JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — A proposed bill in the Florida legislature would make it illegal for people to sleep in public spaces without a permit.
Clay County Republican Rep. Sam Garrison is co-sponsoring House Bill 1365.
Changing Homelessness CEO Dawn Gilman made the trip to Tallahassee on Monday and thanked lawmakers for "taking the first steps to address unsheltered homelessness" in the state.
"While the bill does not specifically use the word homeless or unhoused," Gilman said, "it is clear from talking to the bill's sponsor that this is intended to not have people sleep on our streets or sidewalks in places not meant for human habitation."
She said the biggest reason the number of unhoused people is rising is because housing costs have increased more than incomes.
"No one in our state should sleep on the sidewalk, under a highway or in the woods," Gilman said.
In 2023, the organization's annual "Point in Time" count found there are over 1200 homeless people living in the Jacksonville area.
The bill would also authorize counties and cities to designate public property for sleeping and camping.
That includes requirements for the space like access to restrooms, running water and mental health treatment resources.
"Doing my research, the cost that I found was for something with that kind of encampment, just tents, not any physical structures was around $2,600 per month per tent, so a 50-tent encampment would cost a municipality around $1.3 million," Gilman said.
Regardless of cost, Gilman said to solve a complex problem like homelessness, there needs to be a clear goal, informed decision makers and dedicated resources.
"This bill could create those conditions if it created provisions where local sheriff's or police, city, county officials can work with their lead agencies to enact encampment abatement strategies, direct funding to move more persons from encampment to permanent housing."
Gilman said her goal is to work with Garrison to improve the bill so that it positively impacts the homeless population.
If the legislation passes, it will go into effect in October.