Church meeting Thursday in Lexington will discuss 'sanctuary parking,' other ways to help homeless

One month after the Safer Kentucky Act became law, homeless advocates in Lexington are working on ways to address what they call the punitive aspects of the criminal justice reform measure. Ginny Ramsey is director and cofounder of the Catholic Action Agency. She said members of their Street Voices Council, which is composed of homeless persons, have read House Bill 5 and are afraid.

“I can't tell you if it's increased, but I know the fear of those men and women who are experienced living on the streets, even those living in their cars.”

Thursday night at 7, Consolidated Baptist Church will host a meeting to discuss the problem. Ramsey said one partial solution is sanctuary parking, in which participating churches would allow homeless persons with vehicles to stay in their lots overnight.

“I could say, ‘Yes, you can park in the Catholic Action Center,’ but that would be in violation of House Bill five. But if I'm a church, if I'm a community of faith, that's sanctuary.”

Ramsey said several churches have signed on.

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