LAKELAND — Lakeland officials, who have proverbially spoken about homeless individuals being bused into the city and left behind, should keep a closer eye on Uber or Lyft passengers.
Talbot House Ministries has seen a significant increase in mental health patients dropped off at the nonprofit’s North Kentucky Avenue shelter, usually by a rideshare service. The men and women often arrive in a hospital gown and slippers, confused about where they are, according to Deborah Cozzetti, Talbot House’s director of programs.
“We are a shelter. We have a program, but we can’t provide this level of care — it’s not who we are,” Cozzetti said.
Cozzetti, who’s worked at the nonprofit for more than six years, said in the past there would be one or two cases a month, usually coming from Polk County facilities in Lakeland or Winter Haven.
In recent months, Cozzetti said it’s become two or three hospital patients a week on the doorstep of the shelter, often coming from as far away as Hernando, Pasco and Pinellas counties. Since Feb. 2, Talbot House has received five individuals this way ― six, if you count a woman who is six months pregnant.