Located off Memorial Boulevard (near the eastern edge of Lakeland’s city limits), Robinson’s property became a flashpoint for a debate over how to handle homelessness in Polk County.
The Mission: A Private Haven
Starting several years ago, Robinson began allowing individuals experiencing homelessness to set up camp on his land. What began as a small gesture grew into a community of people living in tents, RVs, and makeshift structures.
- The Intent: Robinson has consistently stated that his goal is to provide a safe space for people who have nowhere else to go, often expressing that he couldn’t “turn his back” on those in need.
- The Residents: At its peak, the property housed dozens of people who had formed a semi-organized community, looking out for one another in an area where affordable housing is increasingly scarce.
Volunteers plan to remove trash and debris, improve conditions on the property, and work toward bringing it into compliance.
“In order to even move forward with the fines, we have to try to fix what’s going on there now,” said Carly Sabato, one of the volunteers helping lead the effort.
Organizers say the work is about more than code enforcement: it’s about preventing a larger problem…