Address the homeless epidemic in Tampa
The Issue
The homeless citizens of Tampa need your help
"There's no space available" & "Sorry, I can't let you sit here" are two phrases becoming a nightmare for Tampa residents who have no place to live, and Florida's recent homeless ban, which took effect in October 2024, has left many homeless residents not only wondering where they can go, but also concerned that this new law will either force them to seek out unsafe living alternatives, and/or criminalize them for being homeless.
The new law, also known as the Homelessness Reduction Act, is being called one of the "strictest anti-homeless statutes in the country". It prohibits local governments from allowing homeless encampments to be set up on public land, and also bans homeless residents from unauthorized camping and/or sleeping in public.
In the recent weeks counties and local businesses have began taking actions to enforce the ban, in places like parks, bus stops, and even public parking lots. People are being forced to move but still are not being offered viable places to go. It appears a law meant to address and combat homelessness, is instead being used to move homeless people out of sight. Homelessness is being combated, but not addressed.
The homeless population is being marginalized, as mainly people who "choose homelessness" because they don't want to follow the requirements of being in shelter programs, but that type of generalization is unfair, as many people are struggling with homelessness due to the rising costs of inflation or after Hurricanes Helene and Milton devastated Florida neighborhoods. Those people are affected by this ban too.
"We aren't ALL turning down help. most of us are being turned away! We are being given lists of shelters that have no space available, we are being put at the end of long waitlists, we are being told there are no funds available. We just want somewhere to go until we can get back on our feet"
Homelessness is on the rise in Tampa. In January 2025 US News and World Reports ranked Florida #4 of the top ten states with homelessness.
The new law allows local governments to designate approved spaces for shelter use or public camping once shelters and housing resources reach capacity, and it's about that time.
This petition is written on behalf of Tampa's homeless population and those advocating to combat homelessness, stand with us in support of urging our state governor and leaders to PLEASE, OPEN A BUILDING, or DESIGNATE A SPACE, TO BE APPROVED & USED FOR HOUSING TAMPA'S HOMELESS RESIDENTS.
The Issue
The homeless citizens of Tampa need your help
"There's no space available" & "Sorry, I can't let you sit here" are two phrases becoming a nightmare for Tampa residents who have no place to live, and Florida's recent homeless ban, which took effect in October 2024, has left many homeless residents not only wondering where they can go, but also concerned that this new law will either force them to seek out unsafe living alternatives, and/or criminalize them for being homeless.
The new law, also known as the Homelessness Reduction Act, is being called one of the "strictest anti-homeless statutes in the country". It prohibits local governments from allowing homeless encampments to be set up on public land, and also bans homeless residents from unauthorized camping and/or sleeping in public.
In the recent weeks counties and local businesses have began taking actions to enforce the ban, in places like parks, bus stops, and even public parking lots. People are being forced to move but still are not being offered viable places to go. It appears a law meant to address and combat homelessness, is instead being used to move homeless people out of sight. Homelessness is being combated, but not addressed.
The homeless population is being marginalized, as mainly people who "choose homelessness" because they don't want to follow the requirements of being in shelter programs, but that type of generalization is unfair, as many people are struggling with homelessness due to the rising costs of inflation or after Hurricanes Helene and Milton devastated Florida neighborhoods. Those people are affected by this ban too.
"We aren't ALL turning down help. most of us are being turned away! We are being given lists of shelters that have no space available, we are being put at the end of long waitlists, we are being told there are no funds available. We just want somewhere to go until we can get back on our feet"
Homelessness is on the rise in Tampa. In January 2025 US News and World Reports ranked Florida #4 of the top ten states with homelessness.
The new law allows local governments to designate approved spaces for shelter use or public camping once shelters and housing resources reach capacity, and it's about that time.
This petition is written on behalf of Tampa's homeless population and those advocating to combat homelessness, stand with us in support of urging our state governor and leaders to PLEASE, OPEN A BUILDING, or DESIGNATE A SPACE, TO BE APPROVED & USED FOR HOUSING TAMPA'S HOMELESS RESIDENTS.
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Petition created on January 18, 2025