Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has expressed his concerns over California’s homelessness crisis as he unveils new legislation aimed at addressing the issue within his own state.
According to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s annual report, Florida was among the four states that accounted for more than half of the total number of individuals experiencing homelessness in the United States in 2023. The state of Florida reported a total of 15,482 unsheltered individuals last year.
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis made a significant announcement during a press conference on Wednesday. He revealed that he has officially signed Florida House Bill 1365 into law. This new legislation prohibits individuals from sleeping on public property without obtaining a permit beforehand.
The bill permits local governments to designate properties for sleeping or camping, provided that these sites adhere to the standards set by the Florida Department of Children and Families. However, it is important to note that these designated sites can only be utilized for a maximum duration of one year.
During the press conference, DeSantis criticized California for having the highest number of homeless people compared to any other state.
According to him, the homeless encampments on Sunset Boulevard in Los Angeles, California serve as a reflection of the worsening homelessness problem in Florida.
According to the speaker, many families had to relocate from certain areas due to widespread drug use and a growing homeless population. He gave the example of Sunset Boulevard in Los Angeles, where a massive encampment of homeless individuals has formed. He emphasized that such conditions are detrimental to community strength, good governance, and overall societal well-being.
DeSantis criticized California’s handling of its homelessness problem, stating that their response has been unsuccessful.
According to the governor, San Francisco’s homelessness problem has had a significant financial impact on its taxpayers. Despite being slightly smaller than Jacksonville, Florida, San Francisco has spent $1.1 billion in 2022 alone to address this issue. In fact, this amount accounts for almost 80 percent of Jacksonville’s entire city budget. The governor argues that this unsustainable model has clearly failed.
In October, Governor Gavin Newsom of California made an announcement that the state plans to allocate $179.7 million in grants. These grants will be used to build 710 new homes in seven different counties: Fresno, Los Angeles, Modesto, Sacramento, San Buenaventura, San Diego, and Visalia. The main goal of this initiative is to address and reduce the issue of homelessness in these areas.
Homekey, the statewide initiative aimed at providing housing for the homeless or those at risk of homelessness, will have successfully generated a grand total of 13,484 homes by incorporating these new units.
“The homelessness crisis in the state has been developing for decades. However, we are determined to challenge the current situation by implementing new and innovative solutions to address this issue and provide housing for Californians,” Newsom stated in a press release.
On Wednesday, Newsweek contacted Newsom’s office via email to seek a comment.
In a post shared on Wednesday, DeSantis highlighted additional components of HB 1365. These include the establishment of enforcement measures to ensure local governments’ adherence to the new law. The legislation also mandates that homeless shelters offer alternatives such as drug abuse and mental health counseling when they reach their maximum capacity.
In a recent post, he emphasized the importance of taking action on homelessness in order to prevent Florida communities from facing the same challenges as those in other states, where homeless encampments have become a societal burden.
According to a response from DeSantis’ office, when asked if Florida has sufficient homeless shelters to accommodate the homeless population, they stated that the management of homeless shelters falls under the jurisdiction of local and county authorities. They recommended reaching out to the relevant local government entities for more information.