By Orange County Commissioner Christine Moore, District 2
As many of you know, state legislation requiring unsheltered individuals being prohibited from camping on public property has forced counties and municipalities to increase their programs. Orange County up to now spends more than $50 million annually on homeless services. Nevertheless, I want to brief readers on the context of homelessness in the county and the proposed implementation plan to come into compliance with new state laws regarding the unhoused. Finally, I will share a legal overview of the legislation.
Homelessness in Orange County
Homelessness has increased over the past year by 28.5% in Orange County. Those that were counted include 2,091 individuals. 21% of these individuals reported having a serious mental illness, 25% are chronically homeless, 4% are unaccompanied youth, and 7% are veterans.
The county-funded homeless services include prevention and diversion services, rental assistance, shelter or Drop-in center operations, supportive services outreach, rapid rehousing services, funding for capital improvements in partnership with the City of Orlando and other non-profit associations.
$10 million additional funding will be provided to our Mental Health & Homelessness Division.
The implementation plan encompasses the following:
1. Expand existing services for outreach, bridge housing, permanent supportive housing, and intensive management training. Our manager suggested the groups need to all utilize the same management system and work more collaboratively.
2. Increase shelter capacity
- A work group has been tasked with finding new shelter locations throughout the county, specifically targeting east & west Orange County.
- Orange County is partnering with the City of Orlando to utilize the Work Release Center on Kaley Avenue as an additional shelter space.
3. Launch new initiatives
- Erect steel modular units or comparable structures to expand supportive housing.
- Operated a 24/7 Drop-in center to provide bridge housing and case management for clients aged 55+ and diversion from jail.
- Provide transitional housing and wellness services for individuals with co-occurring behavioral disorders.
- Utilize Housing Connector & Zillow to increase access to housing.
- Add Emergency Bridge Housing with services (30 more rooms).
- Expand the partnership with their Valencia Accelerated Skills Training Program.
- Expand the Faine House for youth aging out of foster care
Overview of state legislation, House Bill 1365
House Bill 1365 prohibits the county or cities from authorizing or allowing any person to regularly engage in public camping or sleeping. The law declares that the County may not authorize or otherwise allow any person to regularly engage in public camping or sleeping. The enforcement provision begins January 1, 2025, where residents, business owners, or the Attorney General may bring a civil action against the County or City if not in compliance. The complaint must include that the County “…failed to take all reasonable actions within the limits of its governmental authority to cure the alleged violation within 5 business days after receiving a written notice…” from the complainant. A court may award reasonable expenses including court costs, attorney fees, investigative costs, witness fees, and deposition costs if a resident or business owner prevails in the case. Optional County or City actions may include alternative lodging, trespassing people engaging in public camping, and an ordinance prohibiting trespassing and/or public camping with prior authorization.
The cure for homelessness
I believe, with our current tax structure, that counties should take the lead in providing these safety net services. Cities should consider coming alongside the county programs and form partnerships. Thus far, only the City of Orlando has funded and operated shelters in Orange County. Yet even the City of Orlando has relied on the county assisting with capital and operating costs.
The cure for homelessness is housing. No amount of temporary feeding will get an individual housed. I strongly recommend any feeding program utilize and enter guests into the new management system to assist in sharing information with clients on other available services. It is obvious from this information in this column that more options and assistance is being offered.
It is helpful if we all avail ourselves of knowledge about existing and new programs for the unhoused. You never know when you might need this information to help a person avoid camping on the street.
