Homelessness and hunger among college students may not be an issue that's frequently addressed. State Rep. Joshua Watkins acknowledged he was not aware of the extent of the problem before becoming involved in drafting legislation on it.
The Democrat said the numbers can be hard to pin down, and on the students' side, navigating what help is available is its own challenge.
"It's a little bit of a maze. It gets even harder during those breaks. So think fall, winter break, think over the summer. Students are not always identified or connected to that help, largely because they do not self-report. They may be couch surfing. They may be living in their cars," he said.
Watkins is hoping the General Assembly might take action in 2027. His bill would create what he called a, quote, dedicated point of contact to help students obtain financial aid, housing, and other support services. He also wants to push for no housing fees during academic breaks and a liaison that would guide affected students through the process.
UK spokesman Jay Blanton told the Lexington Herald-Leader that UK's first priority when informed of a student experiencing homelessness is to discuss access to food, after which the student is connected with a housing team to see if a housing fee can be waived.
Watkins' bill was introduced last session, but he was able to elaborate on the measure during an interim meeting with an eye toward reviving it in the coming year.