HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, Fla. — Behind the walls of three transitional homes, countless lives are being transformed thanks to a program rooted in hope, redemption, and the unwavering commitment of one woman who's walked in their shoes.
Linda Walker, the Program Director of Hillsborough House of Hope, embodies the spirit of change that she inspires in others. Her journey began more than 26 years ago when her struggles with addiction led to repeated stints behind bars. It was during those difficult years that she met Margaret Palmer, a volunteer whose kindness became a turning point.
"I met this lady while I was incarcerated," Walker recalls. "Her name was Margaret Palmer, and she passed away a couple of years ago at the age of 97. I always told her, 'You're my angel in disguise.'"
Palmer was affectionately known as "the Chat Lady." She would visit incarcerated women, offering prayer, conversation, and hope. "It stood for ‘Come, Hideaway And Talk,’" Walker explains. She says, "My last name was Chatters. I say God had a plan."
For Walker, those conversations were life-changing.
"I went to jail eight times, and every time I would ask to see that lady," Walker shares. "When she came to talk with me, it always gave me a feeling of hope. Finally, that last time, something was different. I was sick and tired of being sick and tired, and I was ready to change."
That pivotal moment set Walker on a path to recovery, purpose, and eventually, leadership. Today, she honors Palmer’s legacy at Hillsborough House of Hope. The program offers transitional housing for formerly incarcerated women who are working to rebuild their lives.
The first of three homes is aptly named Palmer House. It serves as a beacon for women from all walks of life—veterans, mothers, and grandmothers—each united by the desire to overcome their past and forge a brighter future.
Walker’s message to them is simple yet powerful: "If I can do this, so can you."
The program provides more than a roof over their heads. It offers women a chance to rekindle family relationships, regain stability, and rediscover hope. Walker’s unwavering support serves as both inspiration and accountability.
"I always tell them, if you continue at this house to show Ms. Linda that you have the willingness to do what you’ve got to do to stay clean, I’ve got your back," Walker says.
Decades after her own transformation, Walker pours the same hope and grace into others that Margaret Palmer once offered her. In doing so, she ensures that Palmer’s mission lives on—changing lives, one woman at a time.
Learn more about Hillsborough House of Hope and donate to its mission: https://www.hhhopefl.org/
Anyone experiencing a mental health crisis is urged to reach out for help. You can contact the Crisis Center of Tampa Bay at 211 or call 911. The National Domestic Violence Hotline can be reached 24/7 at 800-799-7233. Anyone experiencing a mental health crisis can contact the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline at 988.