Report: Lexington homeless population is up 26%. Advocates worry new law will make it worse.

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The homeless population in Lexington has topped 3,000 people, marking a 26% increase from last year, according to a survey by homeless advocates.

The community count, conducted Aug. 28 by the Central Kentucky Housing and Homeless Initiative and the Street Voice Council, made up of people who are homeless, is significantly higher than the city’s yearly tally, which in January showed just 825 homeless people.

The city’s count follows U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development guidelines, while the community survey includes several populations not included in those guidelines — people in jail, motels, hospitals and drug and alcohol treatment programs

Last year, the same community survey found 2,410 homeless people in Lexington. The number of people living outside also grew from 398 last year to 505 this year.

“There’s a whole story behind these numbers,” Ginny Ramsey, director of the Catholic Action Center, said at a news conference Wednesday at Legends Field. “We are not surprised that the number has increased. We’re sad.”

The more complete picture is needed, advocates say, as the city heads into colder, winter months, and a statewide ban on sleeping outside took effect in July.

“We want our city to be prepared for the winter,” Ramsey said.

The Street Survey also asked if homeless people had been harassed for living or staying outside. House Bill 5, a sweeping crime bill passed by the Kentucky General Assembly earlier this year , made camping outside illegal.

About 233 people, or 35% of respondents, said they had been harassed for sleeping outside. Of those 233 respondents, 78% reported being harassed by law enforcement.

Lexington’s Commissioner of Housing Advocacy and Community Development Charlie Lanter said the community count includes nearly 1,000 people in recovery programs that do no meet HUD’s definition of homelessness.

It’s also not clear if some people were counted more than once.The city’s annual count takes pains to make sure that people aren’t counted multiple times, he said.

“Unfortunately, we have yet to receive this information in any level of detail. Without it, we question some of the data, particularly when compared to the annual LexCount,(the city count) which offers full transparency regarding its methodology and what people and organizations are counted,” Lanter said. “Given the mobility of this population, it is crucial that counts conducted over the course of a day carefully prevent duplication.”

Is House Bill 5 driving the increase?

Jarred Paull, co-chair of the Central Kentucky Housing and Homeless Initiative, a group of homeless service providers and community leaders, said many homeless people were hesitant to speak to the community groups conducting the counts because of the ban on outdoor camping that took effect July 15 .

That means the group likely missed many homeless people, he said.

“They wanted to speak to someone who was homeless,” Paull said.

The city has acknowledged the community count includes more people than the official HUD count, and advocates said Wednesday the discrepancy is not what’s important.

“The most important part of the discussion is what we are going to do about it,” said Laura Babbage, chaplain of the Catholic Action Center.” What are we going to do to prepare for the adults and children who are going to need a warm place to sleep?”

Fayette County Public Schools reported 455 children who experienced homelessness as of Wednesday, a slight increase from last year, said T.C. Cobble Johnson, who oversees the school district’s homeless program.

About 80% of those kids and their families are living with other family members or friends, Cobble-Johnson said.

“We are looking at how we can support our families,” Cobble-Johnson said.

John Landon, a lawyer, said he’s not surprised the number of homeless people continues to climb. He’s concerned House Bill 5 will push homeless people from rural areas into Kentucky’s larger cities, such as Lexington, Louisville, Covington and Bowling Green.

“House Bill 5 has made it harder for communities to systemically address homelessness,” Landon said.

The majority of the funding for homeless services comes from local taxpayers, he said. That means Fayette County residents will likely foot the bill for homeless services for the surrounding counties, he said.

Landon said people come to Lexington for mental health or addiction treatment but end up in Fayette County’s jail, shelters or streets.

“We are suddenly going to spend a lot more of our tax base on this particular issue,” Landon said. “I propose we study how many people are being displaced from rural areas to urban areas so we can get most cost share (from surrounding counties).”

Need for more shelter beds as winter approaches

The city is in midst of a homeless needs assessment to determine if another shelter is needed. That study is expected to be completed by 2025, city officials have said.

The city gives money to three main shelters: The Hope Center, which largely houses men; The Salvation Army, which houses women and children; and Arbor Youth, which houses youth.

The Catholic Action Center shelter on Industry Road receives no city money.

The city has spent $44 million over the past five years on various homeless services and programs, officials have said. That figure also includes federal coronavirus relief funding.

“We remain committed to making homelessness rare, brief, and non-recurring,” Lanter said.” Unfortunately, the report released today fails to acknowledge the significant work accomplished daily by countless individuals and organizations throughout Lexington who are dedicated to supporting those in need.”

The city has about 568 homeless year-round shelter beds, according to city data. That number grew to more than 861 thanks to the Hope Village, a temporary shelter constructed on the YMCA’s grounds on Loudon Avenue across from the Hope Center.

Lexington-Fayette Urban County Councilwoman Tayna Fogle said Wednesday the city will put people in hotels rather than a temporary shelter this winter. City officials have said they could not find a property willing to host a temporary shelter this winter.

Fogle said Wednesday she has been frustrated the city hasn’t put more money toward shelters and housing.

“We are in a state of emergency because we are dealing with people’s lives,” Fogle said. “Let’s do the job that we were elected to do.”