THE MORSE MUSEUM The Morse Museum houses the world’s most comprehensive collection of works by Louis Comfort Tiffany (1848–1933), including jewelry, pottery, paintings, art glass, leaded-glass lamps, and windows; his chapel interior from the 1893 World’s Columbian Exposition in Chicago; and art and objects from Laurelton Hall. morsemuseum.org BEER ‘MERICA May 18, 3 – 6 pm. Featuring 100 different craft brews, seltzers, and more to sample from. Lakeside in the park at Ivanhoe Village, you’ll love the live music, food trucks, game zone, and more! Dog-friendly, 21+, VIP available. Purchase tickets online. beermericaorlando.com KAYAKING Kayak in a clear kayak through Emerald Cut starting from Kings Landing with a relaxing drift back to the launch site on crystal clear water. Go through the protected waters where you might see fish, turtles, and other wildlife in their natural habitat. All skill levels, book online. getupandgokayaking.com MOTHER’S DAY May 11, 9 am – 5 pm at Leu Gardens. Enjoy this special day with your mom in the beautiful 50-acre gardens. Explore the amazing art of Alex Heveri’s Glass in Flight 2, an outdoor exhibit of larger-than-life flying insects and birds. Moms receive free admission. leugardens.org ALWAYS... PATSY CLINE Through May 19 at the Garden Theatre in Winter Garden. The show is based on a true story about Cline’s friendship with a fan from Houston, who befriended the star in a Texas honky-tonk in l961 and continued a correspondence with Cline until her death. gardentheatre.org SHREK May 9, 8 pm at Central Park in Winter Park. This movie is free and open to the public. This film is presented with open captions. Bring a blanket, picnic or snacks, and enjoy a beautiful night out. enzian.org SHOP, DINE, & STROLL May 4, all day in historic downtown Winter Garden. This day features live entertainment, a downtownwide Raffle “May”nia, unique dining & shopping options, blooming spring scenery, and so much more. cwgdn.com MILK MART’S BIRTHDAY BASH May 26, noon – 6 pm at The Nook on Robinson at 2432 E Robinson St. in Orlando. Shop a market full of handmade and local goods, food trucks, enjoy music, and fun to celebrate 8 years of incredible markets. milkmartorlando.com STAR WARS NIGHT May 4 with Orlando City and May 5 with Orlando Pride. Watch professional soccer on Star Wars weekend, complete with costumed characters, themed merchandise, and more! Purchase tickets for either game at orlandocitysc.com.

CITYWORKSXPO May 9 & 10 at the Ritz Theatre. This is a gathering focused on sharing knowledge from around the country to build stronger communities here. Attendees will be immersed in thought-provoking presentations, performances, and engaging dialogue. At night, network at high-energy gatherings. cityworksxpofl.com NESTBOX BUILDING WORKSHOP May 22, 5:30 pm at 1702 S Holland Pkwy in Bartow. Join UF/IFAS Extension’s Natural Resources Agent, Shannon, to learn about cavity nesting birds. Participants will build an owl house or duck box to install at home. Register & find more info on FB @PolkExtension. PACA ANNUAL MEMBERS MEETING May 7, 6 pm at the Florida Children’s Museum. The Polk Arts & Cultural Alliance Executive Director, Daryl Ward, will share updated info regarding PACA initiatives. This event is free for PACA members or anyone wishing to join. Registration is required on eventbrite at Polk Arts & Cultural Alliance. LES DUDEK May 18, 7:30 pm at Gram Parsons Derry Down. Recording artist, Les Dudek, is known in the music world as a guitar legend whose contributions have influenced the history of Rock ‘n’ Roll. Les Dudek is best remembered for his radio hits, “Old Judge Jones,” and “Deja-Vu.” Purchase tickets at gpderrydown.com. AN EVENING WITH MATT VENUTI May 2, 7 – 9 pm at Bok Tower Gardens. Matt Venuti is an awardwinning multi-instrumentalist composer/performer and music video artist who is known for introducing rare and expressive acoustic and electronic instruments to the world through his concerts and videos. boktowergardens.org OLIVER! JR. May 17 – 19 at Theatre Winter Haven. Oliver, a malnourished orphan in a workhouse, becomes the neglected apprentice of an undertaker. Oliver escapes to London and finds acceptance amongst a group of petty thieves and pickpockets led by the elderly Fagin. theatrewinterhaven.com MAYFAIRE BY-THE-LAKE Mayfaire is a free, two-day juried fine art festival held in Downtown Lakeland on Lake Morton on May 11 & 12 from 9 am – 4 pm. Stroll through 145 artist booths plus enjoy a new Mayfaire Kid Zone, food vendors, performances, and a 50th Anniversary exhibition at the Polk Museum of Art! mayfairebythelake.org “SHE KNOWS WHERE SHE’S GOING” May 23, noon at Polk State College. Girls Inc. of Winter Haven will honor: Tiffani Gozdur – George Jenkins Award; Suzie Nelson – Julie Pope Award; Kris NewmanLake – Virginia Snively Award; Kim Hulverson – Ralph & Alice Thompson Award. Purchase tickets at girlsincwinterhaven.org, proceeds benefit Girls Inc. of Winter Haven. MOTHER’S DAY May 12. Don’t forget to make a reservation at one of our local restaurants for you and your mom! (or mom-like person in your life). Mother’s Day is the busiest day of the year for restaurants. Or visit one of our local boutiques and buy her something nice. RUN FOR THEIR LIVES 5K May 25, 7:30 am at Peterson Park in Lakeland. Runners will not only enjoy a chip-timed 5K race but will be saving lives with every step they take. Walkers, and leashed dogs are welcome. Proceeds benefit SPCA Florida. The course will run most of the 3 Parks Trail. spcaflorida.org

STAR WARS DAY CELEBRATION May 4 at Tampa Theatre. Watch the trilogy in one day. Star Wars: A New Hope (1977) at 1:15. The Empire Strikes Back (1980) at 4:30. Return of the Jedi (1983) at 7:45. Purchase tickets online. tampatheatre.org MARGARITA WARS May 17, 7 pm at the James Museum of Western Art in Downtown St. Pete. Sample margaritas created by the area’s best mixologists and try your hand at tipsy judging as you help award the best Plus, live entertainment, hors d’oeuvres, and other fun surprises. margaritawarstampabay.com SHAMROCK DISTANCE CLASSIC May 4, 7 am at Fort De Soto Park. Half marathon, 10k, and 5k, or choose the Leprechaun Mile. All donations and a portion of the net proceeds will go to Tampa Bay Watch to help restore Tampa Bay. Shamrocks, craft beer, and live music at the awards ceremony. runsignup.com STUDIO 55 Every Sunday beginning May 12, 1 – 4 pm at the Tampa Museum of Art. Take the Mixed Media Collage eight-week course full of artistic experimentation, mixed techniques and embellishment for adults 55 and older. tampamuseum.org RIVERFEST May 3, 5 – 10 pm and May 4, 11 am – 10 pm along the Riverwalk and Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park. This is a free, family-friendly festival that includes Taste of Riverwalk, Taco Fest, hot air balloons & more. See a full concert series of local bands on the main stage. thetampariverwalk.com AUGUST: OSAGE COUNTY May 10 – 18 by the Carrollwood Players. A vanished father. A pill-popping mother. Three sisters harboring shady little secrets. When the Weston family unexpectedly reunites after Dad disappears, their Oklahoman family homestead explodes. carrollwoodplayers.org TAMPA TARPONS May 7, 6:30 pm at the George Steinbrenner Field. Enjoy Tarpons Baseball with your favorite fourlegged friend during Tail Waggin’ Tuesday. $2 tickets (dogs & humans) & $2 select concession items through the 2nd inning. milb.com/tampa CUBAN SANDWICH FESTIVAL May 26, noon – 4 pm at Centennial Park in Ybor City. Enjoy live music, cultural entertainment, and the BEST Cuban Sandwiches in the world; featuring contestants and chefs from all over the world. Watch as they attempt to make a 350-foot sandwich. cubansandwichfestival.com DIANA ROSS May 9, 8 pm at Ruth Eckerd Hall in Clearwater. The one-and-only Motown legend Diana Ross sings her countless chart-topping hits including “Stop! In the Name of Love,” “You Can’t Hurry Love,” and “You Keep Me Hangin’ On.” rutheckerdhall.com CLUE May 28 – June 2 at the Straz Center. Based on the cult 1985 Paramount movie and inspired by the classic Hasbro board game, CLUE is the ultimate whodunit that will leave you dying of laughter and keep you guessing until the final twist. strazcenter.org

THE STORM WE MADE By Vanessa Chan “The Storm We Made” immerses readers in the harrowing landscape of World War II-era Malaya (now Malaysia). Against a backdrop of betrayal and courage, the novel resonates with the enduring power of familial bonds. Prepare to be swept away by a tale that echoes with history, both on a grand and personal scale, prompting reflection on the indomitable human spirit in the face of adversity. This book addresses all of the complexities of war - nothing is easy or neat. Such a powerful debut novel. THE TURTLE HOUSE By Amanda Churchill “The Turtle House” unfolds as a poignant tapestry of interconnected lives woven across generations and continents. Lia’s journey in 1990’s Texas intertwines with her grand- mother Mineko’s in pre-war Japan. The rich narrative explores themes of hidden histories and the enduring legacy of trauma. This debut novel is perfect for fans of historical fiction and dual timelines. YOU KNOW WHAT YOU DID By K.T. Nguyen “You Know What You Did” intricately weaves a tale of suspense, ensnaring readers in its enigmatic web until the very last page. This debut thriller follows the journey of a first-generation Vietnamese American artist as she confronts the shadows of her past. By delving into the intricate layers of the refugee experience, the narrative unfolds with a nuanced exploration of legacy and the complicated tapestry of family ties. It is a rollercoaster ride of dizzying twists that chal- lenge perceptions of loyalty and love, leaving you to weigh the depths of human secrets. VICTIM By Andrew Boryga “Victim” is a thought-provoking and fiercely intelligent debut novel. This blistering satire follows Javi, a cunning hustler who sees through the superficial diversity initiatives of the modern world and exploits them for his own gain. With its sharp critique of per- formative allyship and its exploration of the complexities of identity and victimhood, this novel will leave you reevaluating your own attitudes toward identity, privilege, and the meaning of social justice. This book is rare because it is both fun to read and will spark more profound conversations. WELCOME TO THE HYUNAM-DONG BOOKSHOP By Hwang Bo-reum May is the perfect time to try out new things - and debut novels offer new voices to experience. And what a debut it is! Welcome to the Hyunam-Dong Bookshop! This novel is a tender ode to the transformative magic of literature and community. The story follows Yeongju’s journey from corporate confines to the sanctuary of a bookshop. It resonates with themes of self-discovery and belonging. Amidst the shelves of stories, friendships blossom, and she finds solace in the embrace of kindred spirits. With its focus on finding acceptance and the simple pleasures in life, it felt like the perfect read to jumpstart the summer months. THE OTHER VALLEY By Scott Alexander Howard “The Other Valley” is a debut novel that beckons you into a realm where time bends and boundaries blur. The book invites you to ponder the connections that shape our lives. The story follows the story of Ollie, a shy and intelligent sixteen-year-old who aspires to join the Conseil, the governing body of her isolated town. This surreal place borders its own past and future. This book is like nothing I have read before. Using the lens of speculative fiction, it explores themes of power and destiny and how our choices turn into consequences.

The Light in a Dark Place Lorree’s faith is a gleam of sunlight hitting the water and reflecting in a million directions. Bright enough to catch and hold your attention. Brilliant enough with its aqua echoes to make you want to go for a swim. There’s just something compelling about this woman. She threads wisdom and tenderness throughout each sentence, sewing together the narrative of her life – a tapestry of good times and hard ones. Her’s is the story of a life lived in quiet reverberation – resonance of grace and grace and grace. “I am a little nervous, but the humbleness that I have in my spirit for all that He’s done for me in 59 years. I have no one to praise and give the honor to but Him,” she said. A prayer and a song – that’s how Gospel Village resident Lorree began. Her eyes glinted like polished pearls as tears welled, and she sang softly, “He’s been my fourth man in the fire, time after time.” “I just wanted to put that in the atmosphere because that’s where I am right now,” she said of the hymn. She’d been up cooking the night before for a weekly feeding at church. If she was tired, it didn’t show. “The joy of doing that and seeing their expressions of thankfulness is just beyond words,” she said. Lorree grew up in North Carolina during the 1960s. Her first memories are of being on the swings, making up songs, and singing to God. “Good memories,” she said. Another good memory was at her father’s and uncle’s convenience store. She’d ask her Uncle Stanley for a Coca-Cola. She remembers the Coke-themed bottle opener on the wall. The top would pop off, “To hear the ‘chhhh’ and my daddy is standing on the corner with a cigar, half smoked.” The only girl of three children, Lorree was spoiled by her father, and she watched her mother with curious eyes. Her father was born in 1919, and her mother in 1929, “They were products of the Great Depression, so they both were very frugal,” she said. Lorree learned how to make jellies and jams and to can vegetables. Her neighbor across the street taught the little girl how to crochet, which she still does today. “That’s my glass of wine, once or twice a week,” she said. Her love of sewing stems from her mother, who made most of her clothes until high school. “The last thing she did make for me was my debutant gown.” It was made of white taffeta with a netted underskirt. It had lace and sparkles around the top with mid-length sleeves. Escorted by a cousin, Lorree was the belle of the ball, no doubt. During a Home Ec class in high school, Lorree remembers, with a smile, making a halter top that turned out too long on one side. “I heard many stories of my grandmother sewing by candlelight, her doing a lot of hand stitching,” Lorree said. Her grandmother made an apron out of old tobacco bags and twine, which she’d wear over one of her only two dresses working in the fields during the week. In 2018, Lorree was called to Florida with a group of people. “They were instruments for me to get out of that state.” She lived with several families, totaling five folks, in one mobile home. On Christmas Eve of the same year, they kicked Lorree out. With nowhere else to turn, she lived out of her SUV from December through April. “My grandmother was the only child out of three in the late 1800s that went to finishing school, and that was unheard of then. That was post-slavery. The values that she instilled in us were to be very independent. It was very difficult for me to let my family know that I lived in my vehicle.” “Fear was the first emotion I felt,” she said. “At that time, I lived in my vehicle, I felt that was pivotal because it showed me how to really trust God. I remember so many mornings I woke up singing the song “Hallelujah” because I knew he kept me safe. [...] I might hear something in my sleep, and I might open my eyes, and I would hear the peace of God saying, ‘It’s okay, I’ve got you.’” When her car broke down at the Lakeland Public Library, she caught the bus to the Talbot House. Her first night there she met two women who told her about Gospel Inc. and their women’s program, Repurpose Art Studio. Gospel Inc. is a Lakeland nonprofit that provides resources, fosters community, and helps find purposeful employment for homeless folks across the city. “The first morning I went there, Miss Connie said, ‘Lorree, you’re really serious about doing better.’ I said, ‘Yes, ma’am.’” Within that week, she was accepted into the Gospel Inc. sewing internship. It was a 16-week beginner’s course, at the end of which students received their own sewing machine. On Sundays, she would go home with one of the church moms and fix desserts to bring to the sewing program every Monday During the program, Lorree was hit by an SUV while crossing the street. After getting out of the hospital, she stayed with a church sister. Though she couldn’t finish the program because of the accident, Gospel Inc. still awarded her a KitchenAid mixer. “God worked it out,” she said. Post-accident, Lorree earned a dignified income working ten hours for Gospel Inc. each week. She worked mainly in the outreach center on Plum Street, writing ‘thank you’ cards, helping with payroll, miscellaneous office tasks, and daily devotionals. Eventually, Lorree got a spot at Gospel Village, a sustainable and affordable long-term housing community for the chronically homeless. On her first night in her own space, Lorree felt slightly nervous but excited. “Homelessness is like an oak tree. It has many, many branches and many, many roots. The branches we can see,” she said. Those could be mental, emotional, or physical issues. “As far out as the branches go, there are taproots that go out just as far under the ground.” That could be a trauma from childhood, loss of family, or a series of unforeseen events. Someone may not look clean and be carrying four or five bags, but “if you could see the heart of that person, it would really make this world different,” she said. Lorree says kindness to those who are currently without a place to live can look like asking if you can take them out for a meal or buying them a new pair of shoes. “I’ve had times in the last month that I see people on the bus, and I hear the Holy Spirit say, ‘Give them what you bought for yourself because you can make something when you get home.’” The Gospel Village resident has plenty of plans for the future. She’d like to get her driver’s license, get involved with the children’s ministry at church, and perfect her trade of sewing – venturing out into more clothing. But what does Lorree’s ideal life look like? “What it is now.” “I feel like that God puts us all on this Earth for a specific thing,” she said. “He means for us to use those [talents] to help one another but having Him at the center of everything. […] I am a part of light that’s in a dark place.” Speaking to the unhoused community, Lorree said, “Keep pushing forward. Change the people that you’re around. Make sure that they’re positive and that they want to do better for themselves. [...] I’m promising that it will not be easy — rest assured. But it is so worth it.” Photography by Amy Sexson

1 cup Licor 43 4 cups cold brew coffee ½ cup oat milk In a large jar or pitcher with a lid, add all ingredients and shake. Pour over ice, add an optional garnish of whipped cream. Please drink responsibly, ages 21+ only.

Mosquitoes are a familiar nuisance in Florida, heralding the warmer months with their unwelcome presence. Beyond their itchy bites, these insects play complex roles in our ecosystem and public health. This article delves into the life cycle of mosquitoes, their ecological impact, and practical tips for coexisting with them while minimizing their bothersome and sometimes dangerous impacts. THE ECOLOGICAL ROLE OF MOSQUITOES Despite their notoriety, mosquitoes serve vital functions in ecosystems. They act as pollinators and are a key food source for various animals, including fish, birds, and some bats. If you like to fish in Polk County’s many lakes, then you appreciate the important protein source provided to young sport fish by mosquito larvae. The male mosquitoes, which do not bite, primarily feed on plant nectar and can serve as important pollinator species. However, the female mosquitoes of certain species seek blood meals to support egg production. UNDERSTANDING MOSQUITOES: A PRIMER Mosquitoes, members of the insect family Culicidae, are true flies with a distinct life cycle that includes egg, larva, pupa, and adult stages. Of the roughly 90 mosquito species in Florida, they can be categorized into floodwater, standing water, and container mosquitoes based on their breeding habitats. Floodwater mosquitoes, for example, lay eggs in moist soil that must dry out completely, then they will hatch and emerge after the rainy season returns. This phenomenon can lead to massive emergences in March, April, or May – depending on the year. Standing water and container mosquitoes, on the other hand, lay eggs directly on water surfaces, with container mosquitoes adapting to breed in minuscule volumes of water, such as those found in bottle caps or tree cavities. Understanding where mosquitoes breed is critical to effective mosquito management and which actions you can take to reduce their numbers near your home! MOSQUITO CONTROL AND DISEASE PREVENTION When it comes to mosquito-borne disease, Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus are the mosquito species we are most concerned about. These containerbreeding species are found almost statewide and can spread diseases such as dengue, yellow-fever, zika, and chikungunya. Effective mosquito management is crucial for minimizing their impact on public health and your quality of life. Local mosquito control districts employ integrated mosquito management techniques, including setting traps to monitor populations and deploying environmentally-friendly larvicides. Once adult mosquitoes emerge from the water, they are a lot more challenging to manage due to their ability to fly. Container mosquitoes, like A. aegypti and A. albopictus, are thought to stay close to the area where they hatch – often travelling less than a quarter mile during their lifetime. This means that if you and your neighbors commit to dumping any containers that can catch water, weekly, throughout the mosquito season, you can drastically reduce the number of mosquitoes in the neighborhood. For areas where draining water isn’t feasible, like in a landscaping bed of bromeliads, consider using a granule product containing Bti (Bacillus thuringiensis subspecies israelensis) and sprinkling those granules into the pockets of water every 30 days. There are several brand names that use this natural mosquito larvicide. MYTH-BUSTING MOSQUITO MANAGEMENT Bug zappers, while satisfying to hear, do little to curb mosquito populations and they tend to kill more beneficial insects than mosquitoes. Similarly, plants marketed as mosquito repellents, such as those containing citronella, have limited effectiveness. These plants only release mosquito-repelling compounds when their leaves are crushed, and even then, the area of protection is minimal and fleeting. Eating garlic or taking vitamin B supplements has also been touted as a way to repel mosquitoes from the inside out, yet scientific evidence supporting these claims is scant. Sadly, bat houses do little to reduce mosquito populations as most bats prefer larger prey. Bats will eat some mosquitoes, but the majority of their diet is made up of moths, beetles, and flies. PERSONAL DEFENSE When it comes to personal protection, not all mosquito repellents are created equal. Mosquito repellents function by making humans less attractive to mosquitoes, essentially camouflaging us from their keen senses. It’s important to note that repellents do not harm mosquitoes; they deter them. The efficacy of a repellent is often measured by its Complete Protection Time (CPT), which indicates how long you can expect to be protected from bites after a single application. Research by the University of Florida has evaluated various repellents, finding that products containing DEET, picaridin, IR3535, and oil of lemon eucalyptus all offer effective protection. These ingredients vary in protection duration and concentration, allowing for choices tailored to individual needs and activity levels. To learn which product is best suited for the duration of your outdoor activities, based on University of Florida trials and research, consult this IFAS document: go.ufl.edu/mosquito-repellent or by scanning the QR Code. A UNIQUELY FLORIDA PROBLEM: SUNSCREEN FIRST? OR BUGSPRAY? When using mosquito repellent in conjunction with sunscreen, the order of application is crucial for effectiveness. The CDC advises applying sunscreen first, allowing it to absorb into the skin, followed by mosquito repellent. This sequence ensures optimal efficacy of both products. Importantly, products combining sunscreen and repellent are not recommended, as sunscreen requires more frequent application than repellent. Over-applying a combination product could lead to unnecessary exposure to repellent chemicals. MOSQUITO SEASON IS HERE As we navigate life in Florida alongside mosquitoes, understanding their behavior, ecological role, and how to mitigate their impacts is essential. Through community efforts and informed personal practices, we can coexist with these persistent insects while safeguarding our health and enjoying the beauty of our state. For more insights and resources on mosquito management, connect with Polk County Mosquito Control at their website, www.polk-county.net/services/mosquito-control/ or contact your local UF/IFAS Extension Office in Bartow.

LAND OF MILK AND HONEY By C Pam Zhang A Chinese American chef who, lured to a decadent, enigmatic colony of the superrich in a near future in which food is disappearing, discovers the meaning of pleasure and the ethics of who gets to enjoy it, altering her life and, indirectly, the world. THE FERVOR By Alma Katsu In 1944, Meiko Briggs and her daughter, Aiko, held in an internment camp in the Midwest, discover a mysterious disease spreading among the interned is linked to a demon from the stories of Meiko’s childhood, hellbent on infiltrating their already strange world. GREEK LESSONS By Han Kang A young Korean woman losing her ability to speak befriends a Greek language teacher who is losing his sight, and soon they discover they have even more in common, in the new novel from the International Booker Prizewinning author of “The Vegetarian.” HULA By Jasmin ‘Iolani Hakes A young daughter of the legendary Hawaiian Naupaka dynasty dreams of healing the rift in her family by competing in and winning the next Miss Aloha Hula contest and proving herself worthy of carrying on her family’s name. CRYING IN H MART By Michelle Zauner The Japanese Breakfast indie pop star presents a full-length account of her viral New Yorker essay to share poignant reflections on her experiences of growing up Korean-American, becoming a professional musician and caring for her terminally ill mother. THE TRYOUT By Christina Soontornvat When cheerleading tryouts are announced, Christina and her best friend, jump at the chance to join the squad. As two of the only kids of color in school, they have always yearned to fit in. But will the girls survive the terrifying tryouts with their whole grade watching? PUNKY ALOHA By Shar Tuiasoa Punky loves to do a lot of things--except meeting new friends. When her grandmother asks her to go out and grab butter for her famous banana bread, Punky hesitates. But with the help of her grandmother’s magical sunglasses, and with a lot of aloha in her heart, Punky sets off on a BIG adventure for the very first time. MY BINDI By Gita Varadarajan Divya is scared to put on the bindi for the first time. What if she gets made fun of? What will it feel like? But Amma assures her that her bindi will bring protection. After Divya looks inside Amma’s special box to find the perfect bindi to put on, she gazes in the mirror and discovers a new side of herself, and it gives her strength. WHEN YOU TRAP A TIGER By Tae Keller When Lily and her family move in with her sick grandmother, a magical tiger straight out of her halmoni’s Korean folktales arrives, prompting Lily to unravel a secret family history. Long, long ago, her grandmother stole something from the tigers and now the tigers want it back. ARU SHAH AND THE END OF TIME By Roshani Chokshi Aru Shah lives in the Museum of Ancient Indian Art and Culture and has a tendency to stretch the truth in order to fit in at school. When three schoolmates show up at Aru’s doorstep to catch her in a lie, she panics and shows them the cursed Lamp of Bharata. On their urging, she lights the lamp and unwittingly frees the Sleeper, an ancient demon whose duty it is to awaken the God of Destruction.

A sandy path of broken glass lined on either side by discarded children’s toys, shopping carts, tires, and other refuse leads to a hovel hamlet. To get there, you must cross a bridge overlooking a canal that jet skiers and boaters take every day, unaware that yards away is a homeless camp with dozens of people who can’t secure affordable housing, earn a living wage, are without family, struggling through mental illness, or in active addiction. Though ramshackle, this tent city displays an amount of resourcefulness born out of desperation – desperation for identity, for something of one’s own. Old signs and headboards are turned into make-shift gates to separate one residence from the next. Multiple tents or tarps are strung together to create individual living spaces for families. Though best efforts are made to create a ‘home,’ these dwellings are a portrait of depression. This is one of Polk County’s five to six known homeless encampments. According to Talbot House Ministries Executive Director Maria Cruz, the amount of people experiencing homelessness has increased by almost 65% in the last three years. However, identifying the number of unsheltered individuals is a difficult task. Cruz notes that the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) Pointin-Time Count is a baseline but is not entirely reliable. The HUD 2023 Continuum of Care Homeless Assistance Programs Homeless Populations and Subpopulations counted 776 homeless persons in Polk County. This number doesn’t reflect those who choose not to disclose their housing status or those in unknown encampments, among other discrepancies. “Single individuals are falling through the cracks because they have not been counted correctly,” Cruz said. All federal funding assigned to counties follows HUD’s Point-inTime Count. “We are not receiving the amount of funding that we should be receiving. Who is advocating in Congress for that to change nationwide? Not too many people,” said Cruz, who noted little to no County or City support. “The majority of our programs and services exist due to the community’s support.” McKinney-Vento is another metric to consider when estimating the unhoused population. According to the National Center for Homeless Education, “Each year, the states submit information regarding the education of students who experienced homelessness to the U.S. Department of Education (ED) as a part of the EDFacts Initiative. Using the most recently available data, this brief examines the number of students who experienced homelessness, the type of housing they used when first identified by school districts, and subgroups of students who experienced homelessness.” During the 2020-21 school year, approximately 62,971 students experienced homelessness in the state of Florida, making up 2.3 percent of all students in the state. Andrea Anderson is the Director of Community Outreach for Polk for Recovery, an organization “led by and for those in recovery from substance use, mental health, or other obstacles to wellness.” Each week, she and her team walk the dusty, rubbish-lined trails to check on folks in the camp – and extend help. They hand out clothes, food, water, hygiene kits, and offer treatment or safe housing. “I encourage everybody to visit the encampments [accompanied by Talbot House Ministries] so you can see in real-time the things that many people don’t want to be presented,” said Cruz. “Higher levels in the community don’t want that to be out there because, of course, they want to look good. Of course, they want the CRA to clean all this and present the best face. We want them to see the reality and not to forget that they are human beings.” While walking through the encampment with Anderson, we came across a young man who was shirtless and unkempt. Twenty-seven-year-old Nicholas has been homeless for a year and a half. After a family disagreement, he was kicked out of his house. His daily life consists of cleaning up around camp, cutting firewood for meals, and collecting water jugs to cook, bathe, and give to his dogs. Nicholas lives in a tent with his significant other, his mother, and her boyfriend. “There’s no real plan to it. You just kind of make the best of every day,” he said. He’s been at his current homestead for six months. Asked about his ideal life, Nicholas said, “I honestly couldn’t tell you. I haven’t thought that far ahead yet.” Anderson, as is her job and purpose in life, offered him hope in the form of her business card. From Heroin to Heroine Andrea Anderson is the kind of person who effuses genuineness. She cares about everyone in the camps and knows many of them by name, including pets. As we made our way through a vein of footpaths that trickled off to this tent or that one, she’d call out to folks, asking how they were and if they needed anything. She, herself, is a woman renewed. This life is all too familiar to Anderson. As Lorree from Gospel Village would say, it’s one of her taproots. But, you’ll read about her later. “I started using from a young age. My addiction progressed throughout the years,” Anderson said. Heroin and crack were her drugs of choice. By the time she ended up homeless, she’d been in and out of prison. “Getting out of prison, I had nothing left. I had to do things that I’m not proud of to support a habit that I had to use every day to stay well.” She hustled to make money to afford a motel room each night. “It was terrible. It was degrading,” she said. “I couldn’t look at cars that passed me on the street—I felt less than. Stores wouldn’t let me in to use the restroom.” Anderson said that her addiction kept her in bondage. She was ready to break free. “I went to jail the last time and was headed to prison for the second time. I was sick and tired of being sick and tired,” she said. “I gave my heart to Christ and asked for help. Immediately, I was changed. I knew that I never had to do that again.” When Anderson was released from prison, she entered a sober living facility in Polk County. She went through a treatment program, learned life skills to stay sober, and worked at a restaurant for seven years. She went on to work for Tri-County and eventually, along with her colleagues, helped to start Polk for Recovery with Executive Director Craig Pickos. Anderson is still involved in a 12-step program, keeps multiple service commitments, and gives back through her job in community outreach. “It helps keep me sober.” Having suffered through addiction, hustling to make money to have somewhere to rest her head at night must have been spiritually burdensome. To see it now through sober eyes can’t be easy. But Anderson has a different outlook on it. “I never personalize it. This is all God’s business. We’re out here planting seeds,” she said. “We’re meeting them where they are and offering them help. When they’re ready, they know us and might call us.” A Not-So-Simple Life Darlene is a special woman. Tough and sincere. Beaten down by circumstance, she was guarded but honest as she talked about life on the streets. While holding a newborn puppy she called Sweetie, she told us about the plants she tends. Darlene has a small garden of rosemary (for mosquitoes, she said), cacti, an Easter lily, and a plant she called ‘earache medicine.’ She does her best to keep her space and herself clean, which is a daily task. Darlene has been homeless for the better part of 20 years and has been in her current space for over 10. “My mother died. My father kicked me out after four years of taking care of her. I miss her,” she said. Darlene cared for her ailing mother 24/7, “But I’m okay with that. She was my mom.” Her mother had terminal throat cancer. “I fed her every four hours and made her gain weight. I took her to her treatments. I took care of the house, took care of the bills for Daddy.” Then, she was kicked out. Her father died six years later. With no brothers or sisters, “I don’t have anyone in my life,” she said. “We don’t know where we would go if we lost this,” she said of the property on which she lives. Her entire life is this cobbled-together homestead. She doesn’t want to enter a facility like Talbot House or Gospel Village because she’s worried she’d have to give up her animals. “I don’t think I could give my babies up,” she said of her five dogs. “They’re the only thing I’ve got to talk to.” “There’s a lot of depression. There are a couple of girls that want out of here,” Darlene said of the encampment. “The guys out here give us a hard time. We have a lot of stealing going on. I’ve lost my hatchet. I’ve lost my machete.” Being a single woman on the streets is demanding. It’s a lot of “taking up for yourself. The guys try to run over us a lot, and I won’t let them. You’re not telling me what I can and can’t do.” Meth and alcohol are the specific blights on Darlene’s community. “Everybody around here, they’re either on drugs or they trick.” “Every time we leave here, the cops pull us over and search us constantly,” she said, calling drugs an occasional temptation. “But I can’t afford it, so I don’t mess with it. I’d rather spend money on my dogs.” “I isolate myself from people,” said Darlene. Other than her puppies, Ms. Smith is her only friend and confidant. “She’s 85 years old and got more brains than I do,” Darlene said. “She sees me every day. She tells me when I need to go home and take a shower, when I need a haircut.” Deterioration of the backbone, skin cancer, and essential tremors slow Darlene – but they don’t stop her. Each morning, she wakes up to the mess outside her abode and does her best to clean it up. “The garbage around here wouldn’t be that bad if they would just set up a dumpster because all of us would put our trash in it.” Instead, she’s forced to burn and bury her garbage. “I cook me some breakfast, and then I get to work,” she said. Darlene collects water, washes dishes, scrubs laundry, rakes the yard, and cuts the grass with scissors under the merciless Florida sun. “It takes me all day to do what I need to do out here.” “Mentally, I’m burnt out,” Darlene admitted. “Talking to a psychiatrist don’t work and the medicine they give you don’t work. […] I don’t know what to say. I’ll be 58 years old in July. My body’s wearing out early.” “People just look at you like you’re nothing, and we do feel it. It’s like the rich men get it, and the poor people get nothing,” said Darlene as she shielded her eyes from the beating midday beams. “Let’s trade for 24 hours. Do what I do.” Asked how people could help her situation, her eyes brimmed with tears, “I don’t know,” she said, dejected. “I’ve had the Census Bureau out here several times. They keep saying they’re going to do something, but they don’t. It don’t get better. Grady Judd comes out here – it don’t help. They just throw us away.” In response, Sheriff Grady Judd called himself and the Polk County Sheriff’s Office advocates for the unhoused. “We spend an inordinate amount of time and resources in our homeless communities county-wide. We do that because we want to make sure they have the basic necessities – food, clothing, and shelter,” he said. Sheriff Judd noted he personally visits the homeless communities, inquiring about their needs. “We can’t control if someone lives in a homeless environment, but we certainly look out for them in that homeless environment. We can’t live their life for them, but we do our best to take care of them.” Talbot House Ministries Executive Director Maria Cruz called the Lakeland Police Department a great support to their efforts. “I do believe that the police department, either county or local, are not equipped to handle the homelessness crisis. I don’t believe the police were designed to be the first responders in homelessness intervention because they don’t have the resources; they don’t have the contacts. They are trying to do the best they can.” Cruz suggests coming together as a county to develop a task force of clinical and homelessness service providers that can work with law enforcement to address the crisis. “As providers, we are working scattered, trying to do the best we can. But we don’t have an integrated approach towards tackling the issue.” “I’m not a bad person. I don’t steal things, I don’t do drugs, I’m just stuck in a bad place,” Darlene said through misty eyelashes. “I’m not with all the drama and stuff that goes on. I don’t fit in out here.” “You need to know their stories. You need to know what caused their situation. Most of the time, it’s not drugs or mental health – it’s life happening,” said Cruz. Darlene hopes to escape the poverty that holds her underwater. Her life is a struggle for air. Weighed down by trauma, loss of family, and circumstance, all she craves is a deep breath – a gasp from her tired spirit. There’s no such thing as perfect, she said, but the closest thing to it would be “a little quiet small house. That’s all. And a little piece of property – just me.” Solutions to a Complex Issue Anderson, who checks on the encampments weekly, has an idea to mitigate homelessness – a housing-first initiative. This approach has proven successful in cities across the nation. Community First! Village is a master-planned neighborhood in Austin, Texas, that provides affordable, permanent housing and a supportive community for men and women who are coming out of chronic homelessness. Today, it occupies 51 acres and is a respite for more than 370 formerly homeless folks. In 2021, the Reseda Tiny Home Village opened in LA County. The Village consists of 52 units and 101 beds, helping unhoused Angelenos get off the streets, into a space of their own, and on a path to finding permanent housing. Housing-first initiatives can be seen locally in places like Talbot House Ministries and Gospel Village in Lakeland. On February 3, 2021, property on E. Lemon Street, formerly Royal Oak Estates, was purchased, and renovations began for what was to become Gospel Village. Today, Gospel Village has 34 units and 43 residents. Anderson imagines repurposing abandoned hotels. “Put the homeless in there, have them work for the hotel. Have them work for their daily wages and food and start feeling like productive members of society,” she said. Giving this dignified income – this purpose – could be an incentive to stay clean. “Right now, they don’t have a purpose, and they’re stuck in this addiction. [...] Small changes over a period of time make a difference,” Anderson said. Winter Haven City Manager T. Michael Stavres called homelessness and contributing issues “complex.” According to the City Manager, addressing it within any community requires a multifaceted approach utilizing multiple agencies. In Winter Haven, this includes entities such as the City, Polk County, Heart For Winter Haven, The Mission, Central Florida Health Care, Polk County Public Schools, and countless faith-based organizations. “The easy answer to how best to support the unhoused population is to provide housing, but that is no easy task, nor is it necessarily a cure-all solution. While having access to a greater inventory of affordable housing helps, it will not be sustainable without the wrap-around services that seek to address financial literacy, workforce skill development, mental and physical health support, and transportation,” said Stavres. The City of Winter Haven has established an Affordable Housing Trust Fund to help financially support new developments specifically aligned with affordable housing. According to Stavres, the Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) has also established incentive programs to help offset the development costs for projects within the CRA geographic areas. Additionally, the City’s Affordable Housing Advisory Committee (AHAC) annually evaluates strategies to enhance and increase affordable housing availability as part of the State Housing Initiative Partnership Program (SHIP). We reached out to Lakeland Mayor Bill Mutz for a comment about how best to serve the unhoused population and any plans the City has for the issue, but we did not receive a response. According to their website, the City of Lakeland’s Housing Office works to preserve and develop affordable housing within city limits. “Homelessness can be reduced if we implement and work with tangible, evidencebased solutions,” said Maria Cruz. “Housing-focused programs work to reduce and resolve homelessness, so let us invest in those evidence-based practices.” According to the Talbot House Ministries executive director, Polk County takes a reactive approach to homelessness. “We need to work and invest more in preventing homelessness in the first place,” she said. Allocated crisis assistance dollars could prevent someone at risk of experiencing homelessness from losing their job or housing and help them get back on their feet. Regardless of the many possible solutions to the issue of homelessness, one plight remains – how we treat our unsheltered brothers and sisters. Often, those experiencing homelessness are said to be ‘on the fringes’ of society. But it’s more insidious than that. We exclude them from society altogether. We avert our eyes when we pass them on the street. We lock our car doors when they stand with a sign at the intersection. We deny them personhood as if lack of housing is a moral failure. Housing is growing more unaffordable by the day. Loss of family is devastating. Mental health struggles are debilitating. Addiction isn’t a choice. Darlene could be your mother, Nicholas your son. It could be you. If you have nothing else to give, be unsparing with your kindness. Photography by Amy Sexson

Did you know that you can plant your vegetables and herbs alongside your ornamental perennials, shrubs, and trees? Most people think vegetable gardens, raised beds, and containers are the only places to grow edible plants. But vegetables and herbs can make great additions to the landscape without the expense or effort of a special place of their own. Adding edible plants to your ornamental landscape can enhance the yard in so many ways—visually with ornamental quality, fragrance from aromatic leaves and flowers, and seasonal food production. WHAT DO YOU NEED TO KNOW TO START? Remember, as you select vegetables, fruits, and herbs for ornamental quality, stick to your overall design theme, follow the recommended Florida-Friendly Landscaping principles, and think about how you can eat from your landscape year-round. Many edible plants have a short growing span, so it is important to learn how to rotate edible plants for seasonality as well as design quality. Design is important in any landscape and edible plants can enhance design in many ways. Here are a few tips to getting started. 1. Select varieties that grow well in central Florida. Use the Florida Vegetable Gardening Guide and other local resources to find varieties that will grow locally. Know your hardiness zone and planting dates. Edible plants can be annuals, lasting only one growing season, perennials that span multiple seasons, or even long-lived shrubs and trees. 2. Group plants by their water needs. This is important in all landscapes to ensure that plants are getting what they need to be healthy and pest-free. Plants of all types should be grouped according to their water needs, light requirements, and maintenance needs. Select edible plants that match the site conditions where they will be planted to ensure success. For example: Rosemary is an herb that thrives in dry, well-drained soils. If you have a spot in the landscape that matches those conditions, rosemary will thrive! 3. Use support structures, containers, and hardscapes to add visual appeal. Many edible plants have an informal quality and at times could look a bit unruly. Consider using structures such as arbors, pergolas, containers, and even statuary to both support and contain your edible plants. This may also be necessary if you are growing vining plants. Small groupings of containers can add visual interest and may make it easier to grow and maintain some edible plants. Great examples of how to incorporate these items into your landscape can be found at our local botanical gardens. 4. Plant trees. Trees are such an integral part of the landscape. They provide structure and shade, and if you select a fruit-bearing plant, can also provide you with food! Small trees such as a bay tree, small citrus (such as Sugar Belle), peach, or dwarf mulberry can be grown in small urban and suburban landscapes. NEW TO GROWING EDIBLE PLANTS? Herbs are a great place to start. They can be planted directly in the ground or in containers. The fragrance from the herbs can also be an asset to the landscape. Brushing against a mint plant while walking in the yard can add to an already pleasant experience. Shrubs such as bananas lend a tropical look to the garden and are a way to enjoy some of the many lesser-known varieties of the fruit. With care, a generous harvest can be had! Blueberries produce a harvest in the spring, but their foliage provides interest in the landscape year-round. The fall foliage on blueberries is orange to red and is beautiful when combined with native saw palmetto and coontie cycads. Plant cool-season annuals such as lettuces and greens (collards, mustard, Swiss chard, kale, cabbage) for the texture and color in the landscape. They can be used to fill a garden space and can be continually harvested throughout the growing season. If you are ready to start adding edible plants to your landscape, use the Florida Vegetable Gardening Guide (edis.ifas.ufl.edu/publication/VH021) to determine what plants to grow now. Additionally, our monthly newsletter gives tips on what edibles to plant, general maintenance, and where to find helpful workshops in the area. Read and subscribe to our newsletter at substack.com/@yourcentralfloridayard. For more information, contact UF/IFAS Extension Polk County at (863) 519-1041 or visit us online at http://sfyl.ifas.ufl.edu/polk or on social media @PolkGardening. The Plant Clinic is open Monday-Friday, 9:00 am-4:00 pm to answer your gardening and landscaping questions. Give us a call or email us at polkmg@ifas.ufl.edu. Tune in to our podcast Your Central Florida Yard, to listen to tips that will help you live your best gardening life in central Florida.

Twenty-nine-year-old Russell was born in Fort Lauderdale. He was an only child for nine years before his little brother came along. The siblings didn’t exactly get along, but that’s changing now. “It was good at first, then it got bad, and it’s slowly working itself to where we’re starting to get along again,” he said. As a kid, he was into Hot Wheels, sports cards, and the WWE. As he got older, things got harder. Life no longer revolved around toy cars and favorite wrestlers. “I’ve went through a lot,” he said. In his early twenties, Russell, his mother, and his brother were homeless, staying in someone else’s house. After a disagreement at the home, Russell was dropped off at Lighthouse Ministries. He’s been homeless on and off since April 2017. “It really hurt knowing that I had nobody there for me at that time,” he said. “But the City of Lakeland is so great. I’ve had a small community around me.” Russell had a few jobs that didn’t pay well, but “I was trying to find my way,” he said. Eventually, he moved to the Talbot House. “There were nights that I couldn’t sleep, or when I’d try to go check in, they were full,” he said. “It was hard on me, being autistic and having nowhere to lay my head down at night sometimes.” “It was rough,” he said of his experience. When he stopped working, he could finally get a bed and a shower each day at Talbot House. From there, he found his way to New Life, an outreach ministry that helped him get off the streets. He was there for 18 months. “Once I started living with them, I started getting better. I felt like I was climbing the ladder to get out of homelessness.” Russell was eventually kicked out of the program after an incident he didn’t want to discuss. He leaned on his good friend, Travis Doodles, YouTuber and founder of Worth and Purpose ministries. His friend put him up at the Paramount for six months until Russell expressed an interest in a home of his own. Travis helped Russell get into Gospel Village. “I literally found out two months ago that I was moving in,” Russell said. He’d only been there for six weeks when we spoke. He described the feeling of having his own space. “Good. I’m like, ‘Finally, I can just be myself and not have to worry about what’s going on with other people. I can just focus on myself.’” “I can lay in my bed all day without having to get up,” he said. “I’ve got a pretty nice bed in there.” Russell helps out around Gospel Village whenever he can and attends classes at the Peace River Center. According to Russell, they discuss topics like emotions, stress, and disability. “I can learn from them as much as possible,” he said. Now, at a steady place in life, Russell regularly talks to his mom and brother, who are no longer homeless. The Gospel Village resident dreams of becoming a YouTuber. He often appears in Travis Doodles’ videos and says he’s trying to build his fan base. Russell pulled out his phone to show us the latest video he’d made with Travis Doodles. “We entered into the Slim Jim competition to go to WrestleMania,” he said excitedly. He said his videos would focus on autism awareness. “Seeing people on the spectrum, like myself, I’m a lot smarter than people give me credit for,” he said in a YouTube interview with Travis Doodles. “Don’t let your disability get the best of you. If you have a dream – chase it!” Mainly, Russell wishes people would be more upfront with him as a person with autism. “Yes, we may be autistic, but we’re people too,” he said. “Autistic people don’t get treated the greatest. [...] We may be different in a lot of ways, but if there’s a way that we can share what we like with other people in the world, maybe they’ll understand you need to treat these people better.” Along with dreams of YouTube stardom, home ownership may be in Russell’s future. “I’ve got to save up money to buy my own place,” he said. The young man had advice for other people experiencing homelessness. “Be in God, keep praying. Don’t give up because if I would have given up, I wouldn’t be where I’m at today,” he said. “I’ve been one of His for 15 years. […] Because of Him, I got to do probably some of the coolest stuff that other people don’t get to do.” Some of that ‘cool stuff’ includes attending a Miami Heat game the season they won the NBA championship. He’s been to Orlando Magic games, Monster Jam, and the WWE Royal Rumble. “If you don’t experience it in person, you won’t know what it’s like,” he said. “We’re humans, and we do make mistakes, but don’t judge us for the mistakes we made,” Russell said of being unsheltered. “Don’t treat us like we’re nothing. They have a life, too. It’s just that life for them is different from everybody else’s.” Following the interview, Russell invited us to see his place. A smile spread across his face as he retrieved the Championship Belt that Logan Paul sent him. He even had a wrestling-themed bedspread. The Serenity Prayer is posted on the door of his home. God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference. It’s a celebration of his recovery journey. “It means so much,” he said. Photograph by Amy Sexson

Talbot House Ministries has been serving the homeless since 1979. The organization offers food, shelter, free medical and dental care, residential recovery programs, employment training and placement, and affordable housing opportunities to those in need. Its aim is to empower the unhoused men and women of our community with purpose and self-sufficiency. Talbot House is the most comprehensive provider of homeless services in Polk County. “I believe we have the best, knowledgeable, professionally trained team in the entire Polk County area,” said Maria Cruz, Executive Director of Talbot House Ministries. Cruz has been working in the homeless field for over 24 years. She previously worked for the Coalition for the Homeless as the director of housing programs for nine years before joining the Talbot House two years ago. Cruz comes from a family that stayed engaged in the community. She grew up giving to others, calling it an ‘innate’ part of herself. “I believe we are here in this life, on this Earth, to serve others,” she said. A PLACE OF PURPOSE Talbot House is most known for its emergency shelter. At 4 pm, some 140 folks come to the House to shower, wash laundry, have a meal, and sleep for the night. After breakfast, they go back into the community. Talbot House proposed a Day Center to the City of Lakeland last year and is waiting to hear back. They also act as a safe haven for vulnerable individuals and victims of domestic violence in which they can stay for the night and are evaluated the following day by a case manager to determine what avenue would best serve them. The organization offers two short-term residential programs. These initiatives provide case management and educational opportunities for adults experiencing homelessness. The programs last six to 24 months and take place within a structured, sober-living environment. In addition to emergency shelter and residential programs, they have outreach initiatives. “We visit the encampments in the community and provide them with water, clothing, shoes, food, hygiene kits, health-related kits,” said Cruz. “We bring a medical licensed counselor to talk to them and case managers to talk to them. We partner with drug and recovery programs, and they come with us to the communities as well.” These outreach programs are expanding. What started with a small grant from the City of Winter Haven became a sizable grant from Direct Relief. “We are going to be hiring an outreach coordinator to impact all encampments in Polk County,” Cruz said. They also plan to buy a new vehicle with a portable shower to bring to the encampments. Over the last year, Talbot House has piloted a diversion program, which is a best practice from Housing First. As people enter their doors, “We assess individuals and let them know if there is anything we can help them with that could prevent them from entering the emergency system.” Talbot House has successfully diverted 129 individuals from homelessness in the first year with the seed of $40K from a private donor. “What we wanted to do with this – with the first pilot data – was to prove to and show the community that these approaches work,” said Cruz. She envisions investing money in these proven approaches to reduce police intervention, emergency service intervention, and hospitalization. “How much will we save if you invest this little amount compared to spending $14K in an emergency intervention?” she said. Talbot House Ministries offers affordable housing as well. The ministry owns and operates 46 units of affordable housing and partners with Plateau Village to provide referrals and wraparound services to an additional 36 households. The organization partners with Homeless Coalition of Polk County and receives federal grants for housing, including rapid rehousing, permanent supportive programs, and housing vouchers. Their employment solution program, with job skills coordinators and employment specialists, connects the unsheltered with employment opportunities and helps train them in skills like building a resume, getting dressed for interviews, communicating professionally, and financial literacy and planning. These programs aren’t only for their residents but the entire homeless community. The on-site Good Samaritan Clinic offers free medical, dental, and mental healthcare to uninsured, low-income individuals in Polk County. The Talbot House food pantry is open to the community every Tuesday and Thursday and serves 525 households monthly. “Talbot House is expanding. We are going to be opening another location in the Polk County area,” said Cruz. Though they haven’t disclosed the location, the vision is a center for women and children. “It will be the first time in history that Talbot House will provide emergency shelter and a residential program for women and children. It’s an important milestone that we are very proud of.” Talbot House is a low-barrier shelter, meaning drug tests aren’t required for those it serves. “We need to be better at showing our God loves by actions,” said Cruz, adding that folks shouldn’t have to fit into a box to receive care. “We have been training our staff towards a more trauma-informed care intervention – crisis de-escalation, harm reduction, trying to see the individuals through the eyes of trauma. If someone is here under stress or pressure, do not expect that they are going to respond to you in a certain way. They don’t trust us. They are here, oppressed by the different stressors of their lives. We are the professionals. We must be prepared to handle that.” The Talbot House is a place of refuge for many, a hand up, a new start. Cara has been coming to Talbot House for nine months and has been a resident for seven. She first became homeless when her husband left her. He said he’d paid two months of the rent, but five days later, law enforcement told her she had 15 minutes to get out of the home. After getting out of the hospital, Talbot House was the only place with availability for Cara. “It’s given me stability. It gives me purpose – helping people. It fills me up and makes me feel better,” she said. EDUCATION AND ADVOCACY There are a multitude of factors causing homelessness nationwide. The most prevalent issues are the lack of affordable housing and living wages. According to Cruz, they used to see people without income, with severe mental health issues, or struggling with addiction come through their doors. That narrative is shifting. “Now we’re having working families that cannot afford to pay their rent, that are sleeping in their cars,” she said. “There’s a lot of ignorance surrounding the topic of homelessness,” Cruz said. “We need to unify forces to be able to do an effective job because it is huge, and we are not able to do it alone.” It all starts with understanding the causes and finding evidence-based solutions. People need to understand that it can happen to anyone. We are all one catastrophic life event away from becoming homeless. “Many people believe they’re untouchable,” she said. Cruz noted the lack of healthcare, mental healthcare, programs for recovery, hunger, and poverty as other causes for people experiencing homelessness. Policymakers must work within these systematic issues and understand the realities of homelessness at the national level. There is a lack of programs locally, too, she said. Though help can be found through organizations like Lighthouse Ministries, the Salvation Army, and Gospel Inc., they each have a set capacity to serve. Each organization has limited resources to help the community. We must educate our politicians and those in positions of influence about the realities of homelessness and push back on the judgment surrounding it. “We are not going to address the homelessness crisis by ignoring it or […] criminalizing them for being homeless and not having enough programs for them,” said Cruz. “There is a belief that we don’t invest a penny in more homelessness programs. But think about it. We are trying to do the best we can with the resources we have to help you with a community issue.” According to Cruz, “Ninety-two percent of the people we are seeing in programs are local.” These are our neighbors, our family, and our friends. “We have a huge project as advocates. We are the experts in the matter. We need to raise our voices and continue speaking out for people who can’t speak for themselves.” Cruz is planning a town hall to discuss the topic and educate the community. Representatives from Lighthouse Ministries, Salvation Army, Gospel Inc., and Worth and Purpose founder Travis Doodles will join Cruz. “We’ll start having these conversations nobody wants to have,” she said. The town hall is slated for August. Though Talbot House Ministries serves about 500 individuals daily through its many programs and resources, “I feel frustrated sometimes as a leader because I cannot do more,” Cruz said. “I try to focus on the transformation of the life of each individual.” Talbot House Ministries 814 N Kentucky Ave, Lakeland (863) 687-8475 FB: Talbot House Ministries of Lakeland IG @talbothouseministries talbothouse.org Photography by Amy Sexson