Research shows people facing eviction are more likely to face depression, anxiety, and use prescription medication; and have worse physical health and premature death. Average monthly eviction cases between 2022 and 2024 peaked at nearly 3,600.
Hannah McCarty, policy and advocacy analyst for Kentucky Youth Advocates, the group that compiled the data, said experiencing eviction leaves a lasting imprint on children.
"Children in households facing eviction experience challenges to their educational attainment; they're more likely to have to switch schools or school districts," she said. "It’s also associated with increased absences and lost instruction time."
The state is facing a severe housing shortage, which is partially driving up rents, and many households are paying more than 30% of their income on housing. In 2024, Kentucky was short more than 206,000 homes, a figure projected to increase to nearly 290,000 by 2029.
Although individuals younger than 18 cannot legally sign a lease in Kentucky, McCarty said, in some cases, minors in a household are named on eviction filings.
"This results in children having an eviction record before they are even old enough to sign a lease," she said, "which contributes to long-term housing barriers in the future."
Resources for people facing evictions, including legal explainers, can be found at kyjustice.org.
