JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The Florida Senate will consider a controversial bill Monday that would ban people without homes from sleeping or camping in public.
The House passed its version of the bill Friday.
Jacksonville, just like other cities, has people with nowhere to go living on the street.
Lawmakers are looking to change that statewide, considering a law that would make sleeping on public property, including in front of buildings or rights of way illegal.
The bill is sponsored by Representative Sam Garrison of Fleming Island.
Dawn Gilman, CEO of Jacksonville organization Changing Homelessness, said she doesn’t think this bill is the proper solution to this issue.
“Because there’s no housing attached to it. The only way to end a person’s homelessness is for them to move into a home,” Gilman said.
Changing Homeless is a local nonprofit that works to identify the root cause of homelessness.
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“We move people often literally, from the streets into housing,” Gilman said. “That component is missing, and until it’s there we’re just shifting the problem around.”
If the law passes there are some exceptions.
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Local governments can designate certain properties for sleeping or camping if those sites meet standards set by the Florida Department of Children and Families.
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The site could only be used for a year
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It must have access to restrooms, running water, security
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It has to remain alcohol and drug-free
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It cannot affect the values of nearby properties
News4JAX first covered this proposal two months ago when we spoke to a man who is currently living on the street about his thoughts on this bill.
“It’s crazy on the street because you have no place to go. They should have a place for us to go, shelters or an apartment,” he said.
If the Senate approves the bill it will go to Governor DeSantis’ desk for it to become law.
Florida’s legislative session ends March 8.
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