Lexington, Kentucky – Two contrasting reports on homelessness reveal significant disparities in the number of individuals experiencing homelessness in the city. The reports, one conducted by the city in January and the other by homeless advocates in August, underscore differences in methodology and scope.
The LexCount, conducted by the city, reported 825 individuals experiencing homelessness, while the Catholic Action Center’s Street Count Survey estimated the number to be over 3,000. This vast difference arises from the criteria each survey employs. The Catholic Action Center includes individuals living in recovery centers, while the city’s count adheres to HUD guidelines, which exclude such populations.
The Catholic Action Center’s co-founder, Ginny Ramsey, asserts that their broader approach provides a more accurate representation of homelessness. “We can count broader; we can count the reality, whereas HUD limits them,” she explained. The Street Count Survey, utilizing trust built with homeless individuals through local advocacy groups, recorded that 25% of respondents had faced eviction since January.
While both surveys count those living on the streets, in shelters, or transitional housing, the Street Count Survey also includes those in jails and hospitals. The complete Street Count showed that 3,034 people, including those in recovery and various institutions, are homeless in Lexington.
In contrast, the LexCount is conducted over a much shorter timeframe, typically lasting for just two hours, to mitigate the risk of double-counting. Charlie Lanter, Lexington’s housing commissioner, reiterated concerns about the brevity of the LexCount methodology, stating, “They have not released their methodology. They’ve not shown us how they conducted their count.”
Ramsey countered these statements by emphasizing safeguards within their survey to prevent duplication in their count. “The survey has three points in it that the computer picks up and identifies these are the same, so they get tossed,” she asserted.
Regardless of the stark contrast in numbers, both reports signal an increasing trend in homelessness from 2023 to 2024, with men comprising a larger segment of the homeless population compared to women. Both Ramsey and Lanter recognized the ongoing crisis and the imperative for comprehensive community planning and intervention.
Lanter noted, “It doesn’t matter if it’s 1,000 people, 5,000 people or three people; it’s too many.” He stressed that the city remains committed to addressing this significant issue. Meanwhile, Ramsey highlighted the importance of painting a more precise picture for effective planning and support, emphasizing the community’s need to address the homelessness trajectory accurately.
