Legislature Takes Strong Action on Homeless "Squatters"

By an 82-26 margin in the Florida House and a 27-12 margin in the U.S. Senate---the Florida legislature has officially passed tough, new restrictions on those who "squat" on public property.  The law will now head to Governor DeSantis' office--where it is widely anticipated he will sign it into law---as he has signaled this as a priority.  HB 1365 gives the roadmap, what is allowed, and what is unlawful for us to do.

This law, in some respects, pre-empts local governments in the homeless space by making it unlawful for persons to "camp" on public lands without authorization from a local government.  It also specifies that nearby affected citizens can sue the local governments if such governments fail to act on this law and tacitly allow such camping via inaction.

It really is a "no-brainer"---and it needed to happen.

Citizens are fed up and disgusted with what we see on our streets, and this legislation answers their collective angst over this activity all over the state.

The law requires local municipalites to remove unauthorized squatters, and provides a mechanism for such local governments to set aside public spaces for homeless folks to camp---provided such locations have security, sanitation provisions, provisions for mental health, job training, and other social services---and that such areas are cleared to operate by the state's Department of Children and Families.

The bill, upon being signed, goes into effect on October 1st of this year.

Although I am a local control guy----I do get it that sometimes the legislature will step over our authority and pre-empt us when a situation is not appropriately being handled by locals statewide.

This is an instance of that.

Interestingly---I lobbied my counterparts and staff STRENUOUSLY on this matter two and a half years ago after my office was inundated with citizen complaints on homeless blight, illegal conduct, litter, standing in roadways and causing distractions at intersections and theft.  Isaid to scale up the Satoshi Forest concept would be cost effective, would provide the unhoused with better, more sanitary and safe living spaces and mental health and other services, and improve our communities.

At that time, I suggested we identify a public property WAY OUT IN THE WOODS where we could provide a safe, secure, clean area for campers and where we could bring services to them while simulataneously keeping these homeless activities out of established neighborhoods.

Even the middle school students from CLA thought a homeless camping area----away from established neighborhoods (minute 13 of this video)----was the way to go!

Unfortunately--I did not receive support for the idea then.  It was essentially pooh-poohed.

But now a law has been passed that essentially URGES we do just what I and the students suggested years ago--with the State's blessing!

So maybe it is time to re-visit the concept once more and see where it goes now?

Because between what we have enacted with the roadway ordinance and now this state law--I do believe we can make some significant headway on this issue

Welcome to "CAMP" Beggs Lane

An email along with multiple pictures was sent to me yesterday by an individual who tries to assist with the homelessness issues in the Pensacola.

Apparently, these particular homeless folks are entrenched in their own individual areas of this land off of Beggs lane.  Camp fires, tents, busted-down RV's, Opened fire hydrant for water, and trash cans coming.

And this issue is NOT unique to Beggs lane and Jones swamp.  There are homeless camps in wooded lots throughout Pensacola and Escambia County--everyone now knows this.

So, this individual who sent this information is requesting onsite case management and other support services for the women and children and expectant mothers who also reside here along with homeless males.

Looks like a tent city to me.  Interesting that a tent city was my proposal for helping to manage this homelessness issue that is becoming legion in Escambia County--except I favored having this sort of a camp set up under controlled circumstances, with security, drug treatment, medical services, job training, feeding stations, and other wrap around services far away from town, out in the woods.  This way, services could be brought to them and they would not, in the meantime,  be infringing on the peace, quiet, tranquility, and security of existing neighborhoods.  Interesting this sort of a set up was also the solution brought to us by the students at Creative Learning Academy (Minute 13:00 of this video) when they requested to bring solutions to difficult county issues.....

Between this and the Jones Swamp campgrounds--this is starting to look like what I had envisioned albeit way too close in this instance to civilization....

From the email:

"Good afternoon I just want to give an update on the area of Beggs Lane to everyone in the county including John Johnson , the COC. We have successfully moved out permanently 10 people 

 Today we served our normal weekly meal serving more than 75 people During our serving, we noticed many many pregnant women, Families with young children, And many other disabled individuals, all eager to get off the streets. But are keep getting told no room at the shelters or programs. 

 I’m wondering, is there a way like we did underneath the I110 Bridge of getting service providers together and start visiting some of our local camps like the Beggs Lane and others that we are seeing in the news? As you witnessed many of them benefited from having on-site case management. We would be happy to be a part of this or to coordinate anything to get this off the ground so we can get these individuals into something more suitable. We have started much of the casework. 

 Many individuals here at this area are unable to use our public transportation due to their disabilities as well so having on site case, management and medical would be a beneficial for all. 

I was advised that the trash cans will be delivered this week as that is becoming also another health concern. The area has been built by the homeless individuals Into their own community. When coming on the land, you will see how each individual section has been laid out from those suffering addiction to those that are veterans down to women, children, families, and disabled. With the lack of beds in our area, I am asking for anyone’s help to place these individuals into something more suitable. 

I am going to attach some of the photos of the area. In one of the photos, you will also see the fire hydrant busted open where they are using the water. Is there anyway that we can actually get suitable water that does not have to look like it is in the picture?"

 

Do We Already Run an Ad-Hoc Tent City for the Homeless on County Property?

I've long advocated that the county locate homeless in secure safe tent city environments away from established neighborhoods.  My idea always meets resistance, unfortunately.  But are we implementing this idea already?

Homelessness is an issue that is pervasive around the country.

Solutions that last and are also effective are elusive.

What is the scope of the issue locally?  Well, your guess is as good as mine.  We have heard numbers from 750 total to up into the thousands.  Truth is--nobody knows for sure how many at any given time we have here.

Folks familiar with the issue tell me that the heuristic they use is "1/3."  1/3 of the homeless are there by choice, 1/3 are afflicted with undiagnosed/untreated mental illness and/or drug addiction and are content where they are, and 1/3 are truly down on their luck, out of work and suffering medical, substance abuse, or other ailements.

We all want to help those that want help.

In Escambia County, we have earmarked $4 Million for a number of initiatives to help assist with the problem, provide resources and assistance for homeless in our community, and to pay for counseling, substance abuse support and housing.

We have a number of citizens who want us to do more.  They come to meetings, they email, and they call.

They don't want to see these folks, they don't want them in their community.  In many respects, I agree with them, and I sympathize with their plight.  I mean, who wants to have their possessions stolen from their front yard/porch?  Who wants to witness grown men urinating publicly in view of children, who wants to find a shopping cart full of bags containing human feces and other disgusting rubbish dumped on their front yard? Who wants to risk having their whole neighborhood/subdivision burn down because of a carless campfire accident by a homeless campsite in the adjacent, wooded lot? And who wants to deal with aggressive panhandlers--many of whom are homeless? (all real, local examples, by the way)

Answer--nobody.

The Atlantic did a piece the other day that illuminated many aspects of this issue.  Interesting read.

Back to Escambia---I always advocated that the county establish a tent city AWAY from citizens out in the rural woods where homeless could camp and receive support (food, water, job training, medical assistance, mental health care, security, etc.) in a controlled, supportive, and safe environment without infringing on the rights of citizens and their neighborhoods in the more densely populated areas of the county.  I also advocated that we run a bus between this campsite and the county's transit hub a couple of times daily and provide the homeless residents a bus pass so they could travel about.  This sort of model is done already--- currently, privately on a small scale with the small homeless camp site called "Satoshi Forest."  And that concept works, so I wanted to scale it up.  Interestingly--we had a group of students also come to the conclusion that a camp site away from the city would work.  (Minute 13:00 of this video)

Unfortunately--this concept got no traction.  So we are spending the money we were awarded via a grant on different approaches.  We will see what happens with that.

Meanwhile---now comes word from a source that has intimate, firsthand knowledge about county property off of Beggs Lane and the number of campsites there currently.  When I spoke to this individual yesterday--I was floored by what he said.  "Jeff, there are currently between 100 and 200 campsites on that property already."

That is a massive number.  So that begs the question--are we already, tacitly yet deliberately, operating a tent city for the homeless on County Property?

If we are, and if we are going to perpetuate this location and model--then lets by all means add in the wrap around services that are also needed at a site with this many humans living within it:

Security, dumpsters, portable toilets, washing stations, and portable showers.  Let's also do some outreach, job training, food distribution, counseling, and health care assessments.

If we are going to do it, let's do it right and not apply half-measures and "hope" for the best.