A new Florida law with a major impact on unhoused people -- and their communities -- takes effect today (Tuesday, Oct. 1). Tallahassee’s emergency homeless shelter, the Kearney Center, is staffing up.
The new law prevents local governments from allowing public camping or sleeping on public property.
Sonya Wilson, the center’s executive director, says that in July, in the run-up to the new law, many of Florida’s shelters began limiting how long people could stay to 30 days. That’s resulted in more people coming to the Kearney Center.
“July, it started," she said. "And then August, it was extensive. And then for September, it’s been through the roof.”
She says people in Florida shelters often use up their 30 days at one shelter and go to another one.
“What’s happened is, like, people from Brevard County have migrated to Tallahassee," Wilson said. "They’ve went from shelter, exhausting their time in each shelter and ending up in Tallahassee.”
Wilson says she’s added four people to her staff specifically to help manage the new law: two intake specialists for new arrivals, another member of the outreach team and an additional case manager. She says they’ll provide more services than before, aiming to secure jobs and permanent housing for shelter residents.
