SLC Stands with NHLC, SPLC, and FJI Against Criminalizing Homelessness
Monday, April 7 2025, Gainesville, FL - Today, Southern Legal Counsel, the National Homelessness Law Center, the Southern Poverty Law center, and the Florida Justice Institute advocated for change by sending letters to public officials in 21 cities and counties urging the use of non-punitive measures as they implement a statewide camping restriction that was passed as House Bill 1365 during the 2024 legislative session.
The organizations emphasize that there is nothing in the new law that requires local governments to arrest unsheltered individuals for sleeping or camping outdoors or to otherwise criminalize life sustaining conduct. Fla. Stat. § 125.0231 allows each county or municipality to choose how it will comply with the law. And there are myriad options that do not involve criminalizing individuals experiencing homelessness for existing in public spaces.
Evidence shows that criminalizing homelessness does not reduce it or increase safety. It disrupts lives further. Short term solutions like arresting people under camping ordinances is ineffective and costly when compared to policy solutions like providing permanent supportive housing.
The organizations share several best practices for implementing the new law:
(1) developing a credible plan for affordable housing;
(2) respecting the property rights of unhoused community members if conducting encampment sweeps;
(3) allowing private property owners to meet the needs of the unhoused community while long-term solutions are being implemented; and
(4) clearly articulating the rights of unhoused community members to exist in public spaces to reduce the likelihood of unnecessary interactions with police.
“We hope that Florida’s city and county officials will recognize that this new state law does not require anyone to arrest people for merely trying to survive while experiencing homelessness,” said Southern Legal Counsel Legal Director Chelsea Dunn. “Local governments can still utilize effective long-term solutions such as providing affordable permanent housing and other supportive services, which has been shown to work. And they can work with their communities to create humane near-term solutions while working toward more permanent ones.”
The letters were sent to public officials in the following cities and counties: Avon Park, Bunnell, Broward County, Clearwater, Flagler County, Fort Lauderdale, Fort Myers, Jacksonville, Jacksonville Beach, Largo, Leesburg, Miami Beach, Naples, Okaloosa, Orlando, Palm Beach County, Pensacola, Sarasota, St. Petersburg, Tampa, and West Palm Beach.