Lexington Council Allocates $400,000 for Homeless FCPS Students
Assistance for Homeless FCPS Students and Families
The Lexington Council has given initial consent to earmark $400,000 to aid homeless students and their families within the Fayette County Public Schools (FCPS) district. The devout initiative aims to offer feasible rental assistance to identified homeless families for their first month’s rent and a deposit.
Notably, the state of Kentucky sees hundreds of students facing homelessness, a concern the Kentucky Department of Education has squarely confronted. The funds set aside by the council originate from interest earned on state and federal monies for rental assistance.
Councilmember-at-large, James Brown, took the opportunity to emphasize the unusual opportunity saying, “I think normally we don’t have these kinds of opportunities to use the interest from money that we’ve got from federal grants.”
Goodwill Industries’ Role
The entire $400,000 is earmarked for Goodwill Industries, who will then distribute the funds to prevent evictions and aid with wrap-around services. As part of the initiative, Goodwill Industries will also collaborate with the Mckinney-Vento program of Fayette County Public Schools for family referrals, a federally supported program for young people experiencing homelessness.
Moreover, the brave efforts are expected to combat a rising trend of homelessness among students. As the program manager for Fayette County Schools, T.C. Johnson, highlighted, over 900 students currently require housing, a figure surpassing last year’s numbers, and one expected to surge before the conclusion of the school year.
Praising the new initiative, Johnson stated, “So that is truly, truly all of our charge to take care of our young people, so it’s always a blessing to work with our communities and agencies.”
Addressing the Housing Issue
Meanwhile, the Director of Catholic Action Center, Ginny Ramsey, predicted the $400,000 would assist 115 households. “It’s good to give someone a drink of water when they need a whole bottle, but at least they are getting that drink. We’ve got to take care of those students it will impact them for the rest of their lives,” Ramsey asserted.
Already, Ramsey and the Catholic Action Center have located homes for five needy families through their Give Kids a Home program. However, Goodwill Industries, tasked with the official distribution of funds, abstained from commenting until the finalization of all pertinent details.
Lexington’s initiative is a commendable step towards addressing homelessness within the education sector, manifesting a harmonization between local governance, social welfare institutions, and the public school system. This joint venture highlights the community’s awareness and efforts to provide essential living conditions for homeless students and their families, ensuring continued education despite hardships.
