DANVILLE, Ky. — Homelessness is an issue affecting every community in the commonwealth; urban and rural. Some cities like Louisville and Lexington turn to temporary pods and tents to provide warmth, food and a shower. But other areas, like Boyle County, don’t have such a resource.
For unhoused people in Danville and Boyle County, they’re finding shelter anywhere; the post office, state parks, and, according to Commonwealth’s Attorney Sarah Bryant, some are even committing a petty crime to spend a night, even months in jail.
Community members are trying to figure out what they can do to help. Stephanie Blevins, executive director of Heart of Kentucky United Way, said it starts with providing the basic needs.
Blevins is preparing essential items to pack into duffle bags to be provided to the homeless in Boyle and surrounding counties. The United Way will pack the duffle bags on Thursday morning and distribute them to community partners.
“We have gloves, things to keep them warm, hats. These are actually emergency sleeping bags; in the past, in our community, we’ve had someone freeze to death,” Blevins said.
Heart of Kentucky United Way serves Boyle, Garrard, Lincoln and Mercer counties. Blevins said homelessness needing addressed in all counties.
“What we are doing is taking the first steps by meeting their basic needs through these backpacks/duffle bags,” Blevins said.
Blevins said now it’s not unusual to get over 10 calls a day of someone asking for shelter or a place to go. However, besides a small church shelter, nothing meets the need in Boyle County.
“Salvation Army provides free transportation for anyone who wants to go to the Salvation Army’s Hope Center in Lexington, but nothing local. A lot of these people have children and families so it’s not like they can just get up and leave,” Blevins said.
Bryant said the docket increases as people choose to commit petty or misdemeanor crimes just to get a roof over their head for the winter.
“Usually a few months; I even have had clients when I was a public defender tell me can you get me an extra 30 days on my sentence because I have nowhere else to go and it’s cold outside,” Bryant said.
According to Bryant, last week an inmate declined a bond agreement so he could wait in jail until a bed opened at a rehab center.
“The more crowded a jail is, that means there’s more jail staff that’s needed, that means more medical staff,” Bryant said.
The Boyle County Health Department has vouchers for two nights’ stay at a hotel. But after two nights, Hilary Blevins, with the health department, said they’re at a loss, so now it’s a focus on providing the basics.
“I know the backpacks don’t seem like much but for someone who has nothing we’ve found out they’re very, very grateful for their basic needs being met,” Hilary Blevins said.
Anyone needing housing, utility or other assistance can reach out to United Way’s 211 and they’ll put you in touch with the appropriate resource.
In Boyle County, the health department will distribute duffle bags; in Lincoln County, the Salvation Army is the point of contact and in Garrard and Mercer County, the police and sheriff’s offices will have them.
The county will hold another meeting on the homelessness issue and ways to address it next month.