Fort Lauderdale goes on prohibiting homeless camping

With Florida’s so-called “anti-camping” law going into effect on Oct. 1, the City of Fort Lauderdale is taking steps to comply with the law and go even further to move homeless people off the streets. 

The city already has outreach teams that interact every day with unhoused people, trying to help them get services for mental illness and substance abuse. There are currently more than 700 homeless people on the streets of the city. 

“The recent point in time count shows that our city has about 50% of the homeless in the county,” said Fort Lauderdale’s vice mayor, Steve Glassman. 

At Tuesday night’s city commission meeting, a homeowner complained about homeless people spending nights in his neighborhood park and scaring residents away.  The city and Broward County collaborate on running the Homeless Assistance Center, and right next door on Northwest 7th Avenue, the city opened Seven on Seventh, which offers living space and social services to help them get back into society.

“And that’s really what this is all about; it’s not just finding that shelter bed, that place to stay, to hang your hat, but also getting the services you need to help you deal with your issues,” Glassman said. 

Critics of the law, including Mayor Trantalis, said back in February that it would just criminalize homelessness and result in the jail being flooded with homeless people, who are then released back out on the streets of the city, perpetuating the cycle. Fort Lauderdale officials say they need more help from the county and the state to expand services for the unhoused population.