Every so often, we like to reach out to the inhabitants of the homeless encampment by the railroad tracks in Miami, through our site, to let them know they are not forgotten.
There are currently two hundred fifty (250) human beings forced to live outdoors, without shelter, without bathrooms and without potable water, alongside railroad tracks in a warehouse district in Miami-Dade County.
They are clustered there because of a county-wide sex-offender residency restriction (SORR) that prevents them from living pretty much anywhere else! Most have family or friends they could otherwise live with, but for the SORR. Some have homes and families they have to separate themselves from at night because of the ineffective, harshly punitive law. All would certainly be sleeping anywhere else.
Starting in 2006 when cities in the county started passing these ordinances, Miami-Dade County developed a pattern of relegating this population to its few available encampments. This is the same “problem” they created under the Julia Tuttle Causeway until 2010 when it began getting international media attention. It’s the same problem that shifted to the Shorecrest neighborhood, until a crafty Commissioner put in a “pocket park” to displace them from there. It’s the same problem that was shifted to the “River Park Trailer Park” area until Ron Book “discovered” a previously undetected “school” too close to that area and over 100 inhabitants were evicted.
Now that they’ve been shuffled to the tracks in a warehouse district and out of the public eye, Miami-Dade legislators are probably hoping that they will be “out of sight out of mind”.
The Florida Action Committee will not stand by while two hundred fifty human beings are forced to live in the elements, urinating and defecating in bushes with no end to this punishment in sight, all because of a politically-motivated law that has repeatedly been proven ineffective!
We want you to know that you are not forgotten and we continue to fight for you. The case is still pending in the 11th Circuit court of Appeals and the ACLU is representing us well, but we need to do more and we need to put an end to this sooner than later.
For those who are reading this and are fortunate to have a home to sleep in at night, we are calling on you to take 10 minutes out of your day today to try to help these men (and women) out there. You can help by doing one (or all) of the following:
- Contact a legislator to ask what’s being done. You can find their contact information here: http://www.miamidade.gov/commission/library/miami-dade-county-legislative-delegation.pdf
- Contact the Media to ask what’s being done. You can look up Miami-Dade media outlets, but statewide, national and international media need to know what’s taking place here too!
- Get social services organizations, church groups and other advocacy groups involved. These people need as much help as they can get. They are literally sleeping on the streets and using the bushes for a toilet. Many are not even on probation anymore!
- Forward this post to 10 people. A link to it can be copied and pasted from the URL in your browser. Share it with as many people as you know, help bring awareness to this human rights tragedy!
Please help!
First they came for the Socialists, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a Socialist.
Then they came for the Trade Unionists, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a Trade Unionist.
Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a Jew.
Then they came for me—and there was no one left to speak for me.
– Pastor Martin Niemöller
I finished probation in 2006 I was so looking forward to being free and leaving allk my troubles behind.I entered and completed s.o.therapy in 2005.court ordered…I am at no risk to reoffend because of completing. There are many that are at no risk for one reason or another; but they all are suffering Mainly because of what one man did in Citrus County. His first name John.. Terrible act of violence. The victims Father took action to inforce these registry laws.But a few years later he says he don’t think everyone should have to register. Im not sure when and where i heard it.But he was so understandable angry. He didn’t bother to ask any of his friends;there crimanal background.One thing it shouldn’t have been retroactive. And it should have been for violent offenders; from the date it was written.Thats my view. Exebitionist 1989 Why are there so many doing wrong?………
Yes, its true alot of otherwise (non risky people ) are living other than where they should be or need to be.Broken up familys; girlfriends; stoped engagements to be married; lost money on houses that were being built because of distant laws went into effect and on and on. The registry laws went into effect to quick to get a broader look at what is going to become of the peoples lives affected. Some that have not been in trouble for many years because they new better. And they wanted to live a happy way like most people. But that was snatched away when the s.o.laws went retroactive.Just imagine how so many people felt.Its true this all came about because of a man named John in Citrus County, most people affected no’s who John is. I won’t say his last name because of family privacy. Its so sad it makes me sick.I can imagine how the father still feels.And i am and always so sad for him. I say i imagine how he feels; but that would be just a guess mostly.Im sure Gods love is giving him strength to get by. The laws i think should have been for mostly for violent offenders that have little impathy for others; bad attitude and at a high risk demeanor. myself did go through a very good group therapy 23 steps of progress. I graduated in 2005. I got off probation in 2006. The share program; Dr. Michael Gamache and Leo Cotter. Some members finish in a year.In 1989 it was court ordered.Some others didn,t have to do that because it was fairly new at the time. and i would think they are doing just fine.But that being said it was a great program. Now i stay with my mom since i got in trouble 1989. Even though she needs me to help her because she is legally blind. there have been times she wanted me to move out and live my life. Go under the bridge if you have to. And after checking on a few places close by and turned away. I would be headed for the bridge if i had to. so far im still here. It’s so difficult to do anything”normal” with the s.o. stadis. even after its been so long for so many people. IT’s sad, gut wrinching. Hopefully any victims are doing fantastic.or at least doing real good. time heals most wounds.Godsent!!….To F.A.C.If any material is not important; or otherwise. feel free to edit THANKS; Stephen.
Concerned – I am willing to bring items where ever you need me to – blankets I would assume are needed – other items that would be best?
Please get in touch with me…
I been in contact with a few of them at the Railroad tracks, they call me often. The last one called crying all his things were wet, GPS box was wet and not working. I was there a few months ago, bringing supplies with the help of one other FAC member. Seeing this first hand will blow your mind.
DS, It’s not only punishment, it’s cruel and unusual punishment! Let’s make sure the rest of the world sees Miami’s Shame!
Didn’t National Human Rights Watch get the media involved in the last Julia Tuttle Causeway problem? Does FAC have any contact with them. If they can get involved again, Florida will be in the news once more!
We are in need of volunteers to create a media committee to handle those things. We have very limited resources.
FAC, How do we get the attention of the media???
Share this information with your local media outlet. Go to their web pages, find the editorial contact and reach out to them.
There is a cool widget on this site: http://sparkaction.org/act/media where you can enter your zip and click on the results to get contact information.
20 years off probation. No, friends, no job, no church, no support, no voicr, no vote. Guess they are coming.
i’m near Orlando, if we can get donations of supply’s, be it water, soap, sleeping bags, tents, tarps, etc… i have a pick – up truck i would deliver the supply’s. I’m disabled so i have time. I also have about 30 bars of home made quality soap i would donate. maybe we can work on getting a truck load or 2 of donations and deliver and do a press release about the delivery.
They need all the help they can get. we need others to step up too…
Let’s keep this going!!!!!