New Lexington Street Survey shows 30 percent increase in homelessness

Preliminary results from a late August survey conducted by Lexington’s Catholic Action Center and other groups show homelessness rose 30 percent in the last year. The annual Street Survey also revealed a nearly 27 percent increase in unhoused men, women and children. Ginny Ramsey, cofounder and director of the Catholic Action Center, said the increases are disturbing, but not surprising.

“We aren't shocked as Catholic Action Center, because we've been seeing it. We have felt it, we've known it. We've got the phone calls. We see the people. We've heard their – the cries of the poor.”

Lexington Homeless Prevention Manager Jeff Herron issued a statement questioning the numbers, which he said include people living in housing situations most would not consider homeless. He also thanked those who were involved in the survey. Ramsey said Herron’s assessment of their data is mistaken.

“Was the methodology and were the questions the same as last year? So it's, you know, apples to apples?.”

“We were apples to apples, except for an additional two questions, and last year we didn't get to all the camps, either.”

Ramsey said the most disturbing survey result is an 88 percent jump in children staying at homeless shelters. She said she believes the chief reason for the increases is a shortage of affordable housing.

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