Homeless given citations for sleeping in park during pandemic

People struggling with homelessness given trespass warnings for sleeping in public park during pandemic.

ONLY ON FOX 4 -- TONIGHT WE’REBRINGING YOU AN UPDATE ON ASTORY WE’VE BEEN FOLLOWING FORDAYS.IT ASKS THE QUESTION -- WHATHAPPENS TO THE HOMELESS DURING ASAFER AT HOME ORDER?

THANKS FORSTICKING WITH US.

I’M JANEMONREAL... WORKING FROM HOME.I’M PATRICK NOLAN IN THE FOX 4STUDIOAS 4 IN YOUR CORNER’S ROCHELLEALLEYNE HAS SHOWN YOU BEFORE --RIGHT NOW IN LEE COUNTY THEREAREN’T MANY OPTIONS FOR THOSEFOLKS.TONIGHT -- SHE BRINGS US AUPDATE FROM A FORT MYERS PARKTHAT A GROUP WAS CALLING HOME --UNTIL POLICE SHOWED UP.00-04116-12133-144({Ramona Miller//A Voice in theWilderness Empowerment Center))"I’m like hopeless at thispoint."THERE’S A SENSE OF DESPAIR -- ATTHE CORNER OF EDISON AND JACKSONIN FORT MYERS TONIGHT.police sirenofficer over speaker "Goodmorning it’s time to wake up!"AFTER PEOPLE STRUGGLING WITHHOMELESSNESS WERE GIVEN THISWAKE UP CALL AT THE PARK...AND SEVERAL OTHERS WERE LATERISSUED TRESPASS WARNINGS.({Ramona Miller//A Voice in theWilderness Empowerment Center))"It was just basically sayingthat if they’re caught thereagain, there will be aconsequence."{WIP}"On today April 13, 2020, wewere asked to leave the FortMyers Regional Library."MANY OF THEM CAME HERE -- AFTERBEING REMOVED FROM THE LIBRARYON MONDA((Struggling with homelessness))"There’s a pandemic going on.What are we supposed to do?"AS MILLER -- A LOCAL HUMANRIGHTS ADVOCATE -- STOPPED BTHE PARK TO SERVE THEM FOODLATER IN THE DAY -- WE SAW FMPDCRUISERS CIRCLING.ONE EVENTUALLY DROVE INTO THEPARK TO MAKE SURE NO ONE WAS ONTHE GRASS.({Ramona Miller//A Voice in theWilderness Empowerment Center))"I don’t even think they care tofix it."BUT WITH SHELTERS FULL -- ANDPUBLIC PARKS CLOSED -- MILLERSAYS THESE PEOPLE LITERALLY HAVENOWHERE TO GO.((Rep.

Heather Fitzenhagen//District 78))"I am trying everything I can tofind a solution."STATE REP HEATHER FITZENHAGEN --CAME OUT TO THE PARK TO SEE THEPROBLEM FIRST HAND.((Rep.

Heather Fitzenhagen//FLDistrict 78)"We have to find a place wherethey can be safe, where they canbe observed and fed."FOX 4 HAS ALSO BEEN SPEAKING TOFORT MYERS CITY LEADERS WHO SAYTHE PANDEMIC IS EXPOSING AN AREATHAT THE CITY NEEDS TO IMPROVEUPON.((Kevin Anderson//Fort MyersCity Council))"This is a great opportunity forus now to look at how we wereable to respond, how we wish wewere able to repsond andhopefully prepare for betterresponse should this