Staff Reports
Republican Governor Ron DeSantis boldly put his signature on the dotted line to make sure that homeless encampments have no place on public property in Florida. With a swift stroke of his pen, he made it loud and clear that the Sunshine State won’t be following the disastrous tracks of places like New York or California. DeSantis is all about keeping the good folks of Florida happy and content, and he’s not about to let the homeless crisis mess that up.
DeSantis signs bill barring homeless from setting up encampments on public property https://t.co/YUBskmgczy
— Bo Snerdley (@BoSnerdley) March 20, 2024
HB 1365, championed by Republican Rep. Sam Garrison, sailed through the Florida House of Representatives on a high wave of GOP support. The bill, set to kick in on October 1, is all about ensuring that homeless individuals are off the streets and into shelters where they can get the help they need. But it’s not just about herding them into any old shelter; no sir, these shelters will be under the watchful eye of law enforcement to make sure everyone plays by the rules.
Critics may grumble that this new law is just sweeping the homelessness issue under the rug instead of tackling the root cause, but who needs naysayers raining on the parade of progress? Democratic State Senator Shevrin Jones may not be a fan, but Miami Beach saw positive changes in the homeless landscape with a similar strategy in 2023. Clearly, something’s working here!
And let’s not forget about the conditions of these shelters. No drugs allowed, folks! Plus, there will be resources for substance abuse and mental health treatments because Governor DeSantis cares about getting these individuals back on track. Some people might call it tough love, but hey, tough problems require tough solutions. Let’s give credit where credit is due – DeSantis is taking charge and making Florida a better place for everyone.
