MIAMI – Rahee Hale, 25, sits on a blanket on a Miami sidewalk, between a chain-link fence and his girlfriend’s pink plastic princess house. His recent eviction and his low-paying job in construction make it difficult for him to find an apartment and pay rent.

“Everything in West Flagler and Little Havana has already gone up in price by at least $500 to $600,” Hale said.

A law passed in Florida earlier this year prohibits homeless people from camping on city streets, sidewalks and parks starting October 1.

The idea is to house them in temporary shelters supervised by the police.

“It’s very chaotic because what do you expect society to do when the cost of living goes up?” Hale asked. “Everyone is trying to live.”

Miami Police Chief Manny Morales says the plan is to continue the department’s Homeless Assistance Outreach Initiative while municipalities figure out how to comply.

“One of the things we’re trying to figure out is exactly how this is going to work. We know the county and the municipalities have to work together to determine an acceptable location for the camp,” he said. “We’re going to continue to have our Homeless Empowerment Assistance Team – our HEAT – out there and doing their daily outreach. We’re going to continue to focus on placement.”

The state’s new law against illegal camping and overnighting in public requires the Department of Children and Families to approve temporary campsites with toilets, running water, and mental health and drug treatment options, but does not provide any funding to communities.

Dan Cates, a retired mechanic and electrician who has been a church volunteer helping homeless people find shelter in existing emergency shelters, says the shelters are often at full capacity.

“If they can’t sleep here, they’ll have to go somewhere else. This is crazy,” Cates said. “They’ll come back. Even if you pass a law, they’ll still come back.”

He added: “There is no place we can go.”

Miami-Dade Police Department officials said that “the details and implications of ratification are still being monitored and evaluated by our department,” but noted that the agency “complies with and enforces all applicable laws of the State of Florida.”

Miami-Dade County Memorandum:

Fort Lauderdale police also said they are continuing their homeless assistance program.

“The Fort Lauderdale Police Department will follow the city’s guidance on how to respond to HB 1365. In the meantime, officers in our Homeless Outreach Unit will continue their ongoing efforts as usual,” a department spokesperson said in a statement.

Broward County officials said the county “will not establish such a camp.”

“We have not received any funding related to HB 1365,” Broward said in a statement. “The county intends to use its existing homeless services to provide services that may be needed by homeless individuals in our community.”

We asked Gov. Ron DeSantis’ office, as well as the offices of the bill’s sponsors, whether state lawmakers plan to allocate funds to cities and counties to help them comply, but we have not received a response as of this article’s publication.

We also asked DCF if it has approved any temporary campgrounds in Miami-Dade and Broward, but have not yet received a response.

It remains unclear how municipalities will be able to finance the construction of emergency shelters, the provision of sanitation facilities and treatment facilities for drug and mental illnesses within the framework of their existing budgets by October 1.

From January 1, citizens can sue municipalities if they “allow” illegal, unauthorized overnight stays and camping in public.