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.
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.
Organizing Against Mass Evictions
Mayor Gorton and the members of Lexington's city council can create a housing system where everyone has access to safe, accessible, permanently affordable, and sustainable housing. They can reduce the number of evictions Lexingtonians face.
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 