Critics say Kentucky’s ‘Safer Kentucky Act’ hurts, not helps, homeless after one year

LEXINGTON, Ky. (ABC36 NEWS NOW) — It’s been one year since House Bill 5 — known as the Safer Kentucky Act — took effect, creating the crime of “unlawful camping” among other measures.

Now, some advocates and service providers say the law is punishing Kentuckians experiencing homelessness rather than helping them.

Ashley Spalding, with the Kentucky Center for Economic Policy, said proponents claimed the law would push people to move out of homelessness by choosing treatment over arrest. But she pointed to state court data showing 425 unlawful camping charges have been filed in 30 counties as of July 2, with many people simply cited, moved along, or jailed — but not helped.

Jennifer Twyman with VOCAL-KY recounted stories from unhoused Kentuckians she’s spoken with, including one man who said he was kicked awake and cited, and a woman arrested in a parking garage while trying to change clothes to escape the summer heat — later released without pants and still without housing.

Angela Cooper with the ACLU of Kentucky said the root causes of homelessness need to be addressed instead of criminalized. She highlighted permanent supportive housing, which combines housing with support services, as a proven model with a 97% success rate in Kentucky.

ABC 36 reached out to several sponsors of the bill for comment but did not hear back.