City of Winter Haven:
“The City of Winter Haven received a letter from the Florida Attorney General’s Office on January 6, 2026, related to a citizen complaint regarding homeless activity in the City. While this correspondence is recent, addressing homelessness-related concerns is not new for the City or the Winter Haven Police Department.
For some time, the City has been actively partnering with residents, property owners, service providers, and community organizations to address these issues. This work includes responding to individual citizen concerns, coordinating with local nonprofits, hosting community meetings, and proactively enforcing applicable laws to protect public spaces and private property while respecting constitutional rights.
The City of Winter Haven and the Winter Haven Police Department share the concerns raised regarding individuals who are not abiding by state, county, or local laws and continue to take action to address those situations. The information below provides additional detail on how these matters are handled.
Applicable Local, County, & State Laws
When WHPD receives calls related to homeless activity, or our officers come across an unhoused person(s) during patrol or proactive initiatives, the following laws apply:
- The Attorney General’s letter references section 125.0231(2) of the Florida Statutes, a State law, which prohibits “lodging or residing overnight” on any public property.
- Polk County adopted County ordinance (sec 10.8-152) in 2025 which prohibits camping in public spaces or on private property where the property owner has not given consent.
- The City of Winter Haven enacted local ordinance (Sec 15-420) in 2023 that prohibits sitting or laying on public sidewalks.
The City of Winter Haven actively enforces these State, County and Local regulations, all of which apply to public spaces such as parks, sidewalks, and rights of way. When a person, unhoused or not, violates any of these, the Winter Haven Police Department takes immediate action to address the situation, including removing the person(s), clearing any litter left behind, and sanitizing the site for public health. There are times when unhoused persons take up temporary residence on private property. In those situations, WHPD continues to work with the private property owners to obtain trespass authorization which allows our officers to fully address the situation.
The act of homelessness, or being unhoused, is not in and of itself a crime. The City of Winter Haven and Winter Haven Police Department respect the constitutional rights of all individuals, regardless of income or housing status. Unhoused persons may be in and utilize public spaces, just as any other citizen, during the hours those spaces are open (typically dawn to dusk for parks) and in accordance with all applicable laws.
When WHPD becomes aware of activities in violation of any local, county or state law, including those listed above, those matters are addressed immediately. From January 1, 2025 to December 30, 2025, the Winter Haven Police Department received a total of 60,967 total calls for service. Of those, 1.4%, were related to homelessness.
Proactive Law Enforcement
The City of Winter Haven proactively enforces the law and responds to any and all occurrences of violation through the allocation of local resources. WHPD has assigned an officer to the downtown CRA area for focused, proactive patrol. Additionally, the Strategic Response Unit (SRU) was established within the Winter Haven Police Department in May of 2025. Each member of this unit is assigned to a geographical area of the City to proactively patrol, build relationships, and identify areas of concern.
The SRU also completes proactive initiatives including the identification and removal of unlawful campsites in the City. Since May of 2025, Winter Haven Police Department has, in it’s continuing efforts to enforce state and applicable law, removed 25 campsites in the City of Winter Haven. These campsites are places where as few as two or more individuals are sheltering overnight. The majority of these campsites were located on public property and were addressed immediately. For those located on private property, WHPD worked with the private property owners to obtain the authority to address and remove the campsites and trespass the individuals involved.
Resources Available
WHPD works with any unhoused person they encounter, whether in a campsite or an individual in the City, to connect them with resources to assist. This includes partnerships with the United Way, Homeless Coalition, Heart 4 Winter Haven, Talbot House, and more. Officers work to match each individual to the services best suited to their individual situation and needs.
Any citizen who sees a situation they feel creates a danger or violates any state, county or local laws is encouraged to call 911, or the WHPD non-emergency line at 863.291.5858, so officers can respond and address the situation. Additionally, private property owners are invited to proactively work with the WHPD to provide trespass authorization, and post signs indicating such, on their property. More information on this Community Watch Program can be found here.
The City of Winter Haven and the Winter Haven Police Department will continue to address this issue with an approach that balances accountability and compassion consistent with the law. “Our goal is safe neighborhoods, less repeat calls, and positive outcomes for everyone,” says Chief of Police Vance Monroe. “Addressing issues like homelessness requires leadership, coordination, and sustained investment – not just one-time enforcement. WHPD is committed to continue to provide a proactive, comprehensive community response.”
