Cities like Lexington and Louisville have comprehensive reports and task forces dedicated to housing needs. But statewide statistics suggest homelessness is rising at a higher rate outside of its cities, in growing areas like Ashland and Morehead.
The remaining $4.03 million fund balance can be revisited in the future for spending.
An existing serviced from United Way, called "Ride United," has caught Council's attention.
A "village" system is a neighborhood-based system of senior care where neighborhood residents volunteer to care for their elderly neighbors and help them age in place.
In Tuesday, October 14th's Social Services and Public Safety (SSPS) Committee meeting, A Caring Place's Roxanne Cheney will present an update on the organization's work to bring "villages" to Lexington.
A Caring Place is a nonprofit trying to implement a "village" model of senior care system in Lexington. In a village system, neighborhood residents volunteer to care for their elderly neighbors. That care could look like driving seniors to medical appointments, delivering groceries, or hosting social events for senior residents and other neighbors of different generations. The goal of the village model is to allow senior residents to age-in-place without having to move into a long-term senior housing or nursing facility.
Council gave A Caring Place $150k to conduct a feasibility study that would determine how a village model of care could work in Lexington. The study – being done in collaboration with the University of Kentucky – is still underway. Input for the study has included an online survey and more than 30 in-person events. Final data analysis for the study will begin in January 2026.
A Caring Place has several steps to go before implementing its first village site, including finding a revenue system for the organization, deepening partnerships with UK and other agencies, and educating more residents about the program.
A pilot of the village model will be conducted in the Beaumont and Gardenside neighborhoods sometime in 2026.
The remaining $4.03 million fund balance can be revisited in the future for spending.
An existing serviced from United Way, called "Ride United," has caught Council's attention.
Ideas for how to spend the fund balance include a roundabout study, improvements to the Black and Williams Center, and more money to Lextran for a microtransit pilot.
Lextran could get an additional $475k form Council to fund a microtransit pilot.