Emergency Winter Weather Plan had been activated
LEXINGTON, Ky. (ABC36 NEWS NOW) — Lexington’s Office of Homelessness Prevention and Intervention (OHPI) has activated its Emergency Winter Weather Plan due to dangerously cold temperatures.
The plan is in effect from Sunday, Dec. 28 through Thursday, Jan. 2, with officials emphasizing efforts to ensure no one is left without shelter during the cold snap.
As part of the plan, emergency shelters are expanding capacity, and a temporary 216-bed shelter has opened at 1306 Versailles Road. That location will remain operational through April 1, 2026.
To help people reach shelters, Lextran is offering free bus rides on fixed routes during the emergency period. Outreach teams are also actively working throughout the community to notify individuals of the cold conditions and provide transportation to shelters when needed.
OHPI officials say rules and restrictions have been temporarily relaxed, including allowing entry for some individuals who were previously suspended, to ensure that no one is turned away during the emergency.
The Office of Homelessness Prevention and Intervention will continue to monitor weather conditions and may extend the Emergency Winter Weather Plan if cold temperatures persist.
