What Happens Next for Lexington Residents Facing Eviction Without Rental Assistance?

Earlier this week, Fayette County’s Housing Stabilization Program ran out of funds for rental assistance. According to a recent Herald Leader article, the pandemic-era program originally offered $53 million worth of rental assistance funds to Lexington residents who were facing eviction, and the now-empty coffers mean that one of Lexington’s largest social safety nets will no longer help keep residents in safe, stable housing.

While organizations like Kentucky Equal Justice Center, KY Tenants, Community Action Council, and Legal Aid of the Bluegrass have been able to provide local tenants in danger of losing their homes with legal assistance and access to other essential housing services and resources, the ability for those tenants to be able to avoid eviction by tapping into the Housing Stabilization Program’s funds was integral in keeping them housed and stemming the flow of homelessness in the area.

But now, instead of deciding to devote a portion of the city’s budget surplus to replenish the funds, Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government councilmembers have instead opted to keep that money earmarked for a new city hall.

Preventing homelessness costs money, but not as much as homelessness does. Tell your local councilmember that housing comes first, and that you support reallocating $5 million of the budget surplus to help your neighbors fight and avoid eviction by signing our petition.