LEXINGTON, Ky. (AP) — City officials say the number of people in Lexington experiencing homelessness and long-term homelessness has substantially declined recently.
Mayor Jim Gray announced at a news conference Monday that, compared to 2014, there are nearly 400 fewer people living on the streets and in emergency and other temporary housing in Lexington, a 26 percent decrease from two years ago.
Crediting recent community investments to combat homelessness, Gray says the number of people experiencing chronic homelessness has been cut in half within a year.
The data comes from an annual count done each January in which volunteers scout more than 60 different locations to count homeless people in shelters and living outside.
Since 2014, the city has allocated $750,000 for homeless prevention programs and $2 million to an affordable housing fund for affordable housing units.