LOUISVILLE, Ky. — According to the Coalition for the Homeless, every Kentucky county has someone experiencing homelessness. 

“Over 5,200 people were homeless at any given night in Kentucky last year,” said George Eklund, Coalition for the Homeless director of education and advocacy.

Eklund has been with the Coalition for the Homeless for about five years.

“I think that housing is essential for everyone; it's where we all go home after a long day," Eklund said. "It's where we get ready for the next day. It's where we do our homework. It's where we prepare for job interviews." 

The coalition said there are about 1,600 people experiencing homelessness on any given night in Louisville, with only a little more than 800 shelter spots available.

“People are not able to keep up with the rents that are rising," Eklund said. "People are not able to afford rents or they're precariously housed where they're one paycheck away, they're one financial disaster away, from ending up on the street." 

Last week, House Bill 299 was introduced and sponsored by two Democratic lawmakers: Shively Rep. Beverly Chester-Burton and Lexington Rep. George Brown Jr. The bill would require an emergency houseless shelter in all Kentucky counties.

“The majority of homeless Kentuckians live outside of Lexington and Louisville," Eklund said. "So for us, I think it's a part of the puzzle. But we also need to be talking about how do we increase supply?" 

Eklund is also advocating to reduce the barriers into housing and increase the low-income housing supply.

“When I first started, there were like three bills around housing," he said. "Now, we have over 20 filed each year. So this gives me a lot of hope; it gives me a lot of energy to see this attention paid to this issue." 

Spectrum News 1 reached out to both Republican chambers for their stance on the bill and is awaiting a response. 

The bill is in its early stages. It would have to make it out of committee and then the State Senate before it goes to Democratic Gov. Andy Beshear's desk.