms and running water, have security and be deemed alcohol- and drug-free. Also, the sites could not harm values of nearby properties or safety.
“Florida has chosen to reject comfortable inaction and tackle this problem head on,” Garrison, who is slated to become House speaker in 2026, said in a prepared statement Friday. “That is our right, and our obligation. We will continue to work with all 67 counties in our state to support innovative solutions that simultaneously protect public spaces and respect the dignity of every human being.”
But Rep. Anna Eskamani, D-Orlando, blasted the ruling. “This is a devastating ruling that ignores the reality of homelessness in America,” Eskamani said in a statement. “We will continue to do what we can at a local and state level to push back against the criminalization of our fellow Americans who deserve evidence based interventions, not incarceration.”
Sponsor of Florida Law Touts Homeless Ruling added by The News Service of Florida on
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I agree wholeheartedly with what Pam said.
If they are illegals they MUST be return to their Country of origin.
Little Havana is so crowded and difficult to traverse and it’s because of the
multitude of homeless. It’s like an invasion. They should be bordered and trained to work.
I do not think criminizing homelessness is going to stop it. I hate the fact that it’s out of control. People living in the streets and taking over neighborhoods. Disgusting and unsanitary. Some are homeless from life circumstances. Most made those circumstances. I personally don’t appreciate having to pay to help for that. But. I would pay through taxes to house these people and clean up the streets. Less the people that are here illegally. Unless they will be killed if returned to their original country, they need to leave.