Report Homelessness With Ease: Fort Lauderdale's Innovative Solution Unveiled

Fort Lauderdale Residents Can Report Homelessness Through City App According to the Tampa Bay Times, Fort Lauderdale residents can now report homelessness in their communities through the city's app, FixIt FTL. The app, typically used for non-emergency events, has been modified to include a new function that allows residents to report homelessness concerns.

This change is in response to a state law that prohibits municipalities from allowing people to sleep or camp in public places, effective soon. House Bill 1365, a state law, prohibits unauthorized camping on public property, including parks and beaches. In response to this legislation... the city is using the app to track homelessness and maintain transparency about the issue.

Residents can use the app or web-based portal to report a "homeless concern," including the location and even a photo. This feature enables city employees to respond to requests and identify individuals who are camping on public property, allowing them to provide relevant services and assistance if the individuals are willing to accept it. As part of the new law, the city is required to respond to concerns about public camping as they are received.

According to Chris Cooper, acting assistant city manager, the city added the "homeless concern" option to the app a few months ago. As of September 10, there have been 13 reports of homelessness through the app, with 10 of them closed. In the closed complaints... city employees left comments indicating that they had either visited the area and found nothing, "or had offered services that were refused." The ability to report homelessness through the app provides the city with an opportunity to respond to concerns and address the issue.

It also enables residents to participate in addressing homelessness in their community, "promoting transparency and communication between residents and city officials."

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FORT LAUDERDALE — Alongside pothole repair requests and complaints about flooded streets, Fort Lauderdale residents can now report homelessness in their communities through the city app FixIt FTL , which is typically used for nonemergency events. The city is using the new app function in response to a state law that will soon prohibit unauthorized camping on public property, according to Chris Cooper, acting assistant city manager. The legislation, House Bill 1365 , prohibits municipalities from allowing people to sleep or camp in public places, such as parks or the beach.