The Supreme Court has decided fines and jail-time for sleeping outside are not cruel and unusual punishment, paving the way for Florida's statewide camping ban.
Originally made by a team tasked to raise money from the streets for the shelter, the Homeless Voice was born from the knowledge that freedom of press was a way to raise awareness. We started as a flyer, then a 4-page newsprint, then finally becoming the voice of the homeless with the Homeless Voice newspaper and website in 1999.
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Unusual
By Mckenna Harford
Hurricane Shelter Count Stagnates
Even as rates of homelessness increases, shelter of all kinds aren't keeping up
By Jasmine Knox
To Decide Between a Pet and Shelter
Many shelters force a decision between keeping their pet, or a bed for a night.
By Mary Stewart
The Air Has More Water Than Me
Water access in a Florida summer while on the streets is expensive and difficult.
By Mary Stewart
Outlawing the necessary behaviors of the unhoused helps no one
By Mary Stewart
Some towns in Florida are trying to hinder giving out free food in public.
By
Mary
Stewart
The Camping Ban Could Worsen Domestic Violence
Florida's camping ban will only make it more difficult for people to escape domestic violence situations
By Mary Stewart
All I did was say no, and I should have known better. He wanted the only lighter we had. Since I paid for it, and was sick of supporting two grown men, I wouldn't give it to him. That earned me my second black eye over the course of our seventeen year marriage.
courtesy of my argument the night before with my husband's friend. But I didn't call the cops, nor did I flee I
should have
back to Florida or to a domestic violence shelter. I knew what I was getting into when I came back here to the Caralinas. I returned because of the tougher homeless laws in the Sunshine State.
Florida recently passed a new law banning public camping and lodging in public as a whole. I was in Sarasota at the time when DeSantis signed off on the bill. Sarasota County already had a history of arresting the homeless for public lodging and continues to enforce a ban on storing belongings in public.
Sarasota homeless services refused to help me when I was there because I wasn’t from there, and my home county of Palm Beach already said that there's nothing more they can do for me. I'm on Supplemental Security Income and can't afford housing and groceries without additional assistance, and now I’m not legally allowed to be homeless — at least not in Florida.
Overall, I don't have it too bad where I am. I pitch a tent on my in-laws property, no one can arrest me or run me off because the land is owned by my family, and I go inside the house to use the kitchen, charge my phone, and spend time with my husband. If we get in an argument, I can simply go home to my camp.
He doesn't often beat me up. Physical violence is actually a rarity. Most of the time, it's just screaming, name calling, and demands. And I don't really live with him.
I can't due to the marriage penalty on my benefits and a conflict with the homeowner. We just live on the same property. I spend most of my time at my camp, but usually sleep on the porch with our dog as I'm afraid of the wildlife in our rural community.
I only returned to this unhealthy relationship because of Florida's new camping ban. It makes me wonder how many other women may choose to stay with or return to their abusers simply to avoid homelessness.
People fleeing domestic violence is considered an entire category of homelessness under the Florida Department of Children and Families, the office that handles policy and funding for ending homelessness in Florida. Given the increases in the cost of living and demand for income-based housing and community resources, it may not always be realistic for women to leave their abusers — especially if they have children. There have been domestic violence shelters in every town I've lived in. I can't disclose the locations or identifying details, but I can provide an overview of how the domestic violence system works and what to expect in a shelter.
I've been married long enough to know when the tension is building, and I usually leave before the situation escalates to violence. I can speak from experience when I say that domestic violence shelters aren't bad places, and they're a lot less chaotic than homeless shelters, but each one is different.
Some domestic violence shelters I've lived in had rooms with bunk beds, and you shared the room with up to five other women and possibly their children. I've also been to one where you share an apartment with other survivors. Another shelter that I went to provided private bedrooms and bathrooms. Domestic violence shelters do provide food, but you have to prepare it yourself. At one place, we took turns cooking for everyone and shared a community meal every night.
The other shelters I've been to would give each woman food from the pantry to prepare meals for herself and her kids. I must say there were a lot of dishes, but we took turns with that too.
Some shelters offer additional amenities, such as bus passes, clothing vouchers to go to a thrift store, and toiletries. Other shelters have on-site clothing closets. One shelter offered financial assistance and gift cards through a partnering agency, but the exact services that are offered vary greatly on the shelter.
This may come as a surprise, but like homeless shelters, domestic violence shelters also fill their beds up quickly, and you must complete an assessment to determine if you're even eligible for shelter. You don't necessarily need to file a police report or have a pending case against your abuser, but those things do help with eligibility.
If you do manage to get a bed in a domestic violence shelter, there will be rules that you need to follow, including a curfew. If you break the rules, you're exited from the program. I actually got kicked out of a domestic violence shelter for a curfew violation that I had no control over.
The biggest problem with domestic violence shelters is that they only offer six weeks of shelter assistance. After that, you have to be able to stand on your own two feet or transition to another type of program, such as a homeless shelter, halfway house, or a U.S Department of Housing and Urban Development apartment.
Six weeks isn't enough time for many women. Sadly, some of us have no choice but to return to our abusers or become homeless — and the latter is no longer an option.
Women, like myself, who can't afford the increased cost of living and have barriers to self-sufficiency are stuck going back to unhealthy relationships. All the domestic violence shelters did for me was give me a much needed break and make me an expert at safety planning.
Every time that I left my husband to return to the streets, I used to tell people that I'd rather choose a tent than a coffin. It's impossible to say whether or not domestic abuse will ever escalate to homicide, but it does happen.
For some women in my situation, it is a choice between life and death. But where are we supposed to go now? What are we supposed to do if we can't afford independent living and homelessness is against the law?
If you're in an abusive relationship, you can reach out to the domestic violence hotline to speak with an advocate and get a list of shelters in your area. You should also keep a go-bag packed with essentials and important documents in case you ever need to leave in a hurry.
Upon entry into a shelter, you'll be assigned a caseworker to help connect you with resources. At least, you'll stand a chance, but there's no guarantee that you'll be able to secure housing after you exit the program.
I have met women who successfully left their abusers and are doing well. For others, like myself, the resources just weren't available.
The new camping ban in Florida will undoubtedly have negative impacts on a lot of homeless people. I do personally believe that it will reduce homelessness in Florida — those who aren't fortunate enough to land good jobs or get long-term assistance will likely relocate out of the state.
And as for women like myself, we either need more resources and a longer-term housing option or we're going to have no choice but to stay with our abusers. Oh, well. At least, we won't be homeless.
He doesn't often beat me up. Physical violence is actually a rarity. Most of the time, it's just screaming, name calling, and demands. And I don't really live with him.
Barriers Increasing Between the Unhoused and Food
In a state criminalizing homelessness at every level, some towns are trying to hinder giving out free food.
By Mary Stewart
Photo illustration by Andrew Fraieli
Every day throughout the week people line up to be fed at Boca Helping Hands — many of whom are homeless. The first time I ate there a volunteer told me that I was in for a treat. I wouldn't exactly call the quality of the food “a treat,” but I will admit that it was a halfway decent full course meal and a blessing for my rumbling stomach.
Back before COVID, Boca Helping Hands served sitdown meals in their dining area. Now, people have to line up on the sidewalks instead to receive their plates and eat elsewhere — usually in the nearby park. Those who have cars or homes pull up in their vehicles and receive their monthly food bags to take home with them.
Some Florida cities, like Largo in Pinellas County, are aiming to hinder the ability of anyone to serve food or distribute any goods or services on public ground without a permit, which would include the sidewalk.
Instead of outright calling the new law an anti-feeding ordinance, the county worded it as “regulating outdoor social service activities” as of its first reading in June. Its supposed justification is that “the act of giving out free food draws large crowds and congests the public streets, sidewalks, walkways, and paths; threatens public safety; and damages public welfare.” But in my opinion, it's just one more way to try to get rid of the homeless. Places would even be restricted to only two permits every 12 months, and would possibly have to pay for security, restrooms, and whatever else the town dictates would be required for safety reasons.
Most of the time, I panhandled to get money for food. I wasn't a frequent guest of soup kitchens and outreach programs, but did find them to be helpful at times and consider them as much needed resources for the community.
For instance, when Palm Beach County had an ordinance against panhandling in the medians, there were many days where places, such as Boca Helping Hands, were my only source of food.
Even when I panhandled, I was very grateful whenever a good Samaritan bought me lunch or handed me leftovers or snacks. Sometimes I was given money, which was much needed as well. Then, I'd go eat out at Wendy's or Chipotle and get other things I needed like my bus pass. But there were plenty of hard days where I was in desperate need of the food that was handed to me.
Anti-feeding laws take away these options for obtaining food. Without soup kitchens and outreach ministries, homeless people can either panhandle or dig through dumpsters for food.
But panhandling is also against the law in many jurisdictions, and some anti-feeding laws impose fines on individuals who give food to the needy.
In Sarasota, some homeless people know where the best dumpsters are and share that information with friends. The county doesn't have any soup kitchens besides a day center and an outreach place that occasionally brings out meals.
I tried panhandling in that area until I found out that a cop threatened a fellow panhandler with a $300 fine. I heard that medians were off limits, and I didn't make enough on the sidewalk for it to be worth the risk.
Admittedly, they do have the Salvation Army and U.S Housing and Urban Development apartments in
It's clearly a feeding ban supposedly justified due to traffic and the blocking of sidewalks and public areas.
But in my opinion, it's just one more way to try to get rid of the homeless.
Sarasota, but the waiting list for services is insanely long, and they don't help out-of-county residents.
If we can't panhandle, how do people expect us to eat without the help of soup kitchens and good Samaritans? But maybe that's the whole point. Just watch the Discovery Channel and you'll see that every living creature will leave an area where there's not any food source and migrate to a place where food is plentiful. The real reason for anti-feeding ordinances is to encourage homeless people to go elsewhere — it has nothing to do with congested sidewalks.
Soup kitchens and feeding ministries can actually benefit communities as a whole and not only the homeless or low-income people they serve, they can lower the crime rate and reduce panhandling.
I still went out with my cardboard sign a lot instead of going to soup kitchens, but I know many many homeless people who eat at ministries on a daily basis, and I hardly ever see them panhandle.
My big issue was the fact that I had appointments and was actively looking for a job. Sometimes it was impossible to make it to the nearest ministry for lunch or dinner and still do what I needed to do that day.
I also figured out that it was over a two hour bus ride to get to Boca Helping Hands and back to my spot. It made more sense to just go panhandle for an hour and grab a Biggie Bag at Wendy's.
Another barrier that some homeless people face is bus fare. They'd have to panhandle anyway to get bus money to go to the soup kitchen. They might as well just spend that money on lunch. But that doesn't mean that we should shut soup kitchens down and stop serving the needs of our community.
Some people may argue that food stamps can meet the nutrition needs of the homeless, but the reality is that you can only buy cold foods that require preparation on Florida food stamps. Aside from a cold Publix sub, a bag of chips, and a soda, there's not much that homeless people can buy on food stamps unless they have a grill. Also, homeless people who have income are often ineligible for food stamps. Even if they don't make enough to afford housing or their income isn't steady, the state figures that they can spend their little bit of money on feeding themselves through the month. I know many homeless people who are on SSI or work day labor and have been turned down for food stamps. One way around that is if people are over a certain age, otherwise they would receive limited benefits and have to participate in a work program. I think that's fair except for the fact that homelessness is a major barrier to employment. It's hard to get a job, and keep one, when you don't even have a stable place to sleep. With anti-feeding ordinances, limited to no food stamps, and outlawing panhandling, the only option that leaves us is dumpster diving. In addition to possibly making us sick, some business owners are strangely protective of their dumpsters. Once, I was chased away from a dumpster with a baseball bat — I was simply throwing away garbage.
The new anti-feeding laws remind me of the signs at the Tri-rail station that read, “Don't feed the birds.” The theory is that if you don't give the birds food, they'll go away. But homeless people aren't birds. We are human beings who deserve to eat without digging through a trash can.
Arecent Supreme Court ruling has overturned precedent that stopped municipalities from punishing unhoused people when no shelter was available, paving the way for Florida’s own statewide camping ban even though many cities lack the housing they need.
In June, the Supreme Court ruled in Johnson v. Grants Pass that camping bans don’t constitute cruel or unusual punishment, which is unconstitutional under the Eighth Amendment. The case was decided on a 6-3 vote.
The plaintiffs in the case, which has been in the court system for more than a year, argued that a municipal
ordinance in Grants Pass, Oregon, prohibiting camping on public property unfairly targeted people experiencing homelessness. City officials argued that the ordinance was necessary to control growing encampments, protect private property and address public health concerns.
In the majority opinion, Justice Neil Gorsuch argued that solutions for homelessness should be left to state and local governments.
“Homelessness is complex,” Gorsuch wrote. “Its causes are many. So may be the public policy responses required to address it.”
The ruling overturns previous legal precedent, set in
Martin v. Boise, that prevented cities from criminalizing the conduct of people who are “involuntarily homeless” and determined camping bans were cruel and unusual punishment when shelter wasn't available.
Advocates for housing solutions were quick to condemn the ruling.
Florida Rep. Anna Eskamani, D-Orlando, released a statement calling the ruling devastating and saying it doesn’t address the reality of homelessness.
“We will continue to do what we can at a local and state level to push back against the criminalization of our fellow Americans who deserve evidence-based interventions, not incarceration,” Eskamani said. “We
By McKenna Harford
Photo illustration by Andrew Fraieli
will also advocate for additional dollars to be allocated toward both homelessness and long-term housing affordability projects.”
The National Homelessness Law Center, in a statement, called the ruling disappointing and said it will make homelessness worse.
“Arresting or fining people for trying to survive is expensive, counterproductive, and cruel,” the statement said. “Cities are now even more empowered to neglect proven housing-based solutions and to arrest or fine those with no choice but to sleep outdoors.
That reality will be far more likely in Florida following the passage of a state law in March that prohibits local governments from allowing camping or sleeping on public property, effective Oct. 1.
IMPACT IN FLORIDA
Florida’s law gives businesses and residents the power to hold municipalities accountable through civil lawsuits if people are found sleeping outside while there is shelter space. The solution given in the law is a legal mechanism for municipalities — towns, cities, counties — to create designated camping areas on municipal land for up to one year, requiring bathrooms, running water and substance abuse and mental health services be available. The space must be approved by the Florida Department of Children and Families.
Florida Rep. Sam Garrison, R-Fleming Island, who helped spearhead the law, praised the court ruling in a statement to the Tallahassee Democrat.
“Today’s United States Supreme Court ruling is a victory for common sense and judicial restraint,” Garrison said. "Florida has chosen to reject comfortable inaction and tackle this problem head on. That is our right, and our obligation."
Antonia Fasanelli, the Executive Director of the National Homelessness Law Center, disagrees that the law will tackle homelessness. She told the Homeless Voice that the law is attempting to create “internment camps” for unhoused people.
“It's a very poorly thought out law and it's a very harmful and aggressive law,” Fasanelli said. “And ultimately what it does is it penalizes people who have done nothing wrong simply because they live their lives in public spaces. And the elected officials don't want that to be seen anymore.”
Fasanelli also questioned whether it will be possible for municipalities to meet all of the requirements laid out in the law, particularly under the fall deadline.
“In the logistics, they're not even sure where land would be for these internment camps to be based,” she said. “So it seems quite unlikely that by the effective date of Oct. 1 that they're going to be able to do what they need to do in order to comply with it.”
Martha Are, CEO of the Homeless Services Network of Central Florida, echoed Fasanelli in an email to the Homeless Voice, saying she worries that the two and half months to October isn’t enough time for counties to develop more sleeping arrangements, including the “much less desirable option of sanctioned encampments outlined in the law, which some Central Florida counties have taken a stand against.”
“Without options, though, counties are now backed into a corner in which they may feel forced to arrest our unsheltered neighbors to avoid being subject to lawsuits, as HB 1365 allows,” Are said.
The camps proposed in law often only create more
problems and not solutions, she continued.
“The history of such camps is fraught with problems – including sharp increases in emergency calls to police and EMS, the mixing of vulnerable populations, and exposure to extreme heat, thunderstorms and hurricanes,” Are said.
CONSEQUENCES OF CRIMINALIZATION
Already the looming ban has pushed Mary Stewart out of Florida. A Homeless Voice contributor and Boca Raton native who has been homeless on and off for almost 20 years, Stewart said she left her home state and moved to South Carolina because she didn’t see any other options.
“I just couldn't afford to stay in Florida, and I couldn't get the help that I needed, and now being homeless is about to be illegal,” she said.
She told the Homeless Voice that she worries about being in and out of jail, leading her to lose her belongings and incur fines and a criminal record.
“You're scared to go to sleep because you're scared to
wake up in cuffs just for sleeping,” she said. “That's what my big concern is.”
Stewart also worries the law gives people and businesses a renewed incentive to call the police on people who are unhoused because they might be able to sue and get a payout.
Stewart said the law only hurts the people it claims to help by adding more barriers to finding housing and a job.
In areas without adequate shelter, Stewart said people may be forced to stay in abusive relationships or unsafe homes to avoid being arrested. Other possibilities she predicts are more people turning to the health care system for hospital stays and an increase in crime.
NEXT STEPS
Local efforts to comply with the law are scattered.
The City of Orlando has set aside $4 million for a low-barrier emergency shelter, but hasn’t decided on a location yet, according to the Orlando Sentinel.
Other governments, like the Highlands County commissioners, are still working to figure out the potential impacts of the law and how much investment will be needed. County Attorney Sherry Sutphen told the commissioners in April that she is putting a plan together.
As one of the 29 counties falling under the legal definition of “fiscally constrained” identified in the law, Highlands County would be exempt from needing to offer health services, bathrooms or security at camping areas.
It's a very poorly thought out law and it's a very harmful and aggressive law.
In Pinellas County, the Tampa Bay Times reported that the sheriff’s office is tracking the locations of unhoused people and compiling a list with the help of the Clearwater, Tarpon Springs, Pinellas Park and Gulfport police departments.
A spokesperson for the sheriff’s office told the Times that officers and social workers are using the list to approach homeless people to educate them and provide them with legal options.
Local advocates worry that it will be used to target people when the law goes into effect.
Are, with HSN, said that arresting people will never solve homelessness.
“Not only are arrests cruel, but they also slow down a return to housing by saddling people with fines and criminal records,” she said. “In the interim, they also cost taxpayers by increasing law-enforcement duties, public defender costs and jail expenditures.”
Florida’s looming anti-camping ban deadline and the Supreme Court ruling also coincides with a rising number of unhoused people in the state.
The HSN Point-In-Time Count from January identified nearly 1,100 unsheltered people across Orange, Osceola and Seminole counties – almost double the number counted last year.
Last year also saw Florida accounting for 5% of the country’s unhoused population at 30,756 people.
Are said the best solution to homelessness is to tackle the issue of affordable housing and lack of supply.
“We know the great majority of the people you see on our streets were last housed in our neighborhoods,” she said. “Rather than arrest them, we must build the infrastructure to keep pace with the needs of our fastgrowing community, and the state of Florida needs to support the development of safe and dignified housing options.”
To Decide Between a Pet and Shelter
Most shelters don't allow pets, forcing some people to choose between a beloved friend or a place to sleep.
By Mary Stewart
The clock was ticking for Georgie. He only had mere minutes left before he would take his last breath. The shelter was crowded and they needed to make space for other pets. But Georgie, laid on that table, had no idea that he was about to die.
Deb saw his picture and fell in love with his adorable face. She couldn't let him die, so she rushed to the Tampa kill shelter as fast as she could get there, and made it just in time.
My friend Deb is a huge animal advocate who once trained raccoons when we were homeless together in Boca Raton. When she finally got an apartment in Sarasota, she was eager to welcome a dog in need. That night at the Tampa animal shelter, she saved Georgie's life.
She thought she could offer Georgie a stable loving home, but then she got evicted from her apartment. Deb refused to go to the Salvation Army because she promised Georgie that he'd never have to see the inside of a kennel again.
Determined to keep him, Deb panhandled every day to afford a pet friendly motel room for nine months.
“I couldn't bring him to the woods to a hot tent. I had to do what was best for my dog,” she explained.
A police officer was touched by her story and offered to house her and take Georgie down to the police station, but Deb still refused to part with her dog. Eventually, by some rare stroke of luck, they ended up together in a U.S. Housing and Urban Development, or
HUD, sponsored apartment.
It was a fairy tale happy ending that doesn't happen for most homeless dog owners, though.
A different friend of mine was disabled and on oxygen. She had two service dogs and couldn't find anywhere that would take her and them, so she similarly went through the struggle to pay for hotel rooms instead. Housing issues are to blame for many owners surrendering their pets to shelters. Some pet owners simply can't afford to pay the extra deposit and higher monthly rent required for them to keep their pets. The increased cost of living has also led to more pets being dropped off at local animal shelters.
And if a person becomes homeless, most homeless shelters and halfway houses don’t allow pets. According to a 2017 study that surveyed almost 1,500 people experiencing homelessness in Los Angeles, about half reported being turned away from a shelter because of pet policies. Another survey by the National Alliance to End Homelessness in 2016 of over 1,000 unhoused people on the west coast found over 20% avoided shelter specifically because of these types of policies. Last Easter, I talked to a young man who was living in a U-haul truck with his dog. He had a substance abuse problem and wanted to move into a halfway house, but couldn't bear to part with his dog.
I think homeless people are actually good pet owners, contrary to what many people believe. I’ve witnessed another friend move his camp and notice two cats in the woods and immediately start panhandling money
for cat food every day, speaking highly about his new pets.
Homeless people usually have to start out in a homeless shelter or halfway house for temporary shelter until they get on their feet, unless they have income and find a room to rent or move in with friends or family. Most of the time they can't take their pets, though, having to choose between Fido and a place to live.
This decision may sound like a no-brainer to many, but for animal lovers like Deb and homeless people who have bonded with their pets as their primary source of companionship, it's not easy for them to part with their beloveds. Some flatly refuse to do so.
I've known one man who built a makeshift house in the woods for himself and his dog. I've also seen another homeless man panhandle with his dog. The dog wore a sign around his neck that said, “I'm hungry, too.”
Some people may think of this as cruelty or neglect, but that couldn't be further from the truth. A lot of pets live outdoors even if their owners have a house, and every homeless pet owner I've known has made sure that their pets ate even if they didn't.
Sadly, though, many pet owners finally accept that they need to give their furry friends up to secure housing. Their pets end up in animal shelters at risk of being euthanized to make space. Not only is this heartbreaking for the former owners, it also takes an emotional toll on the pets as well.
Sometimes, the reason for saying goodbye to a pet is as simple as a job loss, eviction, or foreclosure. Even if the pet owner isn't faced with living on the streets or going to a homeless shelter, they may still move into a relative’s house where pets aren't welcome.
There are alternatives to surrendering pets to animal shelters where they'd be at risk of euthanasia. Pet foster homes and rescues are sometimes able to take pets in, but the owner still may have to surrender rights. Another option is re-homing which involves the owner finding a new home for their pets.
Right now, homeless shelters are struggling to find enough beds to house people, so it's not realistic to expect them to take pets in as well. Halfway houses also have regulations to follow and other residents to consider, but having a few pet-friendly halfway houses out there may give many more people the opportunity to get better.
In the meantime, landlords should consider waiving pet deposits and additional fees and welcoming pets on their properties — with strict rules for the safety of the community and other residents, of course. I'd also suggest that animal shelters start keeping lists of local pet friendly landlords to give to owners who are considering surrender them due to housing issues.
If you have a home, consider adopting a pet from your local shelter or becoming a pet foster. Homeless pet owners would be grateful for someone who is willing to care for their pets while they get back on their feet, especially if they have the option of one day reuniting with their furry friends.
For some homeless pet owners, their pets are their only source of companionship and their only reason for holding onto hope. For others, like Deb, the loyalty towards their dog runs deep enough that they'd forgo shelter to stay with their animals.
Sometimes, Fido isn't just a man's best friend. He's their only friend. As Deb told me: “I'll never leave Georgie behind.” Pet ownership may make some homeless people more willing to go indoors, but only if their pet can come too.
Homelessness Rises While Hurricane Shelter Count Stagnates
Even as rates of homelessness increases, shelter of all kinds isn't keeping up.
By Jasmine Knox
Gov. Ron DeSantis has pushed to wipe all mention of climate change from state law and criminalized sleeping outside statewide not only in the face of Florida’s rates of homelessness being top three in the country, but as emergency shelter space fails to increase to compensate as hurricanes continue to batter the state.
A 2023 annual report by the Florida Division of Emergency Management on shelter development states that, while more evacuation shelter space has been added year after year, it has not kept up with population increases and the decay of its own infrastructure. Most counties have enough spaces, but the report recommends an almost 10% increase from 1.02 million spaces to 1.14 million at a cost of over $70 million to keep it that way.
The Homeless Services Network of Central Florida’s January point-in-time count found that people
"Shelters are full, and more people are experiencing unsheltered homelessness."
experiencing homelessness in Central Florida rose by almost a third compared to last year’s, though.
Martha Are, the president and CEO of HSN, told the Homeless Voice that hurricanes and the lack of nonemergency shelter is an increasing threat to those experiencing unsheltered homelessness as rates continue to rise.
All the while the Emergency Management report says that the State Shelter Development Program budget has been stagnant since 2008 in the face of shelter space development costs increasing by at least four times since then.
More unsheltered homelessness means more people that need shelter, and the less shelter the more emergency shelter needed to compensate during a hurricane
According to HSN, the shelters in their region have agreed, thanks to Are’s efforts, to expand beyond normal capacity in emergencies likes hurricanes, helping with that issue. The current issue in their region of Central Florida is lack of shelter on an everyday basis. Other local nonprofits have felt the pinch of budget constraints in their attempts to manage the increase in Floridians experiencing homelessness.
SALT Outreach, a nonprofit which serves unhoused individuals in need in Orlando, was recently on the verge of closing until they received a $300,000 donation from Big Nova Foundation. Eric Caramillo, the president and CEO, attributed the financial strain largely due to federal grants and funding from Orlando and Orange County, supplemented by federal COVID funding, running dry.
Some of those experiencing unsheltered homelessness say they face even more red tape trying to access emergency shelter in preparation for a hurricane.
Mary Stewart has survived multiple hurricanes while unsheltered in Florida, previously writing on her experience of Hurricane Wilma for the The Homeless Voice.
When Hurricane Irma made landfall in Florida in 2017, Stewart said it was difficult for herself and her husband, along with their peers, to find shelter.
“The first shelter we went to said they wouldn’t accept homeless people,” she said. “The next shelter…accepted us. But the second night, the staff called a group of us together and moved us into a narrow hallway and tried to lock us in until we ‘raised hell’ and threatened to sue. We couldn’t figure out why we were put in the hallway, until we realized we were all homeless.”
Stewart also said she’s seen people with addictions struggle to find an accommodating shelter that provides medical intervention or treatment for withdrawal, and Red Cross shelters turn away people for not having identification.
Legislation like Florida’s recent state-wide camping ban leaves many unsheltered Floridians liable to be arrested for sheltering outside in a storm. Stewart expressed anxiety about the possibility of being ticketed or jailed for this, especially if local shelters are already at capacity.
“The state is consequencing [sic] poor people for being poor and disabled people for being disabled,” said Stewart.
While Florida’s new law will severely restrict options for unsheltered individuals, the state is also on a trajectory to broadly ignore the solutions required to mitigate the effects of climate change.
As of July 1, 2024, legislation signed by DeSantis erases most mentions of climate change from state law as parts of Southeast Florida were flooded with over 20 inches of rain and Hurricane Beryl became the earliest recorded Category 5 hurricane in the Atlantic the month before.
“The need for affordable housing and emergency homeless shelters, this is an infrastructure challenge,” Are said. “And it requires funding and that’s a challenge for communities that grow very quickly,” referencing the growing population of communities like Orlando.
Florida Housing Scams, from Experience
In a state that is outlawing public camping when there isn't enough homeless shelter or housing, be wary of the many scams a landlord can pull.
By Mary Stewart
Iwas hopeful once again that semester. I had been living in a tent while attending college and had just received another disbursement check to help with living expenses. I rented a motel room temporarily while I embarked on my apartment hunt. I had deposit money and a steady income, but background and credit continued to be a barrier to housing. I repeatedly paid application fees only to be turned down, so I started being more honest about my history to prospective landlords. A few times they said they weren't concerned about my particular criminal charges — that it wouldn't be a problem. And so, I paid the application fee only to be given a run around and eventually ghosted.
I'm just assuming this, but it seems like they planned on denying my applications, but still wanted to pocket the fees. There's no other rational explanation that I can come up with.
Finally, I gave up on finding an apartment and still somehow managed to graduate with honors while living in a tent, albeit with more student loan debt than I should have had.
But being conned out of application fee money and still denied housing was certainly not the only housing scam that I've dealt with. At the time, $35 wasn't a big deal to me, but paying it over and over added up, and only to get my hopes up and then have them crushed. When most people think of housing scams, the first thing that usually comes to mind is major fraud. For instance, my family once rented a house off a guy and later learned that it wasn't even his house. The real owners were out of the country. Now, that's a scam! However, there's a lot of crooked people in the real estate industry whose deception isn't as blatant. Due to a recent state-wide camping ban, homelessness is about to be functionally illegal in Florida, which means there's going to be a lot of homeless people who are desperate for housing and especially susceptible to scammers.
At the very least, it could just be being told they'll be approved when the landlord has no intention of renting to them, but they could also fall victim to scams that are much more sinister and costly.
Twice I rented places in Florida that should have rightfully been condemned, but the rent was cheap and I saw that the units had potential. I lived in one such place for over six months. I was actually happy there, but the roof leaked, the ceiling caved in, and the wooden paneling was destroyed in spots due to water damage.
Another landlord owned a two-bedroom duplex apartment that needed a lot of work. He asked for $2000 to get the repairs done. I was desperate, and the place was close to school, so I gave him the money and moved in. He spent the money on a vacation and didn't fix anything. I went back to my camp the following month.
One housing scam left me both homeless and disappointed. I looked at a trailer for rent in Boca Raton and met with the supposed landlord. The place was really nice, but it was obvious that they were still finishing up work on it. I gave the “landlord” a $300 deposit, and he gave me a receipt. Then, he never returned my calls. I really liked that place, too.
Some scams are much harder to notice. My friend Deb had been living in a stable, yet chaotic U.S. Housing and Urban Development sponsored apartment for several years when she went to look at another apartment with her neighbor.
“I felt a weight removed from my shoulders when I walked into that rental office, and the apartments were so nice. They rushed me into signing a lease even though I couldn't move in for a couple of months. Nothing like that ever happened to me. I even told my HUD lady that something didn't seem right. I should've listened to my gut,” she told me.
Her new landlord promised to help her apply for assistance with the deposit, but never did. They also initially refused to accept her rent money even after she moved in because they weren't sure yet how much it was going to be.
To make matters worse, they hit her with every possible extra charge, from a parking space — she doesn't have a car — to garbage pickup. Then, they issued an eviction notice. Thanks to help from friends, she paid off the eviction only to have an eviction filed on her again for being $50 short on a late fee.
It is a beautiful apartment complex with a pool and a dog park. It's peaceful there, and they have a legitimate contract with HUD. On the outside, it's hard to see that a scam exists. But nevertheless, they're milking both the government and struggling tenants for every dime they can get. Deb doesn't plan on renewing her lease. Housing scams aren't limited to landlords and apartments either.
Since I was homeless on an SSI check, I've had several people over the years say that I could move in with them and rent a room. Then, they threw me back out on the streets shortly after they received the money.
Some halfway houses are also sketchy. They'll rent out a bed to one person, and then kick that person out and rent the bed to someone else to double up on the money.
To be fair, sometimes the person leaves on their own or is put out for a legitimate reason, such as relapse. But other times, they're kicked out over minor rule violations or mental health issues.
Once when I was looking for a halfway house, a few friends in recovery warned me of a couple houses that would purposely set residents up for relapse when their insurance was about to run out to justify billing for an extended stay.
Most halfway houses are decent places to start out at as well as legitimate businesses, though. If you're considering moving into a one, it's best to ask for recommendations from people at 12-step meetings to avoid scams.
As far as the other scams I mentioned, here are a few tips when looking for a place to stay:
• Don't put out any money on units that aren't ready yet
• Get everything in writing when renting a room off someone
• If it looks too good to be true, it probably is
• If you have doubts about ownership, double-check property records before renting the place
• If you have credit and background issues, look for private landlords who don't charge application fees
• Don't move into places that aren't in livable condition unless you have no other choice
• Always sign a written rental agreement
Hopefully, this helps in finding a decent place to lay your head. Times are tough, and sadly, there are people out there who will prey upon desperation. But there are also nice places out there that you may one day be able to call home.
The Air Has More Water Than Me
Water Than Me
By Mary Stewart
It was 115 degrees outside. I felt like I was going to pass out. I desperately needed a glass of cold water, so I went to a nearby convenience store. I heard that they had a water fountain, but I didn't know where it was. I asked a clerk, only to be informed that they didn't give out free water, I had to purchase bottled water instead.
I responded by saying something that was admittedly rude and left the store in tears. Later, I found out where the water fountain actually was, but decided that I no longer wanted to do business at that store. Anyways, the place across the street gave out cups of water for 50 cents each.
Homeless people in Florida are especially prone to dehydration in the summer due to being outdoors most of the time and constantly exposed to high heat and the humidity — we certainly don't always have spare change to buy a glass of ice water, and we definitely can't afford bottled water.
I can't count the number of times I've been dripping sweat and feeling like I was about to collapse from the heat. I've never gone to the emergency room over this, though. I learned from experience that cold water and a few moments in the air conditioner makes me feel better, but sometimes that's easier said than done. I started toting around an empty water bottle or old Gatorade bottle to fill up at water fountains whenever I came across them. However, it's been harder to find water fountains since the pandemic, and most restaurants have started charging for a cup of water or offering to sell me bottled water as an alternative. Fortunately, many good Samaritans have given me bottles of water instead of money when I've been panhandling. I've regularly walked off the corner with more bottles of water than I was able to tote. But, panhandling is illegal in most jurisdictions in Florida. In desperate situations, I've looked for water spigots and hoses behind businesses at the risk of being chased off or "no trespassed." Therefore, I usually only used spigots as a water source after the businesses were closed unless I was really thirsty and had no other options.
Outdoor water spigots also provide homeless people with a way to wash up when we can't get to an outreach ministry. I've always filled up gallon jugs of water and bathed elsewhere, but I have known other homeless people to actually shower behind businesses. As a result, many places have started disconnecting their outside spigots. In a way, I can't really blame them, especially if some people are leaving a mess behind the store, but this leaves us with even fewer sources of water, subject to dehydration or even heatstroke. While anyone can become dehydrated due to not consuming enough fluids or working all day in the
It's difficult, or expensive, to find water access while living on the streets in Florida.
hot sun, homeless Floridians are especially prone to becoming dehydrated by not having our own water spigots to turn to, struggling financially to afford water at all.
True, some of us do have income through Social Security benefits, day labor, or odd jobs, and we still panhandle when it comes down to it. But we're struggling to make it, and many of us don't see much sense in spending our little bit of money on bottles of water.
I've found some restaurants here and there who are more than happy to give me a free water cup and let me sit in the air conditioning for a little while if they aren't busy. I started to eat at those restaurants on a regular basis as I knew that I was welcome there and that they'd help me with water and cool air when needed. Also, some libraries still have functioning water fountains. I often spent time at the public library reading books and going online to get out of the heat. I'd also always try to remember to fill my water bottle while I was there. But some county libraries, such as one in Sarasota, are unwelcoming towards homeless people — particularly if they're toting large bags.
One affordable water source that most homeless people overlook is the refillable Glacier machines that
are at Publix and other supermarkets. I used to fill up entire gallons of water at those machines for 50 cents each. True, the water wasn't cold, but it was cheap. Soup kitchens and churches are also good about giving out bottles of water to homeless people. Boca Helping Hands puts bottled water in every lunch bag. But one bottle isn't enough to survive the entire day outdoors in the Florida heat.
As far as other beverages, alcohol should be avoided or limited in the summer. If you do drink beer, you need to also make sure to drink plenty of water. Sports drinks are also good because they're flavored and replace electrolytes, but they're also expensive.
Many people take something as simple as water for granted but when you're overheated and dying of thirst, a cold glass of water tastes better than anything else in the world. One friend of mine once told me that he didn't realize until he was homeless that the biggest blessing someone could give him is cold water.
If you're homeless in the Sunshine State, make sure to drink plenty of fluids, especially water, over the summer months even if you have to scrape up some change to pay for it. For those who aren't homeless, please be kind enough to help us out with a cup of water. You may even save a life.
