Hidden in Plain Sound: Voices of Faith and Survival
Hidden in Plain Sound is an immersive audio feature produced by Ricardo Stoyell for Expose the Silence, exploring the human side of homelessness across Florida’s Space Coast.
This episode weaves together field interviews recorded on location — beginning inside the Holy Name of Jesus Food Pantry, where volunteers share firsthand perspectives on the growing housing crisis, followed by the story of a 60-year-old homeless woman whose voice carries the weight of both grief and resilience.
According to a 2024 report by the Florida Council on Homelessness, the state’s unsheltered population grew nearly 10 percent over the past year. Nationally, HUD data shows that more than 653,000 Americans are experiencing homelessness — the highest figure since reporting began. These statistics mirror what local advocates describe as an “invisible emergency” across Florida’s Space Coast, where affordable housing has sharply declined amid rising rents, limited shelters, and stagnant wages.
Through these narratives, listeners can witness how faith-based compassion and lived experience intersect in a community struggling with systemic neglect. The podcast blends natural sound, ambient audio, and reflective narration to guide the listener from institutional empathy to personal testimony — revealing the quiet endurance of those society overlooks.
The episode concludes with a call to awareness and action through Spiritus Invictus, a nonprofit initiative founded to build recovery villages and provide sustainable housing and holistic care for displaced individuals in Brevard County.
Total Runtime: ~9 minutes
Production Tools: Alitu (recording, editing, mixing), field interviews, natural ambience recordings
Featuring:
– Volunteer from Holy Name of Jesus Food Pantry
– A 60-year-old homeless woman sharing her personal plea for help
– Narration by Ricardo Stoyell
Photo by Ricardo Stoyell, 2025
