Parking near Miami

[Hakunamatata]

Moving to Florida soon and trying to find out where I could settle down.
Have a short bus and mainly looking for the best parking situations close to Miami. An area with a Whole Foods would be a plus. Also water fountains and public bathrooms.
Anyone with any general info about skoolie living in Miami-Dade would be greatly appreciated.
Coconut Grove looks ideal if there’s an okay parking situation.

[DeMac]

Originally Posted by Hakunamatata

Moving to Florida soon and trying to find out where I could settle down.
Have a short bus and mainly looking for the best parking situations close to Miami. An area with a Whole Foods would be a plus. Also water fountains and public bathrooms.
Anyone with any general info about skoolie living in Miami-Dade would be greatly appreciated.

---------------

You are probably already familiar with Florida Statute 1365, Unauthoried Public Camping and Public Sleeping, which was signed on October 1, 2024 & becomes effectice January 1, 2025.

Read the law carefully. Even if we have written permission from a private land owner, we will be removed from the private property if the area is publicly accessible. Driveways, parking lots, accessable private walkways...
any city properties, wooded or vacant lots, beaches, parks & recreation....

It's absolutely worth your time to be definitive of your living arrangements before you arrive in Florida. Hotels and campgrounds are readily available throughout the state, but overnight boondocking is risky.

More from USA Today
www.usatoday.com/2024/10/03/florida-homeless-law

You are doing the right thing by logging into skoolie.net to find a location, before you go. Do your research, the law is new and even the landowner may not know the details of the law.

I'm nowhere near Miami, but you are always welcome at Our Happy Place.

[Cheezewhiz]

Man, that's a crock of ****.

What about highway rest stops? Can't take a fuckin nap after driving all day?

[ewo1]

Originally Posted by Cheezewhiz

Man, that's a crock of ****.

What about highway rest stops? Can't take a fuckin nap after driving all day?

First of all, welcome to the forum and please watch the language.

If you read that bill it is so that cities do not end up with “municipally authorized” outdoor homeless encampments.

If you pull over somewhere, even for just one night, you will be fine.

But if you plan to live on city streets, anywhere south of the palm beach county line, your just asking for trouble.

Mind you there is a difference from simply pulling over and taking a rest break and “camping” in one spot for more than 24 hours. Understand the difference and you’ll be ok.

On the flip side i just moved out of miami after almost 30 years of being there.

Hell no, no way would i spend one night camping on any street in miami dade. It is dangerous, especially if you are in the not so good/safe part of the county which imho is the entire county!

Your biggest issue is gonna be theft or you get robbed.

Park in the wrong lot and you WILL get towed!

There are some campgrounds, sites available. One that comes to mind is larry and penny thompson park, a county run park.

You could get away with a one night stay along us1 in Florida city which is the last town before you enter the 18 mile stretch to the Florida keys.

If your looking for one night stays you can bounce around a bit but for longer stays check/post on craigslist. You’ll always find someone willing to rent space in their backyard. You can even find spaces down in the keys if you search long and hard.

Oh and coconut grove… forgetaboutit….that area is highly congested. You might get away with a one night stay along us1 but otherwise…

Areas to stay away from, just about any city or town in the NW half of the county. Lots of farm land and 5 acre properties in the “Redlands” although development is changing that fast !

Blackpoint marina, you might squeeze a night or two. If anyone asks just say your waiting for your fishing buddy to come ashore.

If you go south to the keys you can also get away with a night or two along the overseas hwy. down on/ Marathon key you can find a few “pay” spots if you search a bit.

But if your thinking miami beach parking, no way jose!

[Hakunamatata]

“If you’re looking for one night stays you can bounce around a bit but for longer stays check/post on craigslist. You’ll always find someone willing to rent space in their backyard.“

Do you know of any other places a little less sketchy than Craigslist where I might find people for that?

Thank you for all the info and the heads up

[DeMac]

Originally Posted by Hakunamatata

Moving to Florida soon and trying to find out where I could settle down.
Have a short bus and mainly looking for the best parking situations close to Miami. An area with a Whole Foods would be a plus. Also water fountains and public bathrooms.
Anyone with any general info about skoolie living in Miami-Dade would be greatly appreciated.
Coconut Grove looks ideal if there’s an okay parking situation.

Originally Posted by Hakunamatata

“If you’re looking for one night stays you can bounce around a bit but for longer stays check/post on craigslist. You’ll always find someone willing to rent space in their backyard.“

Do you know of any other places a little less sketchy than Craigslist where I might find people for that?

Thank you for all the info and the heads up

------------------

Hakunamatata,

I grew up in Hialeah and practiced Real Estate in Miami Beach.

Everyone in Miami is capable of being shaddy. Miami is the fraud capital of the planet. None of that will protect you or your property. Portland & Chicago are central Park compared to Miami.

Look outside of the Miami City limits. Spoken word is not a fact, folks mean well, but also do your own research & be diligent.

[ewo1]

Originally Posted by Hakunamatata

“If you’re looking for one night stays you can bounce around a bit but for longer stays check/post on craigslist. You’ll always find someone willing to rent space in their backyard.“

Do you know of any other places a little less sketchy than Craigslist where I might find people for that?

Thank you for all the info and the heads up

You made me laugh, craigslist...sketchy....

Well if Cl is sketchy then south Florida is the Harvard University of sketchy my friend!

You have no idea !!!!

Don't get me wrong, you can have a good time there but living in a bus, on the streets....it ain't gonna end well.

Try giving these folks a call to see what they can advise you with...

Southern Comfort RV Resort
345 E Palm Dr, Florida City, FL 33034
(305) 248-6909

Larry and Penny Thompson Memorial Park and Campground
12451 SW 184th St, Miami, FL 33177
•(305) 232-1049

Trust me when I tell you you DO NOT want to camp/park anywhere within the NW or NE section of Miami Dade County.

The Southwest section has it's problems but the further south you go, the better off you will be...

. besides who wants Miami anyway when you got the Florida keys right at your doorstep !!!!

[Ronnie]

Reading the bill it clearly is aimed at homeless setting up camp. Does anyone know or have experiance with staying a night at Cracker barrel in Florida? have they changed their rules allowing an overnight stay? For the most part when I am in Florida I am staying somewhere and maybe only boondocking a night here or there.

[cadillackid]

this law was written to prevent the LA effect.. LA has a HUGE problem with unsanitary messy dialpidated RV's parking on the streets and on "abandoned" private property... on private property the only way to remove them is contact the owner and often the owner doesnt care as its just an old plot of land they are sitting on waiting for a developer to buy up..



it will most likely be like any law and selectively enforced.. they cant just say honeless as then it creates a huge legal nightmare so they make it apply to all.. its also to prevent squatting via RV.. which some have been known to do.. find a plot of land and camp on it and then the owner finds out about it and the campers cry squatters rights.. the law allows them to be removed anyway for camping in unauthorized space..



some tourist heavy cities in florida already have their own ordinances about RVs on streets requiring a permit..

[DeMac]

Originally Posted by cadillackid

this law was written to prevent the LA effect.. LA has a HUGE problem with unsanitary messy dialpidated RV's parking on the streets and on "abandoned" private property... on private property the only way to remove them is contact the owner and often the owner doesnt care as its just an old plot of land they are sitting on waiting for a developer to buy up..



it will most likely be like any law and selectively enforced.. they cant just say honeless as then it creates a huge legal nightmare so they make it apply to all.. its also to prevent squatting via RV.. which some have been known to do.. find a plot of land and camp on it and then the owner finds out about it and the campers cry squatters rights.. the law allows them to be removed anyway for camping in unauthorized space..



some tourist heavy cities in florida already have their own ordinances about RVs on streets requiring a permit..

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Again, "Any property which is accessible to the public."

The state of Florida has the enforcement tools needed to ensure local governments comply.

Actual legal language of the law, quoted below. "----" 👇


"Authorizes a resident of the county, owner of a business located in the county, or the Attorney General to bring a civil action to enjoin the county or municipality from authorizing public camping or sleeping without designating property for that use."

⏫️ This portion of the law gives each citizen & business owner in the county legal Standing. $$$Civil$$$
Our homegrown homeless will have police support and can legally sue the owners of the businesses who continue to allow fancy, out of state RVs to park in their lots, but not allow the homeless person whom has established residency. Meanwhile, homeowners, campgrounds and hotels have that same Standing against all of the parties mentioned above, (including police agencies who selectively enforce). A civil suit nightmare for 'un-designated properties'.



"If a county designates public property to be used for public camping or sleeping, the county must establish and maintain minimum standards and procedures related to ensuring safety, security, sanitation, mental health and substance abuse services coordination."

"The state will direct the Department of Children and Families to authorize temporary campsites that do the following:"
"Maintain sanitation, including access to clean and operable restrooms and running water."
"Provide access to substance abuse and mental health treatment resources through coordination with the regional managing entity."
"Prohibit illegal substance use and alcohol use on the property and enforce this prohibition"


The state has allocated $30 million – $10 million more than the previous year – for what are known as "continuums of care" to prepare for the law.


------------

$$,$$$,$$$

There is no income tax in Florida and only 6% sales tax. The force is strong within the Florida tourism industry. Taxes generated by travel and tourism in Florida grew 5.0% in 2023, reaching $36.9 billion.

Homeless are chump change, Florida governments know they can squeeze more revenue from their tax evading visitors'.

Tourism accounts for $36,000,000,000 of Florida's $205B total tax revenue.
(Florida's combined state and local general revenues were $205.0 billion in FY 2021)

If 1% of vacationers avoid hotels, campgrounds, gov't parks, etc, the state's revenue losses are $360 million per year. Is the actual number of evading visitors only 1% or is that number larger? (*greater than we'd imagine)
*The Florida Dept. Of Revenue knows that estimate, the ratio of ROI as investor and primary benefactor of the $30 investment fund.
ROI = (NetProfit/TotalCost) × 100

[cadillackid]

Originally Posted by DeMac

----------
Again, "Any property which is accessible to the public."

The state of Florida has the enforcement tools needed to ensure local governments comply.

Actual legal language of the law, quoted below. "----" 👇


"Authorizes a resident of the county, owner of a business located in the county, or the Attorney General to bring a civil action to enjoin the county or municipality from authorizing public camping or sleeping without designating property for that use."

⏫️ This portion of the law gives each citizen & business owner in the county legal Standing. $$$Civil$$$
Our homegrown homeless will have police support and can legally sue the owners of the businesses who continue to allow fancy, out of state RVs to park in their lots, but not allow the homeless person whom has established residency. Meanwhile, homeowners, campgrounds and hotels have that same Standing against all of the parties mentioned above, (including police agencies who selectively enforce). A civil suit nightmare for 'un-designated properties'.



"If a county designates public property to be used for public camping or sleeping, the county must establish and maintain minimum standards and procedures related to ensuring safety, security, sanitation, mental health and substance abuse services coordination."

"The state will direct the Department of Children and Families to authorize temporary campsites that do the following:"
"Maintain sanitation, including access to clean and operable restrooms and running water."
"Provide access to substance abuse and mental health treatment resources through coordination with the regional managing entity."
"Prohibit illegal substance use and alcohol use on the property and enforce this prohibition"


The state has allocated $30 million – $10 million more than the previous year – for what are known as "continuums of care" to prepare for the law.


------------

$$,$$$,$$$

There is no income tax in Florida and only 6% sales tax. The force is strong within the Florida tourism industry. Taxes generated by travel and tourism in Florida grew 5.0% in 2023, reaching $36.9 billion.

Homeless are chump change, Florida governments know they can squeeze more revenue from their tax evading visitors'.

Tourism accounts for $36,000,000,000 of Florida's $205B total tax revenue.
(Florida's combined state and local general revenues were $205.0 billion in FY 2021)

If 1% of vacationers avoid hotels, campgrounds, gov't parks, etc, the state's revenue losses are $360 million per year. Is the actual number of evading visitors only 1% or is that number larger? (*greater than we'd imagine)
*The Florida Dept. Of Revenue knows that estimate, the ratio of ROI as investor and primary benefactor of the $30 investment fund.
ROI = (NetProfit/TotalCost) × 100

follow the $$$. theres always a trail of it in most every ordinance..



homeless may be chump change but they make big negative news in the media.. and ive heard many times back in ohio.. "Oh we used to love portland but dont go anymore because of the homeless and drug use"... if less people visit a city because of a perceived (or real) idea that its gonna be messy and lots of crime then that hurts the tourism business which as youve mentioned is florida's cash cow.. im in the hotel industry and see from in front of and behind the scenes just how much the governments take in on a hotel charge per night.. not to mention keeping hotels and restaraunts and ubers and bus services busy means more people employed which means less unemployment or help-services payout..


yeppers follow the $$$