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.
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.
Fayette County’s Callous Constable Wade McNabb Serves Wrongful Evictions for Cash
This is the opposite of what we need right now. Tenants need protection from being forced out of their homes, help with paying rent, and assurance that no one will be evicted due to non-payment that occurred during the state of emergency. Our elected officials need to be helping tenants stay in their homes, not pressuring them out.
#StopMassEvictions Kentucky Script
We need you to call Governor Beshear to #STOPMASSEVICTIONS!! Though Kentucky has an eviction moratorium, rent's still due. Mass evictions are coming once the State of Emergency ends. We need stronger tenant protections. Call using this script below (also available at tinyurl.com/NoEvictionsKY) To leave a message for Governor Beshear supporting tenant protections during the COVID-19 … Continue reading #StopMassEvictions Kentucky Script
Kentucky Leaders Stall as Housing Crisis Looms
Evictions CONTINUED this week. And we will see mass evictions when courts reopen. Art Crosby, lawyer with Lexington Fair Housing Council said, "I’m expecting an unprecedented number of evictions to hit when things start up again. As much as our community may be struggling to deal with this outbreak, I think we’ll find we’re equally unprepared to handle the fall out that we’ll face in the coming months. What I am really worried about is what we are going to see in May, June and July."
Lexington Housing Justice Collective 