Nice letter to the editor Mr. Hoff
https://www.jacksonville.com/story/opinion/letters/2024/11/20/letters-social-media-has-allowed-mob-mentality-to-take-over-politics/76298204007/The new “sleeping in public” state law (HB 1365) passed by the Florida Legislature was meant to reduce the impact of homeless people camping wherever they like, which is a positive step. While not all homeless people are ready to be housed, camping in highly visible areas has a negative impact on community quality of life.
In an urgent effort to meet the basic requirements of the law by Jan. 1, 2025, such as providing a shelter bed for anyone interested, the Jacksonville City Council will consider 2024-0888 by emergency vote on Nov. 26. This would increase the bed capacity by 110 at three overnight shelters in a small area of downtown — west of Hogan Street and east of Lee Street.
This area of downtown is already saturated with problems related to the hundreds of shelter beds already there. Once the bill is approved, if a homeless person is camping in another area of Jacksonville and does not want to be arrested, they will be relocated to this same part of the city.
Funneling people with significant problems into one small section of the city equals bad results for that specific area. Keep in mind this is the same area that is being targeted for revitalization by the development community. So this initiative appears counterproductive to that effort.
Note that the Urban Rest Stop is the main day and resource center for homeless people during the day, but is on the other side of downtown from these new shelter beds.
2024-0888 is an expeditated effort to avoid litigation, but without a more comprehensive approach that includes scattered site low barrier housing, affordable housing and professional wraparound services, the unintended consequence is that problems will increase in the very area being invested in by our city and downtown champions.
Bill Hoff, Springfield
