MIAMI BEACH, Fla. – Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis on Monday said he supports a proposed Florida bill that could potentially restrict people without homes from sleeping in public buildings and on public property without a permit.
DeSantis, speaking at a podium with a sign that read “Don’t Allow Florida To Become San Francisco,” emphasized the importance of maintaining public order and safety, and cited homelessness and crime issues in cities like San Francisco.
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DeSantis expressed concerns about the need for statewide policies to address these issues and advocated for measures such as prohibiting camping on city streets and sidewalks to maintain public order and ensure community safety.
DeSantis said he’s open to providing financial support for communities for things like sheltering and also for things to try to address some of the mental health issues of people who are living on the street.
Some people who are experiencing homelessness, amid an ongoing affordable housing crisis, told News4JAX they are upset about the proposal because they said when the shelters are full, public spaces are the next option.
“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,” one man said. “Okay, you don’t want to see us on the street. After a while, where are we going to go?”
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Under the proposal, if a county wants to designate an area for the homeless, it must have public restrooms, 24-hour security, and access to behavioral health.
Drugs and alcohol would not be prohibited, and the designated area cannot affect the value and security of residential and commercial properties.
“If they want us off the street, they need to open housing, not shelters,” Ricky Sanchez Jr. said.
Mayor Donna Deegan introduced a $14 million task force bill that included $2.6 million to address homelessness, which includes emergency rental and eviction protection.
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Chanel Mann, a volunteer for Never Forget Powerhouse Ministry, said the bill does not address the state’s unhoused problem.
Last week, DeSantis appeared in Jacksonville with members of the Florida State Guard and Florida National Guard to discuss border security. He announced he would be sending members of the Florida State Guard to help secure the southern border of the United States.
At the same news conference, DeSantis expressed strong views about the removal of Confederate monuments, following Jacksonville Mayor Donna Deegan’s removal of a Conference monument in Springfield Park.