Homeless "Encampments" Popping Up all over the County--Citizens NOT Happy About it

The "shanty-town" (pictured 2-1-23) homeless encampment groing on Mobile Hwy at Michigan Avenue in Escambia County is drawing the ire of citizens that want something done to clean it up......

"Is this what we want visitors to Escambia County to see at the first exit coming off the bridge into our area?"  The caller asked dryly.  And angrily.

He's obviously fed up with what he is seeing in his neighborhood off of Scenic Highway where, right next to the Dairy Queen/Gas station off of the exit and very near dozens of multi-million dollar homes and properties, there is a fledgling pop-up encampment growing right off the side of the road. 

"They are so brazen, they have even brought a couch and placed it right on the side of the road on Scenic Highway--they are sitting on it and eye-balling us as we sit in traffic--it's ridiculous!"

He is heated.  He wants action, he wants this blight to be addressed by the county.  He is not alone, either,  because we have had multiple issues come up over the last year or so, and this issue seems to be growing, not subsiding....

Like issues in my district where we had a massive forest fire erupt that could have taken out an entire subdivision off of Hwy 98 due to a campfire in a homeless camp getting out of control in the adjacent wooded property.

Like what the city dealt with under the I-110 bridge where drug use, crime, theft, prostitution, and other illicit activity was rampant until the city disbursed that campground.

Like what we are seeing on Herman Street....Like what we saw under the bridge on Brent Lane... 

And like what we are now seeing in an area off of Mobile Hwy (Formerly D1, now D3)  Where a group of about 9 homeless individuals have sent up a miniature "shanty-town" right in the FDOT easement of Mobile Hwy------directly in front of the Publix Grocery store there and multiple small businesses.  I have had numerous complaints about this from multiple citizens.

Something has to be done.  This isn't Portland, this isn't Seattle nor is it San Franscisco.  And we don't want it to be.

The tens of millions of dollars over the last decades attempting to assist these individuals with multiple whiz-bang programs and solutions has not curbed the problem; some might assert it has grown it.

The county is looking to spend $4.1 on an assortment of strategies to help.  I hope it works, I have my own ideas but they are not favored by my counterparts so they likely will not be implemented---ever.  But I remain willing to give just about anything a try to help the residents I represent live in clean, attractive neighborhoods.  Is it too much to ask that a citizen who pays taxes, owns property, and is a productive human being trying to live a life and raise a family not be subjected to watching homeless steal, grift, loiter, and in some instances--defecate in public or expose themselves?  Really, is that too much to ask?  I don't think so.

Meanwhile---I have now spoken to code enforcement, county staff, and various personnel at the Sheriff's Office.  It is a complex, decades-long brewing and vexing issue with which these entities must deal--what to do about the homeless and the blight, garbage, and other assorted consequences they are bringing all over the county currently.  

Enforcement/mitigation omplexities include the notion (which I have now heard from multiple persons) that if an indigent person is moved from a government right of way--whomever it is that moves that "person" must provide an alternative location to relocate such individuals--to house them.  What??!!??

I've also heard anecdotally that the County may be responsible for the health consequences caused if a homeless individual defecates on our easements, property, or right of ways. (hepatitus, anyone?  Good Times!)  I'm told this ridiculous responsibility is actually codified in Florida Statutes?  Absolutely asinine.

Meanwhile, citizens are mad.  Another citizen related to me his anger over the Mobile Highway shanty-town saying "look--the mobile phone guy is saying he is now losing business because of this camp--can't the county do something about this?

We have GOT to get a handle on this.  Otherwise, it doesn't bode well for this area.