Yesterday, the Budget, Finance, and Economic Development Committee of the Lexington Urban County Council heard a report on the status of rental assistance in our city. While rental assistance has helped many families, hundreds of Lexingtonians have nonetheless lost their homes. This is because current eviction protections are full of loopholes; far too many families … Continue reading Eviction data show limits of rental assistance
Gorton, Media Should Focus on Stopping Evictions, Not Just Rental Assistance
Yesterday, the Herald-Leader posted an article announcing that Lexington received federal rental assistance money. The article more or less reproduces Mayor Gorton's social media announcements and accompanying press conference. While we appreciate that the story lets people know rental assistance is available, we want to know why the Herald-Leader is not running stories on the … Continue reading Gorton, Media Should Focus on Stopping Evictions, Not Just Rental Assistance
Mayor Gorton Doesn’t Care What Happens to Renters
Lexington Mayor Linda Gorton has the power and authority to stop the mass evictions that have plagued our city for the last 160 days. With over 1,400 people facing eviction filings since August 24, 2020, hundreds of Lexingtonians have been thrown out of their homes and onto the streets. Mayor Gorton has had the power to stop these atrocities the entire time.
Lexington Housing Justice Collective Meets with Mayor Linda Gorton
Tenants, organizers, and a lawyer with Lexington Housing Justice Collective are meeting with Mayor Linda Gorton and staff to urge her to stop all evictions in Fayette County.
Mayor Linda Gorton Can Stop Local Evictions
Mayor Gorton has the legal authority to implement an eviction moratorium, and it is the right public health and economic move. Every day she waits is a day more people lose their homes. She needs to act now—and we will continue to fight until she does.
Housing Advocates Disrupt Eviction Court Amid Banner Drop
BREAKING: This morning, Lexington protestors disrupted eviction court! Several protesters joined Judge Bell's online court today and interrupted proceedings throughout the hour and a half meeting.
Mayor Linda Gorton Wants to Cut Emergency Rental Assistance to fund Police Trainings
Available rental assistance in Lexington totals just over $1.9 million. The average household recipient receives over $1,700 from the city funds. This means that available city funds are likely to serve under 1,200 people. However, as of November 4, the city had already received 3,400 intakes into its rental assistance program—and over 90% of people who apply are eligible. That means that 2,000 Lexingtonians who are eligible to receive rental assistance and applied will receive no money because the city does not have enough funds—compared to only 1,200 who will receive funds. How does Mayor Gorton respond to this underfunding of eviction prevention? BY CUTTING THE PROGRAM MORE. That ain’t right.
Can’t Zoom In? Evicted!
Since evictions for non-payment resumed August 24, there have been over 1,000 eviction hearings in Lexington. While some tenants had their cases delayed until January by the CDC's moratorium, the majority of tenants were not at court--which means they likely received default eviction judgments against them.
Lexington Eviction Court Moves to Zoom
Eviction court in Fayette County is going virtual. Mass evictions have been ongoing for months. They will only get worse.
Open Letter to the Lexington Housing and Gentrification Subcommittee of the Mayor’s Commission on Racial Justice and Equality
Dear members of the Housing and Gentrification Subcommittee, We understand that you are now developing your recommendations to the Mayor. As you do so, eviction court is on the verge of executing mass evictions. Next Monday, August 24, 51 people are scheduled to face eviction in court. The following two weeks, around 300 people face eviction.
Lexington Housing Justice Collective 