Plans are being developed for a ‘street outreach’ program in Lexington. It will focus on direct contact with the hard to reach homeless population.
Charlie Lanter, director of Lexington’s Office of Homelessness Prevention and Intervention, says 40 to 75 people choose not to seek emergency shelter in Lexington each night. He says often, they have substantial issues which keep them from seeking help. “When you reach out to someone who’s on the street, you don’t know until you’ve gotten to know them what their needs are," Lanter said. "Are their needs mental health oriented? Are they substance oriented? Are they family oriented?"
Lanter says the ‘street outreach’ program would be carried out with five to six member teams visiting popular gathering areas for homeless people. “They reach out to people; sit down, talk to them, get to know them, build a relationship over time," Lanter explained. "All with a goal of figuring out what those barriers to sheltering and housing are for that individual and then moving them to the proper treatment or proper intervention to get them off the street.”
Lanter hopes the new program will be up and running by February.?
