LEXINGTON, Ky. — The Mayor's Task Force on Homelessness moved forward with draft recommendations on June 18 to establish a comprehensive shelter campus and expand services for families, seniors and people with disabilities, populations the city's current system is ill-equipped to serve.

The recommendations from the Peer Cities and Shelter Models Committee include developing a centralized intake facility on the existing emergency shelter campus on Roselle Road, with specialized support for vulnerable populations. The task force, convened by Mayor Linda Gorton in response to a 2025 Emergency Homeless Shelter Study, aims to address rising homelessness that has affected more residents in recent years.

Task force chair Diane Fleet outlined an accelerated timeline to finalize recommendations by September. The group will meet on July 29, hold a public forum on August 11 at the Senior Center at 6 p.m., reconvene on August 26, and conclude with a final meeting in September.

Committee members emphasized transitioning from emergency services toward longer-term housing solutions. The recommendations include establishing accountability frameworks to help clients transition to independent living, relocating existing city operations from the Roselle Road campus to make room for expanded services, and strengthening public safety presence through a resource officers building on site.

The proposal also prioritizes addressing neighborhood concerns through community engagement, good neighbor agreements and dialogue with service providers and local stakeholders.

Community members are invited to provide input at the August 11 forum, which follows months of public listening sessions conducted by the task force's Community Engagement Committee.