ORLANDO, Fla. — A new law banning people from sleeping and camping in public places have homeless services across Central Florida gearing up for an increase in demand.

“The hard part is we don’t know what we’re preparing for,” said Scot Billue, the founder of homeless ministry Matthew’s Hope in Winter Garden. “No one has a plan.”

Billue adds that he believes the new law will only empower the cycle of poverty rather than looking through a lens of rehabilitation and access to affordable housing.

“Well, they had a job, but they got arrested for sleeping outside, so they lost their job,” said Billue. 

While Billue is ready to help the homeless population as much as he can, he says fear has already rippled through the community.

“The aren’t here. They are afraid. They are gone. That’s a huge concern for us,” he said. “They are afraid to come in here so they can’t get a shower of a haircut or medical attention.”

Over in Seminole County, workers at Longwood nonprofit The Sharing Center are also concerned.

Keisha Thomas, the center’s senior manager of community services, says the one shelter Seminole County has can only handle so much.

“This law criminalizes people who are already struggling to survive,” Thomas said. “Many shelters, including the one in Seminole County, are full, and our center isn’t equipped to house individuals overnight.”

Keisha Thomas, Senior Manager of Community Services at The Sharing Center in Longwood, said the law will disproportionately impact the most vulnerable. 

Thomas explained that The Sharing Center provided food assistance to over 900 families last month, but that’s not enough for those without stable housing.

“We feed those who are hungry, but we have no way to offer them shelter,” she added.

Neil Waldron, a client of The Sharing Center who became homeless after Hurricane Ian in 2022, feels uneasy about the new law.

“I understand wanting to maintain public order, but this isn’t the way,” Waldron said. “Some people don’t have the means to get out of this cycle of homelessness, and this law just makes things harder.”

Over at UCF’S Downtown campus, Dr. Andrew Sullivan specializes in homeless services. He said with the rise in cost of living, it’s put more pressure on the current services. With this new law allowing the arrests of people camping in public – he says it doesn’t help the homelessness issue.

“It’s not just a discussion in Central Florida, it’s a crisis across the state and across the country,” he said. “What are good solutions? It’s a national conversation on what are the most effective ways and best practices getting people into housing. It’s coming together. I think we’re taking the right steps by increasing support for our affordable housing, increasing shelter beds and it should connect people better to services.”