On February 25, 2026, the Downtown Master Plan team participated in LexCount, Lexington's annual point-in-time (PIT) count of individuals experiencing homelessness, (this can mean those in emergency shelters, transitional housing, and unsheltered settings). Typically conducted in January, this year's count was pushed back due to weather. LexCount ensures Lexington remains eligible for federal funding, helps assess local needs, and provides critical insights into year-over-year progress toward ending and preventing homelessness.
Prior to the event, team members completed a training to better understand the unhoused community and the LexCount process. During the count, our team canvassed a designated area with a police officer and asked unsheltered community members whether they were open to answering a few housing-related questions.
Because LexCount often coincides with harsh winter weather, we also helped distribute care packages, including hats, gloves, socks, scarves, hygiene products, hand warmers, bottled water, snacks, hand sanitizer, and bus passes.
This experience is part of our broader research into Lexington's unhoused population and our work toward building a more welcoming community for all Lexingtonians. In the coming weeks, we will be sharing what we've learned through interviews with a wide range of community stakeholders including but not limited to, attorneys, judges, shelter staff, and the Office of Homelessness Prevention and Intervention.
We are grateful for the opportunity to participate and look forward to sharing everything we've learned in the future.
