VOLUSIA COUNTY, Fla. – City leaders signed off on a series of measures to address the growing population of people experiencing homelessness in DeLand.
At a meeting on Monday, the city council approved three ordinances that are expected to get the police more involved.
The measures will not allow camping on public property, storing personal items in shopping carts and bags, or sleeping or lying on public benches.
Savannah-Jane Griffin is the CEO of The Neighborhood Center of West Volusia, and she said the approach should help guide homeless people to the services that are available.
“We’ve had a lot of concerns of local citizens and businesses seeing individuals sleeping on the street,” Griffin said. “My hope is that it will be positive and that we can impact people’s lives.”
According to Griffin, about 400 homeless people are living in the city.
Meanwhile, the city has said the approach is needed for those refusing help.
“If we encounter a homeless individual, our police officers will ask them, ‘Hey do you have a place to stay,’” city spokesperson Chris Graham said.
Graham said the police will then offer to connect the person with a local shelter that the city is partnering with like the Neighborhood Center and First Step Shelter.
“We have our food pantry where we distribute food. We have shelter, we have showers and so I’m really hopeful that it will help direct people to the resources,” Griffin said.
Following Monday’s city council meeting, DeLand City Attorney Darren Elkind said that homeless residents of DeLand aren’t simply going to be arrested.
“This is not, ‘If you’re homeless in DeLand, we’re (going to) arrest you and take you to jail.’ That’s not what’s going on...” Elkind said. “If there’s a place for me to go, and you’ll take me there, and it doesn’t cost me anything, but I just don’t (want to) go, then we can arrest those folks.”
However, one DeLand resident spoke out against the new policies during the meeting.
“The police department has become the frontline of the mental health system, and they should not be,” the resident said.
For details on The Neighborhood Center and how to donate, click here.
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