LEXINGTON, Ky. — The Mayor's Task Force on Homelessness announced in a release that it will host a virtual public listening session Thursday to gather feedback on homelessness in Lexington.

The session is scheduled for 7 p.m. May 21. The Community Engagement Committee, a subcommittee of the task force, is organizing the meeting to engage residents, businesses and neighborhood organizations to ensure transparency and build consensus on services for people experiencing homelessness.

Input gathered during the listening session will be presented to the full task force and help members develop recommendations for Mayor Linda Gorton, the release said. Interested participants can register at https://events.gcc.teams.microsoft.com/event/cc025c63-f862-4787-b32a-29d0b11f3689@dbc9f5ac-2e80-4290-a5b6-f86036082a04. Comments and suggestions may also be submitted via email to homelessnessTF@lexingtonky.gov.

Gorton convened the task force in November 2025 following a June 2025 Emergency Homeless Shelter Study that found Lexington faces a growing homelessness crisis. The city reported 925 people experiencing homelessness in 2025, up from 825 the previous year.

The task force is charged with reviewing the city's emergency shelter system and providing recommendations on strategic next steps, grounded in data from the shelter study and informed by national best practices and community input. The group is examining alternative shelter models and on-site services such as housing navigation and behavioral health support.

The city coordinates homelessness efforts through the Office of Homelessness Prevention and Intervention, which administers over $2.5 million in federal housing and support services funding annually. The office has piloted evidence-based programs including an emergency family housing program, medical respite services and street outreach.