Kentucky Homelessness Count Shows Slight Decline Statewide, Louisville Drop Offset by Increases Elsewhere

Homelessness in Kentucky is still rising, but more slowly than in past years, according to new statewide survey data. State officials say there are “still too many” people experiencing homelessness. The data was provided by the Kentucky Housing Corporation, a quasi-governmental agency that manages federal and state housing funding.

The figures come from the state’s version of the nationwide Point-in-Time Count, in which volunteers and agency outreach workers seek to count people who lack “a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence,” the federal definition used for the survey. The survey, conducted in February, found that 5,734 people across all 120 counties met that definition. That is a slight decrease from 2025, when 5,789 people were counted. The totals include people who are unsheltered, in emergency shelters and in transitional housing.

Trends differ by region. In Louisville, the total number of people counted fell 12% year over year, from 1,831 to 1,609. Lexington and the 118 counties beyond the state’s two largest cities, known as the “Balance of State,” each saw increases of more than 4% in their counts.

Shaye Rabold, a technical administrator for the Kentucky Housing Corporation, said the data shows a “slowdown” after previous years of more dramatic increases. She said Louisville has made notable local investments in permanent supportive housing, which provides permanent housing along with other support, such as financial help with utility bills and childcare, and substance abuse treatment. She said that is generally not the case in other counties.

“The reality is the resources in most of our counties are not enough,” Rabold said, noting that many counties lack emergency shelters. “There’s just simply not enough existing affordable housing for people to identify on their own.” Her comments point to a need to defend those who lack a secure place to live (Psalm 82:3).

Rabold said the lack of affordable housing remains the driving reason behind rising rates of homelessness, though individual factors, including mental health and substance abuse disorders, can also play a role.

Adrienne Bush, executive director of the advocacy group Homeless and Housing Coalition of Kentucky, said that Trump administration efforts to move federal funding away from permanent supportive housing programs, which are currently in litigation, have had a “huge impact” and created uncertainty for Kentucky organizations addressing homelessness.

“I just can’t emphasize enough how that disruption really ultimately impacts the people who are currently experiencing homelessness and who are seeking services,” Bush said. She said she would not be surprised if next year’s survey numbers show an increase, because organizations in Kentucky are not able to fully deploy federal funding due to the uncertainty.

Source: Read the original report