A Coral Springs resident wants the city to relocate a homeless man on Wiles Road under a new state law

Coral Springs, Florida – At least one Coral Springs homeowner is pleading with city officials to use the newly enacted state law that prohibits camping or staying on any public property.

At a recent Coral Springs City Commission meeting, Keith Roberts informed the elected officials of the city that he thinks a well-known homeless man named “Lavar,” who frequently hangs out on Wiles Road just west of NW 85th Ave. close to the Coral Trace neighborhood, is breaking the new law, which went into effect on October 1.

Roberts, who lives nearby on NW 45th Court, said, “He’s on the corner, standing, sleeping, doing whatever he wants, every day, 6 a.m. to 6 p.m.” For the last four or five years, he has been engaging in this behavior. I believe the city of Coral Springs is not doing enough to remove him off the corner, so I’m requesting that something be done.

In an attempt to reduce the number of homeless encampments that have sprung up around the state, Gov. Ron DeSantis signed legislation earlier this year that forbids local governments from permitting camping or sleeping on any public land or right-of-way.

According to state legislation, counties and localities are permitted to set aside areas for public camping as long as they offer sanitary facilities, security, and access to mental health and drug addiction treatment.

However, it also gives citizens and companies the right to sue local governments for allowing homeless people to camp in public areas. After January 1, lawsuits can be filed.

Coral Springs police had been attempting to secure Lavar’s assistance for years. At earlier City Commission meetings, he has been discussed. But according to the police, Lavar has turned down all help.

Roberts wants more done, though.

Roberts said that he was devaluing our properties. “No one wants to move in on the corner where there is a homeless person walking up and down the street with brightly colored umbrellas and tents.”

The city and police are “very familiar” with Lavar, Coral Springs City Attorney John Hearn informed city commissioners later in the commission meeting. He hasn’t broken any laws, though.

He remarked, “We haven’t seen him camping.” That would be against the law, and we would then offer him our services. We would start there to see what we might do.

Hearn also reminded them.

“Homelessness is not a crime, as the Supreme Court has made very clear,” he remarked. He is not, as far as we can tell, camping on public land. The [police] chief will undoubtedly notify us and proceed as usual if that changes.