Shelter leaders tell Campbell County court that cold-shelter activation served dozens and spotlight growing older-adult homelessness

Kim Webb, executive director of the Emergency Shelter of Northern Kentucky, gave the Campbell County Fiscal Court a detailed annual and operational briefing on the shelter system and the county’s recent cold-shelter activation. Webb said the program reached 166 people during the county activation and reported ‘‘100,877 total bed nights’’ across its service area, underscoring the scale of need the shelter serves.

In a data-rich presentation, Webb told the court the emergency shelter system recorded 7,719 guests in the reporting period and that 9.32 percent had a last known address in Campbell County. Webb said 47 percent of the guests reported being homeless for the first time and that 26 percent of all guests — and roughly 25 percent of first-time homeless guests — were over age 55. ‘‘Our low-barrier model always gives guests a voice and a choice,’’ Webb said, arguing the approach helped people maintain employment and access hygiene and other services while seeking stable housing.

Webb described the cold-shelter activation timeline and partners: the county allocated 14 nights initially at Saint Paul’s, which operated for 12 nights, before the response transitioned to the restricted-custody center (RCC) for 16 additional nights. Webb credited Saint Paul’s Episcopal Church, Holy Spirit and local correctional staff for allowing the shelter to scale up and continue operations, saying those partnerships were ‘‘instrumental in the success of this’’ activation.

Webb addressed operational outcomes and community impacts, including a low rate of law-enforcement incidents during the activation. She urged continued funding support and noted that emergency shelters lack a stable, prioritized funding stream. ‘‘We really have focused on a community-based shelter service model,’’ Webb said, adding that stable funding was needed to preserve the safety net.

Earlier in the meeting, the court also honored the WAVE Foundation at Newport Aquarium and read a proclamation declaring June 8, 2025, as Wave Water Warrior Day in Campbell County. Trisha Watts, the WAVE Foundation board chair, described WAVE’s education and conservation programs, the opening of a new education center and summer camp offerings. ‘‘WAVE’s mission is to inspire and foster environmental stewards of aquatic life through education, conservation, and volunteerism,’’ Watts said.

The fiscal court did not take a formal vote on any shelter policy during the meeting; Webb and WAVE leaders were thanked by the judge and court members and invited to return with further updates.

The court moved on to its next agenda items following the presentations.