Office of Affordable Housing outlines shelter expansion, new rapid-rehousing program and housing needs assessment

Candace, director of the Office of Affordable Housing and Homeless Prevention, gave an extended briefing Feb. 3 to introduce new councilmembers to the office’s work and to summarize recent funding and program developments.

Candace described affordable housing as a broad community issue affecting a range of households and explained the office’s role: coordinate services, pursue state and federal funding and establish programs to reduce homelessness. She said the office recently secured nearly $100,000 from the Kentucky Housing Corporation Emergency Solutions Grant to support an emergency shelter project, rapid rehousing and HMIS (the homeless management information system).

The Gathering Place Mission operates a low-barrier shelter (formerly temperature‑dependent “white flag” shelter) that now runs year‑round; the city and county fund temperature-triggered nights while the Gathering Place staffs other nights. Candace said the shelter is averaging 22 men and 14 women per night and is running out of space.

To expand capacity, the office secured $125,000 from Toyota to build a new building on the Gathering Place campus and is pursuing Community Development Block Grant funds through the Department for Local Government. Candace said the office also will launch a new rapid‑rehousing program — a “housing first” intervention to help households exit homelessness quickly — and that the Kentucky Housing Corporation had agreed to fund the pilot.

Candace described the housing needs assessment now in final draft form: it includes demographic, market and affordability analyses, employer and community surveys and proposed housing goals and strategies; staff expect to bring a final report to council soon. She also noted the annual “K‑Count” (HUD point‑in‑time count) scheduled for the coming Wednesday and invited council volunteers to participate in the dinner and overnight street count events.

Nut graf: The office’s recent grant wins and private support aim to expand emergency shelter capacity and introduce rapid rehousing operations; the housing needs assessment will provide data to support strategic incentives and grant applications for more affordable units.

Ending: Candace asked for council support for outreach and volunteer participation in the upcoming count and said the office will return with final housing goals and funding recommendations for review.