The city partnered with Emergency Disaster Services to provide what officials call a “turnkey” operation of the 2025-26 winter emergency shelter. The facility addresses a seasonal gap during the winter months, when adverse weather conditions drive more people to seek shelter.
“Roughly what our data says that our gap is is around 200 beds that we need each winter season,” said Jeff Herron, homelessness prevention manager for the City of Lexington.
Shelter services and operations
The shelter accepts anyone in need of a place to stay without requiring advance registration. Services include three daily meals, 24-hour on-site medical staff, restroom and shower trailers, recreation space, and 24-hour security guard service.
The facility will also connect residents with services aimed at finding permanent housing.
“Once you get in here, we’re going to kind of hit you and bombard you with opportunity and service and things that can give you a chance to not have to be here,” said Charlie Lanter, commissioner of Housing Advocacy and Community Development for the City of Lexington.
Community concerns about location
Former Lexington Councilmember Richard Moloney, who previously represented the Versailles Road corridor, has raised safety concerns about the shelter’s location.
“To me, this location is not the location for it,” Moloney said. “And told them somebody’s going to get killed. A couple weeks ago, we had a homeless person get killed on this road.”
Moloney said some community members were unaware that the shelter was coming to their neighborhood.
“I told a couple of neighborhoods, they were all up in arms,” he said.
Safety measures implemented
City officials said they have implemented measures to address community concerns and improve safety. The facility includes fence screening around the perimeter and a designated pedestrian path.
“There’s always going to be things we have to do to minimize the impact on the community. And we’ve done that with our fence screening that we’ve got all the way around so that you can’t really see in or out,” Lanter said.
The pedestrian path extends to Versailles Road to separate foot traffic from vehicles entering the facility.
“That goes all the way up to the front of Versailles Road. So it keeps them safe and separate from like a vehicle pulling all the way in, while giving a clear very direct path straight to the shelter,” Lanter said.
The shelter accepts adult men and women as well as their pets. Families with children are encouraged to contact the Salvation Army or the Community Action Council for assistance.