By Wayne Washington, Palm Beach Post
Local community activists gathered at Currie Park in West Palm Beach recently to protest the implementation of a state law barring counties and municipalities from allowing people to camp or sleep overnight on public property.
The activists, part of a coalition of religious and community groups called PEACE, held signs aloft decrying the implementation of House Bill 1365 and urging local governments to do more to help the homeless.
“We need housing, not handcuffs,” said the Rev. Sheila Harvey, pastor at Union Congregational United Church of Christ during the Tuesday gathering. “Our various religious texts and traditions tell us to help the poor, feed the hungry, give water to the thirsty, and clothe the naked. This bill fundamentally goes against our different faith traditions that value the dignity and humanity of every human being. We can do better.”
What is the new Florida homeless law, HB 1365?
HB 1365 was signed into law by Gov. Ron DeSantis in March, and it went into effect on Oct. 1. DeSantis praised the legislation as a bid to make city streets safer, and it gave the Republican governor an opportunity to take a shot at Democratic-led states that have struggled with huge homeless populations.
“Florida will not allow homeless encampments to intrude on its citizens or undermine their quality of life like we see in states like New York and California,” DeSantis said in a press release announcing the signing of HB 1365. “The legislation I signed today upholds our commitment to law and order while also ensuring homeless individuals have the resources they need to get back on their feet.”
In addition to forbidding county and city governments from allowing people to camp or sleep in public places, HB 1365 requires those government to have shelters equipped with running water as well as alcohol and drug abuse assistance. The bill calls for the state Department of Children and Families to authorize temporary campsites when homeless shelters reach maximum capacity.
Homelessness remains an issue in West Palm Beach, throughout county
Two weeks after HB 1365 went into effect, homelessness remains a problem in West Palm Beach and throughout Palm Beach County. Homeless people still sleep on sidewalks and still panhandle in road right-of-ways. Local government officials have said the legislation, like other bills from Tallahassee, orders an outcome without providing adequate assistance for it to be achieved.
PEACE activists gathered at Currie Park because that is one of the local areas where homeless people would gather at night to sleep. On Tuesday, however, what appeared to be newly erected fencing limited access to the park grounds.
Jailing homeless people caught sleeping in public spaces isn’t the answer, the PEACE activists argued. The answer is more housing — lots more housing and lots more affordable housing.
The scarcity of affordable housing in Palm Beach County is “pushing more and more families to the brink,” said Father John D’Mello, parochial vicar at St. Patrick Catholic Church in Palm Beach Gardens. “There are parents having to work multiple jobs, seniors having to come out of retirement, children going back to live with their parents. And, worse of fall, there are families — entire generations — moving out to other areas. All of this is contributing to a growing number of individuals and families experiencing homelessness.”
County and city government officials are aware of the problem. Many area governments have programs that provide incentives for developers to build affordable housing. In some instances, however, developers buy out a requirement to include affordable housing units in their plans. And, in other instances, developers simply determine the incentives are not enough to make affordable housing projects viable financially.
Harvey said governments need to do more to spur the building of affordable housing and should refrain from adding to the woes of those without a place to live.
“HB 1365 will only make the problem worse by burdening the homeless with arrest records that make it harder to find jobs or qualify for housing,” she said. “Not only is this bill bad for those experiencing homelessness, but it is bad for our entire community. This bill turns our jails into homeless shelters and takes our law enforcement officers away from other serious tasks.”
PEACE group to hold forum in West Palm on affordable housing to address homelessness
Florida’s Republican-dominated Legislature is unlikely to repeal HB 1365, but PEACE, which stands for People Engaged in Active Community Efforts, will nonetheless press political office-seekers on the issue of housing. The group plans to hold a County Commission candidate forum on Oct. 21 at 7 p.m. at Assembly Tabernacle Missionary Baptist Church. Candidates for districts three, five and seven have been invited.
“This forum will be focused on addressing the affordable rental housing crisis because this is the only way to truly address homelessness,” the group said in a statement.
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