City of Fort Myers passes ordinance to crack...

FORT MYERS, Fla. —

Florida's new homeless law is now in effect making it illegal for homeless camping on public property or sleeping in public.

On Monday, Fort Myers City Council voted to follow that direction, hoping to help the police and the city enforce the law. David Swazey said he sees homeless people in downtown Fort Myers every single day.

"You know, your heart goes out to them because there's many people that are maybe one paycheck away from being in a spot that they're in," Swazey said. "During particular times of the year than others, but there's folks that have been literally down here for, you know six, seven, eight years that have been living on the street down here."

He understands how it can impact businesses, but also feels for people without a home.

"I'm sure some people look at it like we're trying to criminalize homelessness, that's not the case," said Mayor Kevin Anderson. "In my discussion with police leadership, we are not looking to arrest homeless people. We realize that you can't arrest your way out of this problem and we also realize that putting them in jail is the least cost-effective way to house somebody."

"This is just another tool to help us, you know, basically move these people along that that will be our focus to just move along, you know, and keep that from happening, but again if it comes to the fact that an arrest will be made then you know we will go that route," said Officer Kristin Capuzzi with the Fort Myers Police Department.

The new state statute has the responsibility of providing the homeless with shelter.

"Whether it's in an encampment or an actual building, rests with the county's, and so we are working with the county to figure out, try to understand, what they're providing so that when our officers encounter homeless people who are vital, violating the state law, and now our ordinance that we can try to deal with it other than having to make an arrest," Anderson said.

Locals are just hoping this is the best decision.

"If it helps them, then yes, I think it's the best businesses will be a business no matter what, but our main concern should be helping the people, they're humans and we need it's our right and our responsibility to make sure that we can do that," Swazey said.

The city of Fort Myers' ordinance is set to begin on Jan. 1.