10/15/2026
From The Mission of Winter Haven
Over the past several days, The Mission of Winter Haven has received numerous inquiries regarding recent conversations and public statements surrounding homelessness in our community. As an organization, we have always made a conscious effort to stay focused on our mission rather than engage in public controversy. While we would typically allow conversations like these to pass without comment, the number of individuals who have reached out to us has made it clear that some clarification is needed. We recognize that this is a lengthy post, but we ask that you take the time to read it in its entirety. These are important conversations that deserve more than a few sentences or a quick social media response. We believe our community deserves to hear directly from us about who we are, what we believe, and where we stand on homelessness.
For nearly 50 years, The Mission of Winter Haven has served individuals and families facing hardship, hunger, and homelessness. Throughout those years, we have been fortunate to receive support from our city leadership, law enforcement, businesses, churches, and countless community members. We are genuinely grateful for those relationships and the willingness of so many to work alongside us. Our relationship with the City of Winter Haven extends beyond support, as city leaders and staff have personally joined us in serving our community. Addressing the concerns raised in recent happenings does not diminish our appreciation for that partnership or change our commitment to working together for the good of those we serve.
However, we have grown increasingly concerned about the direction of our community's conversation surrounding homelessness. On October 13, a letter was sent to Attorney General James Uthmeier requesting assistance with our growing homeless and transient population. We appreciate the concern for our community and the acknowledgment that any solution must be lawful, compassionate, and sustainable. Those are goals we share. We also understand the frustration of our residents and business owners. Criminal behavior, harassment, property destruction, and repeated disturbances should not be tolerated. Our community deserves to feel safe, and we agree that enough is enough. But we believe we need to be careful about how we define the problem and the words being used.
Words matter! Especially when they come from individuals in positions of leadership. Our concern is with the broader framing of the October 13 letter, which discussed homelessness alongside criminal behavior, disturbances, and threats to public safety without sufficiently distinguishing the individuals responsible from the broader homeless population. Whether intentional or not, that language places everyone under the same umbrella. The mother sleeping in her car with her children is now being discussed in the same context as someone repeatedly committing crimes. The man working two jobs to save for an apartment is grouped with someone harassing local businesses. That is not fair to the hundreds of individuals who are simply trying to survive and rebuild their lives. And that is precisely why these conversations must include those who know this population beyond the statistics and headlines. We need voices at the table who are genuinely invested in changing lives, with a shared commitment to measurable results, accountability, and lasting solutions.
Let’s be clear. Homelessness is not synonymous with criminal behavior. Mental illness, substance abuse, public camping, and criminal activity are different issues requiring different responses. When these concerns are grouped together under the broader issue of homelessness, we risk portraying an entire vulnerable population as a public safety threat because of the actions of a few. In 2026 alone, The Mission of Winter Haven has registered 1,037 individuals experiencing homelessness. When we began electronically tracking registrations in 2004, that number was about 100. While these figures represent people registering for services rather than the total homeless population in Winter Haven, they demonstrate the growing demand for assistance we have witnessed firsthand.
According to reporting by The Citrus Tea News on October 14, the City of Winter Haven stated in its January 2026 response to the Attorney General that only 1.4% of the Winter Haven Police Department’s 60,967 calls for service in 2025 involved homelessness. That equates to approximately 854 calls for the entire year, or an average of just 2 to 3 calls per day. And it is important to remember that these are calls for service, not necessarily criminal incidents, and multiple calls may involve the same individuals. We do not share these figures to minimize the concerns of residents, businesses, or law enforcement. We are simply stating the facts. Those concerns are real. But numbers matter, and so does perspective. We should not allow the actions of a relatively small number of individuals to define an entire population.
Every day, The Mission of Winter Haven provides meals, clothing, showers, laundry, classes, identification documents, work boots, and connections to employment and housing resources. We do not provide handouts. We walk alongside people who are genuinely working toward stability. One woman comes to mind who works from 10 p.m. until 6 a.m., then waits for our doors to open so she can eat, rest briefly, and prepare for her next job. She is sacrificing sleep and saving everything she can because she wants a home. She isn't causing disturbances or threatening businesses. She is simply trying to survive while working toward something better, and her story is not unusual.
We also understand the other side of this conversation because we work closely with our law enforcement. Together, we identify individuals creating problems, and The Mission of Winter Haven trespasses those who violate our policies. We believe in being good neighbors, establishing boundaries, holding individuals accountable, and protecting those we serve. When businesses call late at night because someone is causing a disturbance, we know firsthand what it means to respond to those concerns. Our wonderful police department and The Mission of Winter Haven have both been among those answering those calls. We aren't simply discussing these problems around a table. We are addressing them. We also need to recognize the tireless efforts of our Police Chief, who has worked to bring people together, discuss solutions, and develop initiatives aimed at creating real, lasting change. Those working directly with this population understand the challenges, setbacks, successes, and gaps in services.
In a recent meeting, Commissioner Davis indicated that he has met with leaders of local homeless ministries. We appreciate his willingness to engage in conversations surrounding homelessness in our community. However, to our knowledge, he has not visited The Mission of Winter Haven or met with our Executive Director. In fact, just last night, we met with representatives from several local organizations that work directly with individuals experiencing homelessness to coordinate our upcoming holiday services. These organizations regularly collaborate to ensure we are working together, avoiding duplication of services, and making the most effective use of our community's resources. During that meeting, we learned that none of the organizations represented had met with Commissioner Davis either.
We share this not because we are seeking a seat at the table, but because we believe meaningful conversations about homelessness must be informed by those who encounter its realities every single day. The Mission of Winter Haven has served individuals and families facing hunger, homelessness, and hardship in this community for decades. Today, we continue that work seven days a week. We see firsthand the complexities of homelessness, the barriers individuals face, and the resources that are actually available. There is a significant difference between discussing homelessness, claiming to serve individuals experiencing homelessness, and actually understanding what it takes to help someone move beyond it. If Mr. Davis is serious about his claim that he “needs support - legal, strategic, and operational - to ensure that our city can comply with state law, protect public safety, and address the humanitarian needs of individuals who arrive here without any connection to our community,” then wouldn’t you think he would be seeking assistance from those doing this work every day?
We were particularly concerned by the suggestion in the letter that charitable organizations may have “unintentionally become a magnet” for homelessness in Winter Haven. We cannot afford to make assumptions when discussing an issue this complex. We need to understand the facts and the realities of what is happening in our community. For example, people experiencing homelessness often congregate in downtown areas because of access to transportation, public spaces, libraries, charging stations, and basic necessities, particularly when they have no place to go. This past Columbus Day, we served noticeably fewer people for lunch than usual. Do you know what was different that day? The library was closed. Many of the individuals who typically travel into the area did not come, while those we regularly serve still showed up. While one day does not tell the whole story, it illustrates why we need to look more closely at the factors rather than assuming charitable organizations are responsible.
We will take that conversation one step further. If by being a “magnet” you mean that hungry people know where to come for a warm meal, then yes, we are a magnet. If it means a mother struggling to make ends meet knows where to find clothing for her children, or a man sleeping in his car knows where he can shower before heading to work, then yes, we are a magnet. If it means someone who has lost everything knows there is still a place where they will be treated with dignity, encouraged to take responsibility, and given an opportunity to rebuild their lives, then we will gladly accept that description. Because if being a magnet means drawing people toward hope, help, and the possibility of a better tomorrow, then that is exactly what The Mission of Winter Haven has been for years, and we make no apologies for it.
Feeding someone does not make them homeless. Providing a shower does not prevent someone from finding housing. Getting them connected to resources does not cause criminal behavior. Imagine Winter Haven without organizations providing these services. Where would those hundreds of individuals eat, shower, wash their clothes, or find help? They would not simply disappear. What many people don't see is that our work goes far beyond meeting basic needs. Every day, we are helping individuals change patterns of thinking, develop healthier habits, understand boundaries, take personal responsibility, and make decisions that move them toward stability. We are not simply meeting immediate needs; we are helping people build the skills and mindset necessary to become productive, contributing members of our community. We are responding to a crisis that would be far more visible, and potentially more disruptive, without these services.
The system is broken. We have stated this before. For decades, we have heard about government initiatives and ambitious promises to end homelessness, often accompanied by ten-year plans and millions of dollars in funding. Yet here we are, still having the same conversations. At some point, we must ask whether ending homelessness entirely is realistic when we have yet to address the many circumstances contributing to it: poor personal decisions, addiction, untreated mental illness, the devastating consequences of substance abuse, including prescription drug misuse, rising living costs, the lack of affordable housing, and countless other challenges. The reality is that we will never eliminate every bad decision, every addiction, or every circumstance that leaves someone without a home. But that doesn't mean we stop helping people rebuild their lives.
Winter Haven is our home. We live here, shop here, and want our businesses and families to thrive. We want safe streets and a community we can all be proud of. But the people experiencing homelessness are also part of this community. Many work here, have families here, and desperately want an opportunity to rebuild their lives here. So if you want to claim that "Enough is enough," we ask that we expand that conversation. Enough of criminal behavior and repeated disturbances. Yes. But also enough of working individuals unable to afford housing. Enough of families waiting for help. Enough of untreated mental illness and inaccessible services. Enough of funding without meaningful accountability. And enough of allowing the actions of a few to define the lives of hundreds.
Our doors are open. They have been for almost 50 years. We aren’t going anywhere. And we have amazing plans for our future. We invite city leaders, business owners, and community members to visit The Mission of Winter Haven, witness this work firsthand, and join us in developing meaningful solutions. Many business owners have our personal cell phone numbers. You know we answer, no matter the time. Call us. It was said that compassion and accountability are not mutually exclusive. We agree. Neither are leadership and involvement. If we truly want meaningful change in Winter Haven, we must be willing to work together, listen to those on the front lines, and address the needs of the entire homeless population, not just the vagrant individuals making headlines. We cannot solve the problems created by a few individuals by treating homelessness itself as the problem. The people we serve deserve better than that.
