On Wednesday, Miami-Dade County workers undertook a significant effort to address a growing issue at Miami International Airport: the presence of individuals living there without permission. The initiative follows a violent incident last Saturday, where a 17-year-old homeless girl was stabbed multiple times in an unprovoked attack that highlighted the struggles faced by a vulnerable population residing within the airport’s confines.
Targeted Outreach After Recent Attack
The attack occurred inside Terminal J, where 29-year-old Alexander Love allegedly used a butcher knife to stab the teenager 18 times. Both the attacker and the victim were part of a group living at the airport. This disturbing event prompted an urgent response from the Miami-Dade County Homeless Trust, which had previously provided services to Love. The incident brought renewed attention to the issue and spurred the trust to intensify their outreach efforts.
Ron Book, Chairman of the Homeless Trust, emphasized the community’s commitment to addressing the crisis. “We are a community who cares about the least, the last, the lost, and the forgotten, and we will not sleep until we’ve got every single one of them sheltered and housed,” Book said. The Trust aims to relocate individuals living at the airport and provide them with appropriate shelter and services.
Efforts to Relocate and Shelter Airport Residents
Outreach teams from the Homeless Trust approached 21 individuals known to be residing at the airport on Wednesday. Despite their efforts, only four of these individuals agreed to move to a shelter. Mr Book stressed the importance of compliance with the county ordinance, which mandates that anyone staying overnight at MIA must have legitimate travel plans or business.
“You’re trespassing if you don’t,” Book said. “The goal is to make it clear: We need to move you to shelter. We need to get you to a better place.” The Homeless Trust’s approach involves a combination of direct outreach and enforcement of airport regulations. Airport staff, security, and police are collaborating to connect those found violating the ordinance with assistance from the Trust before resorting to trespassing laws.
Commitment to Improving Airport Image and Safety
The recent stabbing has intensified efforts to improve both the safety and image of Miami International Airport. Book underscored the need for immediate action: “Frankly, that is not the image we want for our airport number one. But number two, we want people to feel comfortable when they come to our airport, whether they’re travelers coming in or they’re our community citizens going out.”
The Trust plans to continue its aggressive outreach efforts in the coming days. Mr. Book indicated that his team will return to the airport on Thursday, Friday, and beyond to encourage those refusing to relocate to accept the available help. The goal is to ensure that the airport is a safe and welcoming environment for all. Through these concerted efforts, Miami-Dade County aims to address the homelessness issue at the airport and enhance the overall experience for both travelers and residents.