Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government is activating its plan to help the homeless stay safe as temperatures drop. It becomes effective when the temperature falls below 32 degrees and includes expanded shelter services and free transportation to get out of the cold.
Laura Carr is development director with the Lexington Rescue Mission. “Really just trying to make sure that people know that there is shelter available to them. There’s no shortage of shelter beds in Lexington,” said Carr. “There’s no reason for anyone to be sleeping outside if they don’t want to.”
Carr says the Catholic Action Center’s Compassionate Caravan provides transportation to city shelters. Carr says Lexington Rescue Mission’s Outreach Center on Glen Arvin Avenue is a place to stay warm. It also offers meals and winter clothing articles. Carr says hundreds of hats, gloves, and scarves were given out at the mission’s Christmas dinner. “Because of that, our supplies are going to be low for a little while, so we can use more to help replenish that and make sure for the whole winter, you know, we’re just heading into winter right now. We have months ahead of cold weather and so, we’re going to need more of that kind of stuff to be able to keep our guests warm.”
With a chilly forecast ahead, the plan will be in place all week.
