Florida's Controversial Camping Ban: Are the Homeless Being Counted?

Marion County, Florida, USA - The issue of homelessness in Florida has taken a complex turn recently, especially following the enactment of a new state law that has raised questions about the counting and treatment of those in need. In late January 2025, volunteers conducted the annual Point-in-Time (PIT) count of homelessness across the state, marking the first count since the implementation of a law barring public camping. According to Around Osceola, the results reveal a slight increase in the number of homeless individuals, highlighting the sensitive dynamics at play in Florida’s efforts to address this pressing issue.

The PIT count, which took place during the last week of January 2025, came amid the backdrop of House Bill 1365, signed by Governor Ron DeSantis, which prohibits camping and sleeping in public spaces. Effective from October 2024, this law allows residents and business owners to sue local governments if they fail to clear out homeless individuals from public areas within five days of a complaint. This adds an extra layer of urgency for those relying on temporary shelter in public spaces.

Challenges in Counting

This year, nearly 400 volunteers took part in the PIT count throughout Central Florida. The effort, spearheaded by the Homeless Services Network of Central Florida, aimed to provide accurate figures of unsheltered homelessness in the area. Concerns remain, however, about the influence of the new camping ban on the reliability of the count. As Central Florida Public reports, Brian Postlewait, the COO of the agency, expressed unease about the possible anxiety stemming from the law. This anxiety may discourage homeless individuals from participating in the count, thus skewing the results.

The outcomes from this year’s count showed that 2,781 individuals were identified as homeless in regions like Orlando and Osceola County, a slight bump from last year’s figure of 2,776. Marion County also reported a 3.44% increase, with 391 individuals counted. Yet, these figures may not capture the complete picture. Karla Greenway, CEO of Interfaith Emergency Services, emphasizes that the PIT count, while valuable, can be misleading due to the constant mobility of homeless camps prompted by the new law.

Law’s Impact on Homelessness

Beyond the immediate counting challenges, the implications of House Bill 1365 are concerning. The law, aimed at reducing unauthorized public camping, does not offer state funding for homelessness solutions, leaving local governments to shoulder the financial responsibility of providing adequate shelter. As reported by Miami Law Review, this has prompted significant anxiety and uncertainty among both officials and the homeless population.

Florida’s Council on Homelessness reported that as of June 2024, 31,462 individuals were experiencing homelessness in the state, an increase from previous counts. Disturbingly, approximately 54% of these individuals were unsheltered, living outdoors or in vehicles. The continuation of rising rents and insufficient shelter capacity are providing strong headwinds against progress, contributing to the fact that Florida’s rate of returns to homelessness rose from 8.3% in 2022 to 9.0% in 2023.

With officials tasked to comply with the new law, questions linger regarding how effective these measures will be in truly addressing homelessness. The final data from the PIT count will be submitted to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development to shape future funding and awareness initiatives. Will it lead to more robust solutions, or simply push homelessness further out of sight? Only time will tell.