Florida Enacts New Homelessness Law

A new law in Florida enacted on Tuesday prohibits public sleeping and camping on streets, sidewalks, and parks, as well as requiring local governments to offer temporary housing.

The Details: The new law was born from Florida State House Bill 1365, which outlines the specific types of unlawful public camping or sleeping. The new legislation also lists the Department of Children and Families as responsible for certifying certain public areas, in conjunction with the standards and procedures set forth by county governments. Following a three-month grace period, counties that have not stopped public sleeping could be liable for civil suits.

For Context: Since the Supreme Court ruled in July to allow public sleeping bans, several Democrat and Republican jurisdictions have put tougher anticamping laws in place. San Diego, for instance, has enacted a “complete ban” on homeless encampments as a way to deter rising crime rates.

How the Media Covered It: Right-leaning media outlets, such as Fox News (Right bias), emphasized details of the new law that allows county-owned land to be designated as sleeping areas for the homeless, provided certain standards regarding cleanliness, crime prevention, access to showers, and human services are met. Outlets on the left focused more on humanitarian angles, giving some voice to those in disagreement over “sanctioned encampments” and the lack of evidence to show the new law will help reduce homelessness. Outlets on the left also tended to omit details surrounding the enforcement of drug-free sleeping areas.