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Another Florida city is making homelessness a crime

Davie is cracking down on homeless people.

A new ordinance outlaws sleeping outdoors on public or private property without permission of the property owner. It also forbids cooking, making a fire, digging and urinating or defecating on public or private property without permission.

First-time violators would have the option of being taken to a homeless shelter. Repeat offenders could be fined up to $500 and jailed for 60 days.

Only those who carry proper ID and are not taking drugs or doing alcohol could opt to go to a shelter.

An estimated 15,000 people are homeless in Broward County. The number of available shelter beds: Only 1,000.

Assistant Town Attorney Tom Moss disagrees that the law outlaws homelessness. "It doesn't make being homeless a violation," he said.

Read the South Florida Sun-Sentinel article here.

Thanks to Incertus for the link.

Full post as published by the 13th juror on November 23, 2008 (boomark / email).