Senator García statement on homeless individuals moved to Miami Beach hostel

MIAMI-DADE – I was surprised to learn that more than fifty homeless individuals were hastily moved without advanced warning by bus from Camillus House in the City of Miami and relocated to a hostel in Miami Beach on Friday night without support services this population needs. Suddenly they were told to grab their belongings and were moved to a hostel in Miami Beach or be back on the streets.

I have served on the Camillus Board for many years, and currently serve on the Camillus Health Concern. Familiar with their work and the organization, I know that Camilus House would have relocated their clients with empathy and had internal plans to move those individuals over the next several days and weeks.

It is appalling and truly unacceptable to treat some of our community’s most vulnerable in this manner. I find it difficult to believe that the City of Miami was able to find 53 rooms in less than 24 hours. We need to get to the bottom of this! We need to know who made and those involved in making the decision to move the homeless population so abruptly. I call on Mayor Levine Cava of Miami-Dade County to investigate what transpired and provide an update to the Board of County Commissioners including all communications between the parties.