About the Issue

With Kentucky entering one of the most severe winters in recent memory, the coming months will be very difficult for the homeless populations in the state. Since 2020, the homeless population has skyrocketed, increasing 34% since 2020. It is currently estimated that there are 925 homeless individuals in the city. However, there are only 498 shelter beds in the entire city. As of now, this means Lexington is short 527 beds.

In order to combat the coming crisis, Lexington has launched a 216-bed temporary winter shelter. The shelter will provide many services to those in need, some of which being three meals a day, showers, and medical staff. Overall, this is an excellent operation that will cut down on the amount of help needed, however, it still doesn’t fully address the crisis.

The Human Impact

During the winter, homeless populations are the most at risk from freezing temperatures and illness. Furthermore, many families with children have faced homelessness during the last year according to WKYT. Beyond that, during the winter – especially in cold spells – demand for beds in shelter typically increase stignificantly. The need to provide shelter to those who need it can not be understated, and the results of not doing so could be horrific.

How you can Help

• Lex End Homelessness: Every year, Lex End Homelessness runs LexCount, which is an effort to engage the homeless population in Lexington along with documenting how many homeless there are in the city. They haven’t begun asking for volunteers yet, but they likely will in early December.
• Hope Center for Families: The Hope Center for Families is an excellent organization in Lexington. Their volunteering process is streamlined but requires an application. Volunteering is mostly limited to food prep, but they are willing to take anyone in who has relevant expertise. The organization houses people going through homelessness and provides mental care for them alongside other things. Donations of clothing, food, and many other items are accepted here. Monetary donations are welcomed here.
• Catholic Action Center: The Catholic Action Center hosts many events helping the homeless community in Lexington where they need volunteers and resources. They also do meal delivery/meal prep, house homeless, and do drives to provide clothing. They are an excellent resource if you would like to volunteer to help Lexingtonians going through harsh times. They accept monetary donations here and currently have a wishlist on the same page.
• Salvation Army: Needing no introcution, the Salvation Army has a presence in Lexington and also helps with this crisis. There are many options to volunteer here and donate here monetarily or check out this page for donating items.