Catholic Action Center volunteers survey Lexington’s homeless population for fourth year, report due by late September

Volunteers with the Catholic Action Center have begun their fourth year of surveying Lexington’s homeless population, collecting information intended to help the organization and community partners better understand homelessness and its causes in Fayette County, according to WKYT. The survey work is being conducted by volunteers associated with the NewLife Volunteers group, the outlet reported.

The project focuses on what people experiencing homelessness identify as factors behind their situations. Organizers are gathering data from individuals as part of an ongoing effort that has repeated annually, with the aim of producing comparable information over time, WKYT said.

WKYT reported that volunteers are collecting responses as part of a structured outreach effort rather than relying on general assumptions about why individuals end up homeless. The outlet said the final report is expected by the end of September.

Officials connected to the Catholic Action Center said the survey is meant to reflect on-the-ground realities, using firsthand information from people living without stable housing. The annual design is intended to track patterns across years rather than provide a one-time snapshot, the report said.

The Catholic Action Center’s findings are expected to be released publicly when the survey is compiled and analyzed, with the end-of-September target giving the group time to prepare a summary for community stakeholders. WKYT framed the effort as part of a broader set of local responses to homelessness that depend on accurate information about the population served.

As the fourth-year data collection continues, residents and organizations that work with people experiencing homelessness may use the resulting report to assess needs and consider service planning, WKYT said. The Catholic Action Center will be expected to provide the final details by late September once volunteers complete the survey and the organization finishes its analysis.