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Homeless in camp at Daytona Beach government building reaches 108

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — Relief may be in sight for those at a growing homeless camp in Daytona Beach.

Officials met Wednesday to get those people off the street and into a shelter.

Five homeless people were arrested at the camp they set up on Beach Street in Daytona Beach, but authorities said it wasn’t because of the camp, which has been in place 42 days as of Wednesday.

Two were charged with having an open container of alcohol and two others were charged with assault, police said.

On Wednesday night, police arrested a man in a wheelchair who had a warrant on petty theft charges.

The large number of homeless people, which had reached 108 by Wednesday night, living at the Beach Street site has been an ongoing issue for Daytona Beach, but police Chief Mike Chitwood said his hands are tied.

The homeless want a permanent place to seek shelter but city and county leaders can’t agree on funding or a plan.

There are cots, a barbeque grill and porta potties at the camp, which has cost taxpayers more than $500 dollars a month.

The city attorney advised the Daytona Beach Police Department that it would be a violation of rights to arrest or trespass anyone just for camping at the site, Chitwood said.

Channel 9 learned a plan is in the works to set up enough beds in a temporary shelter for the men and women until a permanent shelter is built.

Daytona Beach leaders met Wednesday to pick an architect to design the Safe Harbor homeless shelter, but it’s not clear how the shelter will be funded.

This week, Volusia County Commissioner Josh Wagner admitted to Channel 9 that there has been finger-pointing between the city and the county over the issue.

Wagner called it juvenile and embarrassing.

Homeless advocates in the area said they are frustrated and have accused leaders on both sides of using the homeless people as part of a political spat.

“I absolutely think that they’re being used as a political football, with the exception of the people getting them into housing,” said Tom Rebman of the Homeless and Hungry organization.

Until the city has 100 beds set up in a temporary shelter, the homeless cannot be trespassed from the building.

“The police are not going to be able to issue a trespass warning and then just bum rush the homeless person without first providing them with an alternative place in which to conduct their activities,” said WFTV legal analyst Bill Sheaffer.

A homeless veteran, who asked only to be identified as Brent, said more homeless people continue to show up when temporary shelters are put in place, because the homeless want a permanent solution.

He said some of the campers may move down the road a couple of miles to Daytona Beach International Speedway for a protest during the Rolex 24.