Mayor's Task Force to End Homelessness

Summary

Meeting Overview

This meeting of the Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government included two agenda items, both informational in nature. The session covered a review of recommendations and service buckets results, and also incorporated public comment as a formal agenda item. No votes or motions were taken during the meeting. A total of three public comments were heard. No presiding officer, meeting location, or scheduled time was recorded in the available meeting data.

Attendance

The following individuals were present at the March 11, 2026 meeting:

• Tawna Fogle
• Jay Blanton
• Curtis Sharf
• Donna
• Tiffany
• Diana
• David
• Tom
• Tana

No members were recorded as absent or late.

Public Comment

Three members of the public addressed the body during the comment period, covering topics ranging from homelessness to housing for sex offenders.

• Curtis Sharf 1:13:17 spoke about the intersection of homelessness, public safety, and local business impacts. Sharf raised concerns about the welfare of homeless individuals while also highlighting the effects that homelessness-related issues have on businesses in the area. He suggested that relocating services to a different area could help address some of these concerns.

• Donna 1:17:37 followed with questions about the status of recommendations stemming from a previous study conducted by Ed Holmes. She inquired into what, if any, of those recommendations had been implemented and stressed the continued importance of meaningfully addressing homelessness in the community.

• Tana 1:24:51 raised the specific challenge of finding housing for sex offenders in Lexington. She noted that local pastors have been involved in efforts to provide housing for this population and described the legal constraints that complicate those efforts. Her comments highlighted the difficulty of meeting legal obligations while securing appropriate placements within the community.

Taken together, the public comments reflected ongoing community concern about homelessness services, the follow-through on prior policy recommendations, and the legal and logistical challenges surrounding housing for specific vulnerable populations.

Contested Items

• Housing for Sex Offenders 1:24:51

A discussion arose regarding the lack of available housing options for sex offenders, with community opposition emerging as a central tension. The conversation highlighted that while a need for housing exists for this population, there is significant reluctance within the community to meaningfully engage with or address the issue. No specific individuals or organizations were identified in the available data as taking formal positions, and no resolution or outcome was recorded from this portion of the meeting.

Review Recommendations and Service Buckets Result

1:01:11

The committee convened to review input on a tiered framework of interventions addressing homelessness, organized into three categories: Light-Touch, Moderate-Touch, and Heavy-Touch services. The discussion covered a range of potential solutions as well as challenges associated with each level of intervention.

Key speakers during this portion of the meeting included Adam, Tiffany, and Diana, who contributed to the examination of the recommendations and service bucket results.

The three-tiered structure was used to distinguish between varying levels of support and resource intensity:

• Light-Touch interventions represented lower-intensity services and supports aimed at individuals who may need minimal assistance to maintain or regain housing stability.
• Moderate-Touch interventions addressed a middle tier of need, encompassing services for individuals requiring more structured or sustained support.
• Heavy-Touch interventions focused on the most intensive level of care and resources, targeting individuals with complex or chronic needs related to homelessness.

The committee discussed various solutions applicable across these categories, as well as challenges that arise in implementing each type of intervention. The specific details of individual recommendations and any concerns raised by speakers were part of the broader deliberation on how best to structure and prioritize services.

This agenda item was informational in nature, meaning no formal action or vote was taken as a result of the discussion. The review served to inform the committee's ongoing work on homelessness intervention strategies.

Public Comment by Curtis Sharf

1:13:17

Curtis Sharf addressed the meeting during the public comment period, raising concerns about the effects of homelessness on local businesses. Sharf suggested that services for the homeless population should be relocated to a different area, though no specific alternative location was identified in the record.

This item was informational in nature, with no vote or formal action taken in response to the comments.