Florida homeless ban: State enacts law banning sleeping in outdoor public spaces

Florida has introduced a new law banning homeless people sleeping on public property . The new law that went into effect Tuesday prohibits counties and municipalities from allowing people to camp or sleep outside on public property unless it's in a city- or county-designated encampment area.

Florida has introduced a new law mandating local governments to provide temporary housing where drug use is prohibited. The law also ensures access to substance abuse and mental health treatment for individuals.

Gov. Ron DeSantis commented on the law, stating, "We want to make sure we put public safety above all else," and described it as "absolutely the right balance to strike."

The law also permits citizens to sue counties that fail to prevent public sleeping. However, a three-month grace period is in place before lawsuits can be initiated against county governments for this issue.

Florida reports that approximately 31,000 individuals in the state experience homelessness.

The new law enables local governments to designate county-owned land for temporary shelter if residents keep the area clean and crime-free. Those staying in these camps must also have access to showers and mental health services .

To implement this, counties must demonstrate that there are not enough beds in existing homeless shelters to accommodate the homeless population. Additionally, they must show that these camps will not negatively impact the property value, safety, or security of nearby homes or businesses.