close
close

Pasteleria-edelweiss

Real-time news, timeless knowledge

Blame game ensues as SoBe tourist hostel turns into homeless shelter for 30 days
bigrus

Blame game ensues as SoBe tourist hostel turns into homeless shelter for 30 days

MIAMI – A blame game arose over the weekend after a hostel for tourists in South Beach became temporary shelter for a group of dozens of unsheltered people arriving from a shelter in Miami.

Miami Beach officials blame Miami officials for lack of coordination and because the Homeless Foundation of Miami-Dade County penalized them for a tax to fund homeless services.

Miami officials blamed Camillus House, a nonprofit shelter that has served the homeless for more than half a century. And, nonprofit blames Miami authorities.

“Despite ongoing negotiations regarding the price dispute, Camillus House terminated services, allowing us to take swift action to provide temporary shelter and provide uninterrupted care and meals,” Miami city officials said in a statement released Saturday.

A group of 53 people without housing packed up their belongings without much notice at Camillus House. They got on the bus and arrived in the city. Bikini Hostel, Cafe and Beer GardenAlong West Avenue, near 13 Street.

“The City of Miami, which currently houses more than 1,300 homeless people from throughout Miami-Dade County, worked with the Homeless Foundation to relocate 53 individuals displaced by Camillus House,” a spokesperson for the city wrote in a statement.

The city of Miami has a pending balance for emergency shelter services the nonprofit provided last year and earlier this year, according to Camillus House CEO Eddie Gloria.

“Camillus House was neither informed of nor participated in the City’s relocation plan, which took place late on Friday afternoon. “We were actually quite surprised and didn’t say anything about where they were going.” Gloria said.

Ron Book, president of the Homeless Foundation of Miami-Dade County, said Camillus House’s deadline was Friday and the move had nothing to do with Miami-Dade County Circuit Judge Antonio Arzola’s decision to deny the application. Lawsuit over Miami Beach voting referendum that city commissioners canceled.

“Let’s leave one thing at bay: This was not a conspiracy, there was no revenge, there was nothing planned,” Book said, adding that the move was attributed solely to negotiations between representatives of the city of Miami and Camillus. Home after rate increase for services.

While Miami Beach officials feared the group of 53 people would need services, Miami officials reported that the contract with the hostel included two meals a day for 30 days.

In a statement made by the city of Miami, it was said: “Our priority is to balance compassion and social concerns, maintaining public safety and quality of life.”

Earlier this year, Gov. Ron DeSantis signed one of the nation’s strictest anti-homelessness measures banning people from sleeping in public parks, sidewalks and other public spaces.

There is also an affordable housing crisis across the country. Homeownership in Miami has become more difficult and the market between buyers and sellers has become unbalanced.

Related story: Housing on the ballot: Harris and Trump put forward different plans to combat housing affordability crisis

Related social media

This Week in South Florida: Miami Beach mayor speaks out on homeless tax debate

Copyright 2024 by WPLG Local10.com – All rights reserved.