Homelessness

Thanked Assistant County Administrator George Stokus for meeting with Tent City Helpers and announced a planned Dignity Bus tour.

Shared outreach updates and suggested the Kane Center, LAHIA, and the Fairgrounds as potential safe housing sites.

Asked the board for motions on an emergency shelter, HB 1365 amendments, an opioid spending FOIA, and a housing workshop, noting no shelter line item in the budget.

Urged the board to designate shelter land under HB 1365, citing a police-dog death of an unhoused man and the risks of criminalizing homelessness.

Proposed land purchase, a Dignity Bus, and a shelter, citing per-person costs and Tent City Helpers' service to 300+ unhoused residents.

Tent City Helpers' Angela Harrison asked the county to help fund the Dignity Bus, possibly through a Martin 100 grant, and shared success stories from her weekly outreach.

Volunteer Victoria Blake shared homelessness statistics and urged residents to contact Gov. DeSantis about HB 1365, which bans public sleeping but leaves Martin County with no designated camp area.

Justin Ducasse said he's been cited for 'sleeping' 678 nights in a row under the new state law, alleged police retaliation since filing his federal lawsuit, and asked the county to remove Flock cameras.

Asked the county for land or a shelter for the unhoused, shared personal stories of people she's helped, and asked how to get on the agenda and apply for funding.

Proposed the Dignity Bus as an overnight shelter for 20-30 people, asked for a future agenda slot, and said they'll apply for a $100,000 grant on August 4.

A local nurse and volunteer described unhoused neighbors — a brain-injury man, full veterans' facility, seniors in cars — and asked the community to see them with dignity and provide resources.

Thanked departing director Gail, described 35 volunteers carrying on, asked the board to help unhoused employed people find housing and safe overnight parking, and touted six vets housed.

Suggested amending House Bill 1365 to specify what counties must do when they lack a shelter, rather than building expensive facilities.

President of Southeast Florida Recovery Advocates described the 'Florida shuffle' and asked for a community advisory committee and enforcement of protections for people in recovery.

Cited a 32% jump in overdose deaths and xylazine dangers; asked for HB 477 training and a town hall on June 3.

Representing Tent City Helpers, cited a Kentucky ruling striking a camping ban and asked how the community will house the homeless; shared her own record as a felon seeking work.

Stuart resident argued a community's treatment of its poorest reveals its character and asked commissioners to stop fighting community shelter solutions.

Tent City Helpers volunteer compared Roanoke's rescue mission model to Martin County's lack of beds and suggested using the fairgrounds when idle.

Said he must 'commit a crime' to sleep outside and joked about doing so on the Sheriff's headquarters lawn; asked the board to act.

Spoke movingly about her own housing instability, saying 'none of us are exempt' from homelessness.