Lexington Mayor Linda Gorton and the members of her newly formed homelessness task force presented a comprehensive plan on Tuesday that could reshape the city’s response to homelessness. The report, titled “Pathways to Permanent Solutions,” recommends converting the temporary winter shelter on Versailles Road into a permanent campus that would provide housing, treatment, and support services for seniors, families with children, and persons with disabilities.
Key Recommendations
The task force’s top five priority actions include:
- Maintain the 1306 Versailles Road site as a seasonal shelter while permanent development proceeds, with enhanced public‑safety and neighborhood coordination.
- Begin the transition of the site to a permanent, comprehensive housing and services campus serving families, seniors (55+), and individuals with disabilities.
- Create a coordinated intake and triage system, starting with a mobile model that quickly connects people to the appropriate shelter, housing, or treatment option.
- Strengthen prevention strategies that keep people out of emergency shelters when safe alternatives exist.
- Establish a small, independent advisory group to monitor implementation, identify challenges, and keep the effort aligned with the task force’s intent.
Long‑term recommendations call for supporting existing shelters, expanding regional coordination, and developing community‑based case management with improved caseload ratios.
Why the Change Matters
Task force members argue that the current system is “complicated” and often leaves people experiencing homelessness unsure of where to turn. Charlie Lanter, commissioner of Housing Advocacy and Community Development, explained that a single, always‑available access point would reduce confusion and help residents get to the right services faster.
“If we just had a place anyone could go at any time 24/7, it reduces confusion, it helps people get to the right place,” Lanter said. “It’ll also help us then.”
Faith‑Based Support
Local faith leaders voiced strong backing for the plan. Ginny Ramsey of the Catholic Action Center urged the community not to stand by while people freeze on the streets. “We can’t stand by as people of faith, as people of compassion, as people of Lexington, Kentucky, and allow people to freeze in our streets,” Ramsey said.
Funding Sources
City officials indicated that the project could be financed through a mix of existing city resources, federal housing dollars, and Kentucky opioid settlement funds. Lanter noted that the mayor has set aside a portion of the opioid settlement for recovery‑related work, and the city can also draw on its Community Development Block Grant from HUD.
Addressing Concerns
While many praised the plan’s focus on families and seniors, Ramsey cautioned that the recommendations do not fully address the needs of the mentally ill and those battling addiction. “My concern particularly is that most of the core and persistent challenges our community faces with those experiencing homelessness are not addressed in this,” she said. “We need a community‑driven solution in addition to what the city solution through the task force is, otherwise we are not going in the right direction.”
The task force acknowledges these concerns and emphasizes that the proposed campus will work in partnership with existing service providers to expand treatment options for addiction and mental‑health challenges.
Next Steps
The city expects to issue a request for proposals this fall to manage the Versailles Road campus. If approved, the transition could begin within the next year, offering Lexington a more humane and organized approach to homelessness that aligns with the city’s commitment to compassion, faith, and responsible stewardship of public resources.
Mayor Gorton and the task force remain optimistic that the plan will bring lasting relief to vulnerable residents while preserving neighborhood safety and quality of life.
Original reporting: LEX18 Lexington (local) — read the source article.
