Removal of homeless camps proposal discussed Tuesday

LEXINGTON, Ky. (WTVQ) — A follow-up meeting regarding the proposal of a city-wide ordinance on breaking down homeless camps happened today in Lexington.

The proposal was made by the Catholic Action Center last month, along with homeless advocates, and included three guidelines for closing down homeless camps.

CAC wanted one similar to the one Louisville passed last year.

“Please let us just have 21-day minimum notification, to not take down people’s homes from November to March, and notify us so that we can be sure their personal property is taken care of,” says co-founder of CAC, Ginny Ramsey. “That’s all we ask.”

Ramsey says this ordinance is needed to provide consistency.

15 camps have been removed since July.

The city was responsible for taking down six of those.

“Six of which were on LFUCG property, so there are nine that are on private property that we do not control the cleanup process,” says Polly Ruddick, director for the Office of Homeless Prevention and Intervention.

Ruddick says they give ample time for people to collect their things.

“We go in, we give first notice, we send our street outreach team. Our street outreach team tries to make contact and engage those living in that camp and then set a plan,” says Ruddick. “We always put compassion over cleanup.”

But, she says there’s no set time for warning that a camp is being torn down.

This is why the CAC wants a city-wide ordinance, to assure all homeless campers get the notice they need to find another place to stay.

“We definitely need this because ya know all those people are losing their stuff and they shouldn’t be losing it,” says CAC resident and advocate for the homeless, Charles Bowers. “Hopefully they are going to pass it if not we’re gonna keep on until we get it passed.”

Ruddick says her office is worried about the legalities of an ordinance like this.

But she says her office is working to draft a resolution on dealing with homeless camps.

She says she hope to present it to the council next month.