Louisville Metro Council passed an ordinance Sept. 11 that makes it easier for religious institutions and other facilities to serve as homeless shelters, particularly during bouts of inclement weather.
At the council’s Sept. 11 meeting, members voted to approve the ordinance, which bounced several times between the planning and zoning committee and the full council as lawmakers tried to work out a compromise.
The ordinance defines three new forms of homeless shelters: “Extreme weather shelters” — pop-up shelters for the 24 hours leading up to and after an extreme weather event; “accessory overnight shelters” — religious facilities with a shelter component; and “day shelters” — shelters for daytime hours…