Fort Lauderdale officials rethink homelessness strategy
Add Axios as your preferred source to
see more of our stories on Google.
Illustration: Lindsey Bailey/Axios
Fort Lauderdale officials are questioning whether the city's approach to homelessness is working.
Why it matters: They say they continue to see people experiencing homelessness in many of the same areas and constantly hear from residents about it.
The big picture: As part of its compassion-based approach, the city connects people with housing and services through community court and its Homeless Outreach Team, which includes police, fire rescue, medical personnel and two caseworkers.
- The city also helps fund the Rotary Connection, providing free transportation to link people experiencing homelessness with various services, such as the DMV or medical appointments.
- There's also new signage to discourage giving money to panhandlers at "high-frequency" intersections and areas including Riverside Park and the downtown bus terminal.
By the numbers: From last October through June, the Homeless Outreach Team recorded 4,530 contacts with people experiencing homelessness and issued at least 208 service referrals, to providers such as the Broward Addiction Recovery Center.
- Through July, the Rotary Connection provided 6,547 rides, connecting 254 people to residential substance use disorder or behavioral health treatment programs and reunited 18 with family or friends.
Yes, but: Commissioner Pamela Beasley-Pittman says the city needs to be more proactive, pointing to working people living in their cars who aren't being taken into account or seniors facing eviction.
- "We cannot continue to add to that number," she said at the Sept. 2 commission conference meeting.
- She questioned if resources need to be "strategically realigned."
Meanwhile, Commissioner Steven Glassman said the data and information about the different programs don't resonate with residents if they continue to encounter people experiencing homelessness on the streets.
- "For many people, myself included, it's like we're the hamster on that wheel," he said.
- He said that the city isn't getting help from the Broward Sheriff's Office.
State of play: While the city goes further than the state's "anti-camping" law by banning sleeping on public property 24 hours a day, officers say it's difficult to enforce as people often pack up and move elsewhere.
- City Manager Christopher Cooper said the ordinance "hasn't moved the needle tremendously."
- The city is also updating its "social feeding" ordinance to regulate where and how often public feedings can take place.
What's next: Commissioner Ben Sorensen hopes the city can use more data to track outcomes and spot gaps in the system to ensure people don't fall back into homelessness.
- The city is also developing a Homeless Strategic Plan.