Unhoused residents and substance-use services
Summary
Nurse Sabrina Stewart and Ten City Helpers volunteers described veterans, a brain-injury survivor, and seniors living in cars and tents, asking the county for housing help and safe parking options.
At a glance
- Total mentions
- 7
- Last 30 days
- 0
Discussed at 1 meeting in the last 60 days; most recently Sep 15, 2026.
Impact analysis
Speakers cited a $30 million state appropriation in HB 5001 potentially available and argued jailing costs more than housing.
Unhoused residents could gain shelter, safe parking, and pathways to housing.
Unhoused residents cited as harmed by current enforcement, with one speaker stating he has been cited for sleeping in public 678 nights in a row.
Mentions & discussions (7)
Board of County Commissioners — September 15, 2026
Tent City Helpers representatives thanked staff for meeting them, floated the Dignity Bus, Kane Center parking, the fairgrounds, and LAHIA field as possible shelter sites, and asked the board to act. Yaya Por Vida requested specific motions for an emergency shelter, opioid abatement funding transparency, and a housing workshop.
Board of County Commissioners — August 25, 2026
Speakers described serving 300+ unhoused residents and urged the county to designate shelter land under HB 1365, citing a death after a police dog attack. Commissioners discussed the Dignity Bus and pushed nonprofits to partner on funding.
Board of County Commissioners — August 11, 2026
Multiple advocates told commissioners that Martin County has no legal place for unhoused residents to sleep under the state's new public-camping ban, and pushed for the Dignity Bus and shelter funding. Commissioners discussed existing grants and the strict requirements HB 1365 places on counties that open shelters.
Board of County Commissioners — July 28, 2026
Advocates asked the county for land, shelter space, and a future agenda slot for the Dignity Bus overnight shelter program, and said they're pursuing a $100,000 grant.
Board of County Commissioners — June 23, 2026
Nurse Sabrina Stewart and Ten City Helpers volunteers described veterans, a brain-injury survivor, and seniors living in cars and tents, asking the county for housing help and safe parking options.
Board of County Commissioners — June 9, 2026
A long line of advocates — including a woman wearing a shirt bearing her late sister's image — pressed the Board to address homelessness, warning that HB 1365 criminalizes camping while the county has no shelter. Speakers cited statistics showing incarceration costs far exceed housing, and asked for agenda items on shelter options and a community advisory committee.
Board of County Commissioners — May 19, 2026
Multiple speakers described Martin County's lack of shelter beds and the criminalization of sleeping outside under HB 1365, urging the county to convene a community advisory committee and consider using the fairgrounds for temporary shelter.
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