LEXINGTON, KY – In Kentucky, where thousands of people experience housing instability each year, a new effort is emerging to shine a light on one of the most vulnerable populations—those who are hospitalized but have no stable place to call home. On January 29, 2025, the University of Kentucky will launch its first-ever Hospital Point in Time Count, an initiative aimed at capturing the hidden struggles of patients facing both health crises and housing instability.
Led by Drs. Abigail Latimer and Lynden Bond, this collaboration between UK HealthCare’s Chandler and Good Samaritan hospitals, along with support from the College of Social Work and the UK Center for Clinical and Translational Science, seeks to address a gap in existing homelessness data. By focusing on the intersection of healthcare and housing insecurity, the project hopes to inform policies that can better support the needs of hospitalized individuals who may otherwise be overlooked. “Housing is a fundamental part of health,” says Latimer, a palliative care clinician and assistant professor at UK College of Medicine and College of Social Work. “Until we address both, we can’t truly address the full scope of their healthcare needs.”
A Unique Approach to the Community Count
Typically, annual homeless counts exclude those in hospitals, leading to an incomplete picture of the number of people who are unhoused. Bond emphasized the importance of this addition to the traditional community count, mandated by the Department of Housing and Urban Development. “We aim to include hospitalized individuals, ensuring they are counted and their stories are understood. This information is critical in creating policies that address housing and health needs holistically,” Bond explained.
The research-focused event will occur on January 29 at 6:30 PM, aligning with Lexington’s K-Count. Volunteers will receive specialized training to ethically engage with patients, ensuring sensitive and effective data collection.
Why This Count Matters
The challenges faced by people experiencing homelessness are compounded by limited resources, legislative changes, and rising living costs. “The recent legal landscape has made it easier to penalize those without stable housing,” Bond noted, referencing the Supreme Court’s ruling on Grants Pass vs. Johnson and Kentucky’s HB5 law. “Despite inadequate resources like shelter beds and support services, people experiencing homelessness are facing increased criminalization. This count will provide data that is vital to developing responsive community programs.”
Latimer also highlighted the unique difficulties faced by Lexington and surrounding rural communities, where housing instability often goes unseen. “Our goal is to paint a holistic picture of the needs in our region to better inform health and social services.”
How to Get Involved
Volunteers are essential to the success of this initiative. To learn more about volunteering, please visit https://socialwork.uky.edu/point-in-time-count/.
In addition to completing a virtual training, volunteers will attend an orientation session an hour prior to the count. Those unable to volunteer on the day can still contribute by contacting the Care to Count team at caretocount@uky.edu to explore other ways to support this research or future events.
Join us in making a difference for towards understanding the needs and experiences of people facing housing insecurity by contributing your time, skills, and compassion to this essential initiative.
