Law that prohibits sleeping in public places in Miami comes into effect on October 1st.

On October 1, 2024, Florida's Law HB 1365 comes into effect, which prohibits cities and counties from allowing homeless individuals to sleep in public spaces.

The regulation aims to end the occupation of parks, sidewalks, and other public use spaces by the homeless, establishing strict measures to regulate the situation in all cities of the state, but it will have a significant impact in Miami, where the number of homeless individuals has alarmingly increased.

The HB 1365 law provides that local governments may create specific camps for homeless individuals for a maximum period of one year.

These camps must be located away from residential and commercial areas. They will be supervised by the Florida Department of Children and Families.

In the camps, the consumption of alcohol and illegal drugs will be prohibited, and their goal will be to provide temporary shelter, as well as access to mental health services and rehabilitation for substance abuse.

Governor Ron DeSantis signed the law in March 2024, at an event in Miami Beach, as part of his "law and order" agenda.

During the signing, DeSantis highlighted that the legislation aims not only to maintain security in public spaces but also to address the issue of homelessness in a humanitarian way, facilitating their social reintegration.

The implementation of the law also grants local police departments the authority to intervene in situations where homeless individuals refuse the assistance offered by local authorities, and they may proceed with arrests in case of refusal.

The state of Florida has experienced a 9% increase in the number of homeless individuals since 2019, with a total of 30,809 people in this situation, about half of whom live in their cars or in abandoned buildings.

The high costs of housing and the lack of affordable options have generated a crisis that has contributed to the growth of the homeless population in the state.

In addition to Law HB 1365, a series of laws in Florida aimed at addressing various social and safety issues will also come into effect on October 1.