Florida Could Criminalize Outdoor Sleeping

A proposed bill in the Florida state legislature would ban unhoused people from sleeping on public streets and in parks, reports Casey Albritton for ABC Action News. The bill would also let counties designate specific areas for camping.

Joe Pondolfino of local shelter Pinellas Hope says the bill is promising, but could use some adjustments. Pondolfino criticized the criminalization aspect of the bill and noted that shelters like his may not have the financial capacity to take in more residents without additional funding.

According to Pondolfino, housing is just one piece of the puzzle. “It has to be more than just a place to put up a tent or put up a bed. They have to have the whole community behind them to help solve each person's individual problems.”