Homelessness Prevention and Intervention Annual Update
On Tuesday, September 6, LFUCG Homelessness Prevention Manager Jeff Herron presented an annual update on the Office of Homelessness Prevention and Intervention at the General Government and Social Services (GGSS) Committee Meeting. Herron went over updates, including future goals for homelessness prevention.
Here are some of those updates:
LFUCG has allocated $37 million from city, state, and federal funding for Homelessness since 2014. (Federal funding has increased by 35%)
The office has increased the continuum of care partner organizations from 16 to 75.
In January 2021, LFUCG released the Five-Year Strategic Plan to Reduce and Effectively End Homelessness and Enhance Affordable Housing in Fayette County. Below is a chart of Lexington's homelessness rates since 2014.
The office has made progress on the Strategic Plan, including creating a Centralized Public Education Campaign ($50,000 annually), expanding access and use of the Public Data Interface ($115,000 annually), and establishing an onboarding curriculum for case managers ($380,000 first two years)
Some of the office's future priorities include prioritizing homeless applicants for HUD Public Housing Vouchers and developing an Eviction Diversion and Mediation Pilot Program.
As a reminder, the Office of Homelessness Prevention and Intervention does not provide direct support services. Instead, the office serves as an information source and provides communication assistance with local organizations and shelters for residents in difficult situations.
No action related to the Office was taken during the Committee meeting.