Critical Support Ends, Vulnerability Increases
As Lexington’s pandemic-era federal rental assistance program concludes, the city braces for an anticipated increase in homelessness, especially among children. This program, essential during the COVID-19 economic upheaval, has disbursed $53 million in rental aid since its inception in February 2021. With its end, over 600 students in the Fayette County Public Schools system already identified as displaced could face even greater instability.
Housing Advocates Raise Alarms
T.C. Johnson, who oversees the McKinney-Vento program for homeless students in Fayette County, has expressed concerns about a sharp rise in homelessness as colder months approach. This sentiment is echoed by local housing advocate Davita Gatewood, who, while grappling with her own housing insecurity, stresses the urgency of the situation for Lexington’s most vulnerable populations. Gatewood advocates for increased awareness about the cessation of the Housing Stabilization Program and the dire need for alternative support mechanisms.
Community Urged to Mobilize
The withdrawal of federal support comes at a time when local resources are already stretched thin, raising alarms among community leaders and advocates like Gatewood. She criticizes the city’s recent financial decisions, particularly the allocation of funds to aesthetic projects over essential services, suggesting a misalignment of priorities. As the community faces this burgeoning crisis, there’s a compelling call to action for both awareness and a realignment of resources to better support those at risk of homelessness.