Following the entry into force this Wednesday of State law HB 1365, which prohibits the homeless from sleeping on the streets of Florida, several people have expressed their discontent, arguing that the measure exacerbates the situation of those who are already in vulnerable conditions and does not offer real solutions to address the issue of homelessness.
A report aired by the television network América TeVé reflected that some homeless individuals are not willing to obey the law.
"I don't want a shelter because I have already had it four times. The government has to pay me my money, they need to reach an agreement with me," said Humberto Morales.
Miguel Santiago, who wants to comply with the new law, expressed that they have nowhere to go: "Look for a place or an empty venue where everyone can fit, but they do nothing."
The homeless young man told the television channel that the authorities ordered him to move from the location, a measure he described as absurd, as it simply forces him to change places, but he would continue living on the street anyway.
The law HB 1365, which prohibits cities and counties from allowing homeless people to sleep in public spaces, came into effect this Tuesday.
The regulation aims to put an end to the occupation of parks, sidewalks, and other common areas by the homeless, implementing strict measures to regulate the situation throughout the state, with a particularly significant impact in Miami.
At the same time, organizations that help homeless people are mobilizing to obtain more beds and shelters.
Malena Legarre, director of the organization Hermanos de la Calle, explained to América TeVé that the new measure has led to people "who had never asked us for help before now asking us for a bed in a shelter."
He indicated that the police are not making arrests, as both the government and the city of Miami, along with the county, are focused on seeking solutions and offering alternatives to homeless individuals.
The goal is not to criminalize the homeless but to provide options that improve their situation, he stated.
The law HB 1365, effective for the entire state of Florida, allows local governments to establish camps where homeless individuals can stay for a year, as long as they are away from residential and commercial areas.
These placements will be under the supervision of the State Department of Children and Families, and the consumption of alcohol and drugs is strictly prohibited, emphasized the television network.
However, the director of the organization Hermanos de la Calle considered that "what is important now is to focus resources on shelters and available beds, but not on camps."
"We are having to create more spaces, more places, which is why the organizations, the Homeless Trust, the city of Miami, are working on that generation of spaces," she pointed out.
In addition, he mentioned that the organization he leads is “renting more houses” thanks to the support of the DDA, which allows them to continue expanding. Currently, they have 22 homes and their goal is to reach 25 in the short term.
Ron Book, president of the Miami-Dade Homeless Trust, informed América TeVé that in the county “there will be no camps of this type,” although he emphasized that “they are preparing to increase the availability of beds in the shelters.”
The need to create these capabilities is urgent, as the new law stipulates that if a homeless person refuses the assistance offered by the city or county, local police departments would be authorized to arrest them.
The law HB 1365 has a precedent in a similar ordinance approved in Miami Beach a year ago, the television station pointed out.
In the opinion of Commissioner Alex Fernández, the measure worked very well, as it allowed for 322 family reunifications and 538 people entered shelters. Additionally, only 249 arrests were made throughout the year.
"It has been a year since the city of Miami Beach implemented the strictest ordinance in the state of Florida, where we provide assistance to the homeless, but if they refuse that assistance, the police can make an arrest," he pointed out.
Additionally, he explained that the intention is "not to criminalize the homeless; on the contrary, it is to offer them assistance."
Currently, there are more than 1,000 homeless people on the streets and 3,800 in shelters in Miami-Dade County, numbers that remain below those in California and New York, indicated América TeVé.
The HB 1365 law, which came into effect last Tuesday, is part of Governor Ron DeSantis's "law and order" agenda and was signed in March 2024 at an event in Miami Beach.
At that moment, DeSantis emphasized that the legislation aims not only to maintain safety in public spaces but also to address the issue of homelessness in a humanitarian way, facilitating their social reintegration.
However, currently the state of Florida is facing a significant migration crisis.
In the city of Hialeah, for example, where an "affordable" rent can cost more than $1,300, Cuban migrants choose to sleep in their cars and live on the streets, according to a report by the television network Univisión.
"I prefer to sleep in a truck than pay rent, because an efficiency costs $1,300. There are people who pay $1,800," said a Cuban speaking anonymously to the mentioned television medium.
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