LEXINGTON, Ky. — Homeless advocates in Lexington say the situation is dire after results of a street survey count show a substantial increase in people without homes.

What You Need To Know

  • The second annual street survey was conducted by Street Voice Council, other non-profits on Aug. 28, 2024

  • Survey results show 3,034 people are experiencing homelessness in Lexington, up from 2023 

  • 511 people are unsheltered according to the report 

  • 25% report being evicted since January

The survey found 3,034 individuals are experiencing homelessness in Lexington in 2024, up 25.9% from 2023. It was the second annual street survey conducted by Street Voice Council, Catholic Action Center and other non-profits last month. Janey Edmonson, a Lexington native said she’s known this problem has existed for a while.

“Until I became actually physically a part of being homeless; it’s just mind-boggling how many people are struggling on the streets,” Edmonson said.

Edmonson was one of several volunteers conducting the survey. The top factors being: not enough money, housing being too expensive, loss of job, illegal drug use, criminal record, physical disability and psychiatric conditions.

“People don’t choose to be homeless. As a kid you never said ‘oh well I think I’ll grow up to be homeless,’ no. I never in my life thought I’d be homeless,” Edmonson said.

Five hundred and eleven homeless people responded to the survey as being unsheltered. With winter fast approaching, the focus turns to getting people out of the cold.

“We’re prepared to house 200 people in Lexington community starting Nov. 1. Not only will we house them, we will feed them as well as we have transportation available,” said David Peale, a partner with Freedom Corporation.

Peale said he and his brother’s company, Freedom Corporation, will spend their own dollars to house people in trailers or a built out warehouse. Right now, they are still hoping to get an option approved by Lexington planning and zoning.

“We have three potential sites that we can use. It’s just a matter of the city clearing one of the sites that we need to run our program,” Peale said.

For city and state leaders, Edmonson has a simple message.

“I think they need to take this issue more seriously,” Edmonson said.

Volunteers spent a combined total of 289 hours canvassing the streets.

The full report is on the Catholic Action Center’s website.

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