LEXINGTON, Ky. — Two reports tracking homelessness in Lexington give vastly different numbers. One is from the city in January while homeless advocates conducted the other in August. 

What You Need To Know

  • The Catholic Action Center's Street Count Survey showed there are 3,034 people experiencing homelessness in Lexington 

  • Lexington's survey, performed under HUD regulations, showed only 825 people are considered homeless 

  • Street Count Survey organizers said theirs took place after more evictions and having advocates assist with conducting the survey

  • Both reports, however, showed an increase in homelessness from 2023 to 2024

The difference lies in what each survey covers. Both include people living on the street, in homeless shelters or transitional housing.

However, the Catholic Action Center's Street Count Survey expands its count to include people in recovery centers. LexCount, which the city conducts, does not, per U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development guidelines.

Comparing the numbers without including jails, hospitals or treatment centers, the Street Count Survey showed more than 3,000 people are experiencing homelessness, compared to the city’s number, which is 825.

Ginny Ramsey, co-founder of the Catholic Action Center, defended its numbers and said the time of survey and how the survey is performed led to a higher count. The Catholic Action Center works boots on the ground with volunteers from the Street Voice Council, an advocacy group of homeless people in Lexington.

“It plays a huge role because they trust them, and in this time of House Bill 5 (the Safer Kentucky Act), they’re not real trustworthy to outsiders," Ramsey said.

Ramsey said its survey showed 25% of respondents said they have been evicted since January.

The survey showed 3,034 people, including those in jail, hospitals or recovery centers, are homeless. It's a stark contrast to the city’s LexCount of 825.

“We can count broader; we can count the reality, whereas HUD limits them," Ramsey said.

HUD’s point in time guidelines do not include people in some instutions such as jails or people doubled up, staying with friends or family.

“They have to follow HUD direction," Ramsey said. "We get it, but our obligation is to our community and to our people on the streets to paint a truer picture." 

LexCount only takes place in two hours, whereas the Street Count Survey ran from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. Charlie Lanter, Lexington housing commissioner, said HUD sticks to a brief window due to the risk of double-counting.

“I’m not saying they did that; I am saying I don’t know," Lanter said. "They have not released their methodology. They've not shown us how they conducted their count." 

Ramsey pushed back and said there are good questions in place on the survey to prevent duplication. 

“The survey has three points in it that the computer picks up and identifies these are the same, so they get tossed," Ramsey said.

Both agreed there’s a problem, however, and it’s not all about the numbers.

“It doesn’t matter if it’s 1,000 people, 5,000 people or three people; it's too many," Lanter said. "Our response is going to be the same either way in that we’re all in." 

“It is to show us the trajectory and give us a picture of what we, as a community, need to be planning for and dealing with," Ramsey said.

Some takeaways from both surveys is homelessness increased from 2023 to 2024 and men are a greater number of the homeless population than women.

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