ORLANDO, Fla. — Amid fears that a new state law criminalizes those who sleep outside, Central Florida leaders are coalescing around a diversion program to waive court sentences for people experiencing homelessness in exchange for pursuing treatment, housing and employment.
Such a program is called a homeless court and could apply to unsheltered residents who are frequently arrested for violations like public urination, disorderly conduct or public sleeping. They often are unable to pay the associated fine, and arresting them only creates more barriers to getting back on their feet.
Under some models of the program, a homeless court judge could drop charges if someone takes concrete steps to end their homelessness. The concept — in place in a handful of Florida cities and a few dozen municipalities across the country — has gained traction among many local activists and officials as a productive way to address the challenges of homelessness.
The proposal comes against the backdrop of Florida’s new homeless law, which requires local governments to enforce bans on camping in public places. Law enforcement agencies worry they may be forced to arrest many more homeless people, increasing the burden on courts and jails.
A homeless court can’t provide shelter to those who need it — Central Florida cities and counties continue to face an urgent need to create more shelter beds — but it can help people take advantage of the options that exist.
Such a program would likely exist outside of a traditional courtroom, though it would still have a judge, public defender, prosecutor, and other features of a typical legal process. The program would reduce recidivism and equate dollars into sweat equity, with the ultimate goal of finding housing.
Orlando City Commissioner Shan Rose has pitched the idea to be held at Orange County’s Work Release Center, which city officials are assessing as a potential homeless shelter. Gray offered up his Parramore campus to host the program as often as weekly.
The nation’s first homeless court was founded in San Diego, and in a 3-year period it handled nearly 11,000 cases, with about 80% of those cases resolved without a fine issued. Others have been set up in places like Miami, Broward County and Sarasota.
Martha Are, the CEO of the Homeless Services Network of Central Florida, said she’d like to see a version in Central Florida. “Any efforts to ensure that people experiencing homelessness are linked with the most appropriate services and done in a non-punitive way is a really good step,” she said. “I think it’s a good idea in every region.”