Imagine homeless people sleeping in cars on the roof of the City Hall parking garage after hours in downtown Fort Lauderdale, with a security guard on night watch.
The idea was offered up by Commissioner John Herbst this week as city officials across the state scramble to find solutions before a new Florida law goes into effect on Oct. 1. The law bans people from sleeping and camping overnight in public places. Lack of enforcement is not an option, for the law also paves the way for cities to be sued starting on Jan. 1 if they fail to enforce the ban.
Under the new law, local governments will be permitted to set up homeless encampments for up to one year, with a possible one-year extension. The camps are required to have running water, working bathrooms and security to keep them free of drugs and alcohol. They can’t be next to residential areas and can’t hurt the property values of surrounding properties.
Those rules make it even more challenging to find a spot for a homeless camp in Fort Lauderdale, where land and space are at a premium.