The final results of Lexington’s 2025 homeless street survey were released today, showing a decrease in the number of people experiencing homelessness. However, officials say the results don’t tell the whole story.
The study found 2,868 people experiencing homelessness, a drop of 5.5% from last year. But experts believe there’s a legal reason the numbers have gone down: the Safer Kentucky Act, also known as House Bill 5.
“We have to acknowledge the results of House Bill 5 and the Safer Kentucky Act because that act has made people more difficult to find,” said Jarred Paull with the Central Kentucky Housing & Homeless Initiative. “People are hiding. People don’t want to be seen, and we have to remember with this segment of the population, people don’t want to be found. And now people are trying not to be arrested and accosted because of House Bill 5. So that does play a role in this.”…