Residents of homeless refuge plead against city shutdown

Why it matters: As Miami Beach politicians seek to shut down the Bikini Hostel — arguing it's improperly operating as a de facto homeless shelter — residents shared their stories Wednesday and pleaded for compassion.

• "We are just trying to get up; we've been knocked down," Lovingood said Wednesday at a press conference. "Don't kick us while we're down. Help us get up."

Catch up quick: The Bikini Hostel began taking in unsheltered people in November when about 50 individuals were relocated from the Camillus House shelter in Miami.

• The city of Miami had been funding shelter beds for the individuals, but its contract with Camillus House expired amid a dispute over price increases.
• Today, the city pays the Bikini Hostel to house the over 100 residents there, with reimbursement from the county-run Miami-Dade Homeless Trust.

Friction point: Miami Beach officials have expressed outrage over the motel's transformation into a homeless refuge, implying that residents are committing crimes despite there being a police vehicle stationed outside the property at all hours, the Miami Herald reported.

• City commissioners last week sought to revoke the Bikini Hostel's license, offered to pay the Homeless Trust $100,000 to relocate the residents to shelters outside city limits and directed staff to investigate complaints against the hostel in the hopes of shutting it down.

Yes, but: City attorney Ricardo Dopico told commissioners the city did not have any evidence of criminal activity or code violations that would warrant its closure, the Herald reported.

What they're saying: Jacoby Rodriguez started staying at the Bikini Hostel in January after struggling to find an available shelter bed anywhere else.

• She said the hostel has given her the resources she needs to get back on her feet and return to work.
• Rodriguez said the vast majority of Bikini Hostel residents are "here for the right reasons" and don't cause problems.
• "Usually the people who aren't — either they're getting high or they have issues or whatever — they leave on their own."

David Peery, the executive director of Miami Coalition to Advance Racial Equity, said he organized the press conference to set the record straight on "falsehoods, lies and misperceptions" circulating about the Bikini Hostel residents.

• Peery, who once experienced homelessness, too, said anyone can wind up without a place to sleep if unlucky circumstances cause them to lose a paycheck or a job.
• "The people on the streets aren't them, they are us."