House Bill 5 went into effect on July 15. Sleeping and camping in public areas is now against the law - even if there are no shelter beds available - or no shelters at all. →How can you help? Spread the word: download and print this flyer to share with impacted persons. Plus: share this survey.
HB 5, an omnibus crime bill that will criminalizes homelessness and cause unnecessary harm to Kentuckians, has become law. Read more here.
2024 State Advocacy Agenda 2024 Bill Tracker
Review HHCK’s top 3 solutions for the General Assembly, additional legislative priorities, and local advocacy goals for 2024. The 3 top solutions for HHCK in 2024 are:
Supply: Invest $200M in Housing and Shelter
Access: No Cost Birth Certificates
Renter Protections: Eviction Expungement
The Housing Crisis in Kentucky: -About 4,000 Kentuckians experience homelessness on a given night in January each year -Kentucky is short over 89,000 affordable homes to rent -The average wage to affordably rent a 2 BR home: $17.90/hour -1 in 4 Kentuckians are paying more than 30% of their income toward housing, including those who have a mortgage, and 6 out of 10 extremely low income renters are paying more than 50% -From long standing racist practices in the public and private housing sectors, Black and Brown Kentuckians continue to experience barriers to affordable homes in places of their choice, resulting in a 38.2% Black homeownership rate in the context of a 72.5% overall state homeownership rate -Kentucky has $23 million in unmet housing needs from the 2021 tornados after federal funds have been implemented -From the Eastern Kentucky floods in 2022, we have a conservative estimate of $71 million in unmet housing needs from the Department of Local Government after remaining federal dollars have been allocated -Kentucky must prepare its housing stock and infrastructure to rapidly respond to future disasters The Homeless and Housing Coalition of Kentucky (HHCK) advocates for policies that will expand access to homes, increase the supply of housing, and provide renter protections.
Looking for more 2024 Bill Trackers? We’ve got you covered! Here are a few: Kentucky Voices for Health Health Justice Bill Tracker Kentuckians for the Commonwealth Bill Tracker Kentucky Youth Advocates Bill Tracker
Why do IDs matter?
During an Interim Joint Committee on Transportation on 9/13/22 Shannon Frey from St. John Center shares why an updated homeless ID bill must happen. Joining her efforts are Rep. Randy Bridges and George Eklund from the Coalition for the Homeless in Louisville.
Past Policy Successes
Kentucky Affordable Housing Trust Fund Kentucky began dedicating revenue to this fund in 2006 through a modest deed transfer fee. Twelve years later, this fund is stagnant while construction and development prices have increased. We thank the General Assembly for their past and future support of the AHTF.
Affordable Housing Caucus We advocated for the creation of a common sense, bipartisan, and bicameral body to advance affordable housing solutions through the General Assembly. After the 2019 Regular Session, this caucus is now established!
2023:
Rural Housing Trust Fund Established
Seed funding of $20 established for RHTF
Updated Homeless ID bill passes, making IDs affordable, accessible, and streamlining the process to secure them
2022:
SMI Waiver: the legislature directed the Cabinet for Health and Family Services to apply for a Medicaid waiver, including housing, for people with Severe Mental Illness
Community Health Worker services (wraparound, community-based supports) to be billable under Medicaid
2021:
Mental Health Services for Youth Experiencing Homelessness
Severe Mental Illness Task Force
Technical Advisory Committee for Persons Reentering Society
2019: HB 378 Youth Homelessness
Increase homeless students’ graduation rates by addressing the negative impacts of school mobility on high school graduation.
Allow unaccompanied homeless minors to obtain their own birth certificates and waive fees for these documents. The process is outlined here.