Campers and homeless beware: There is a new Collier County law. But the law is somewhat confusing and, in some cases, unenforceable.
The Collier County Commission this week amended a 1974 ordinance, now making it illegal to camp on any public property within unincorporated Collier, except for specifically designated camping areas. Camping on any residential property [...]

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It’s shaping up to be the most heart-breaking holiday season ever for local animal shelters. Many are filled to capacity and homeless animals are coming in faster than ever.

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In 1974, Collier County was a lightly-populated county and everyone, eventually, came to know just about everyone else. It wasn’t unusual to drive Jeeps along the beaches and camp out at whatever pretty park or agricultural site seemed appealing, although parking cars or sleeping outside within one mile of the Gulf of Mexico was against [...]

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The number of homeless students counted by the Lee and Collier County school districts has dramatically increased in recent years. In 2003, the number of Lee County students meeting the legal definition of homeless was 275, according to the Florida Department of Education. Today, it’s about 900 students. In Collier County, the number has gone [...]

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St. Matthew’s House has received enough turkeys to feed the homeless and residents who need holiday groceries, but the shelter still needs fixings such as stuffing, cranberry sauce, pies and other items.

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Southwest Florida agencies that provide assistance to the needy, abused and homeless are receiving nearly 0,000 in state grant funding to help with program expenses, money that agency officials say is essential to keep up with costs. Four agencies in Lee County are each receiving ,400 for a total of ,600. They are the Salvation [...]

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Authorities say about two dozen people in South Florida are now homeless after an early morning fire ripped through their Hollywood apartment complex.

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An overnight fire destroyed an apartment in the Pine Manor community in Fort Myers.

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Now I lay me down to sleep. This verse of the classic childhood prayer isn’t likely to evoke visions of cardboard boxes. But a waiting list 50 names long for a St. Matthew’s House bed serves as a reminder that homelessness is a reality for hundreds in Collier County. Now, after 20 years of offering [...]

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Our community leaders are taking seriously their charge to end homelessness in Lee County and the public should embrace these efforts.

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Homeless Guy Tasered In Publix Parking Lot

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The Collier County Hunger and Homeless Coalition is hosting an awareness hunger panel with Catholic Charities, St. Vincent de Paul and Grace Place for the community to learn about the hunger problem.

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