New temporary family emergency shelter in Louisville already at capacity

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- Families with children experiencing homelessness in Louisville are facing growing struggles, but an emergency shelter opened to help meet the overwhelming demand.

The new facility, located in Smoketown, was fully booked on its opening day.

For Ashley Warren, a single mother of four, the need for shelter has been urgent. She recently relocated from Michigan and has been struggling to find stability.

"Extremely challenging. Financially, most definitely, is very, very challenging. As far as stability, very challenging," Ashley Warren said.

Warren and her children — ages 16, 13, 10, and 9 — have spent months in local homeless shelters. A month ago, Warren was concerned about where they would be for Christmas.

"If I can go back, probably, like, a month ago, I was stressed about where I was going to be for Christmas," said Warren.

But now, Warren is no longer worrying about a roof over her head.

Warren said, "Oh my God, it's been amazing."

Last month, Warren and her children moved into the new temporary family emergency shelter.

Tamara Reif, Senior Director of Housing Services for Volunteers of America (VOA), which is partnering with the city to run the shelter, said the need is growing.

"We have space for six families here, and the day that we opened, we filled it with six families," said Reif.

Reif said the new shelter was designed to address the increasing demand for family housing during the winter months.

"This was in response to knowing that without opening these doors, without some funding to put families in hotels, there would be families on the street during these cold months this winter," said Reif.

The shelter offers vital services, including a playroom for children, breakfast, and access to a washer and dryer.

"I'm grateful, you know. I'm saying like, and then, like, you know, I'm warm," Warren said. "I get food provided for me and my children. We don't have to worry about that."

While the temporary shelter is already full, plans are in place for a permanent facility on the same campus, slated to open next summer.

The Community Care Campus was first announced more than a year ago. The first phase of construction is expected to create a family emergency shelter. The campus will also offer medical services with partners at UofL Health and Norton Healthcare.

In 2022, nearly 11,000 people were homeless at some point in Jefferson County, according to the Coalition for the Homeless. A report from the coalition found homelessness in Louisville increased by more than 40% from 2018-21. And a majority of that homeless population is clustered around downtown Louisville, which was why the campus' location at South Floyd and East Breckinridge streets was chosen.

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