In 2024, Kentucky became one of the first states in the nation to ban unauthorized street camping.
And since the law went into effect, there have been at least 425 unlawful camping charges in district court in 30 Kentucky counties, according to the Administrative Office of the Court.
Back when the bill was unveiled, Rep. John Hodgson said populations with significant amounts of substance abuse disorder or severe mental illness needed to seek treatment, and supporters of the bill said it would give those cited a chance to seek services.
"If somebody wants to seek treatment, that's awesome. If they want to seek permanent supportive housing, that's great," he said. "But if they're not going to seek treatment and they're not going to abide by the laws of a civilized society, they need to go somewhere else."
But advocates contend the measure has only added to the incarcerated population and has pushed unhoused individuals into more and more dangerous situations.
"The fear and the concern of citation and arrest is driving people further into hiding places. It's driving people further into unsafe structures where it becomes increasingly difficult for service providers to maintain contact with people," David Smiley, executive director of Louisville Outreach for the Unsheltered, said.
WUKY reached out to Rep. Jared Bauman, the Louisville Republican who spearheaded the Safer Kentucky Act, but did not hear back in time for broadcast.
A recent report from the Kentucky Housing Corporation, an agency that oversees federal funding for housing, said an annual count in January showed a 10.7% increase in the number of people lacking a, quote, fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residents.
That percentage was even higher in Fayette County where the figure rose by a reported 12%.