LEXINGTON, Ky. — The Mayor's Task Force on Homelessness held a meeting July 8, continuing its efforts to develop comprehensive strategies for addressing the city's growing homelessness crisis.

Convened by Mayor Linda Gorton in response to findings from the June 2025 Emergency Homeless Shelter Study, the task force has been tasked with reviewing the city's emergency shelter system and developing recommendations for strategic improvements.

Lexington reported 925 people experiencing homelessness in 2025, up from 825 the previous year, prompting city leaders to seek new approaches. The task force is co-chaired by Diane Fleet, Associate Director of GreenHouse 17, and Abdul Muhammad, Central Kentucky Market President of WesBanco.

In May, the task force approved $3.9 million in combined appropriations, including $2.4 million for emergency disaster shelter funding and $1.5 million for an Innovative and Sustainable Solutions Fund. The group discussed implementing a roughly 500-bed shelter system centered on potential expansion at the Versailles Road campus, which would serve families, elderly people and those with disabilities.

The task force emphasized creating low-barrier shelter options, enhancing existing facilities, improving case management and developing strategies for eviction prevention, according to earlier meeting records. The task force is grounding its work in data from the 2025 Emergency Shelter Study while being informed by national best practices, local context and community input.

The city has made broader investments in homelessness prevention. Mayor Gorton proposed $2.2 million in supportive housing and treatment services for people experiencing homelessness in her most recent budget, while the budget also includes $5 million for the city's Extended Social Resource two-year grant program, which supports local nonprofits working on community needs and emergency shelter.