West Louisville homelessness nonprofit says housing voucher shortage is leaving homes empty

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) — A West Louisville nonprofit says changes to federal housing funding are making it harder to help women and families experiencing homelessness.

Option to Success, which provides housing and support services, has full furnished homes for people to move into. However, the nonprofit said many families can't get the housing vouchers needed to qualify.

"As we are growing, as we are at our Rise Campus right now, the federal cuts have impacted us," said Chief Operating Officer Jaquita Warfield.

The nonprofit expanded with its RISE Campus more than year ago, creating more housing for young women. Founder Kristy Flippins-Bartlett said the organization had mostly relied on contracts in the past, but with more housing to fill, federal housing programs have become much more important.

Warfield said the shortage of housing vouchers has created a waiting list, even though homes are sitting empty. And according to Flippins-Bartlett, that's creating an unsafe situation for many local families.

"We have mothers that are on the streets and they have nowhere to go, and they have kids," she said.

Last year, the Trump administration proposed cuts to long-term federal housing assistance. Kentucky, along with 22 other states, sued against this proposal. A judge ruled against the Trump administration.

But those cuts can still happen in future fiscal years, including 2026. A spokesperson for Rep. Morgan McGarvey, D-Louisville, who was at Option to Success Wednesday, said those cuts are to blame for the lack of housing vouchers.

Flippins-Bartlett said it could also be from changes the Louisville Metro Housing Authority made to housing voucher payments in April.

"Whether that is a federal funding issue, a local housing authority issue, or simply demand exceeding available resources, the outcome is the same for the people we serve," she said.

Even with the lack of housing vouchers, Option to Success doesn't want to turn women away. The nonprofit said it's doing everything it can to find other ways to help.

"We just want to take an intake and see how we can service them," Flippins-Bartlett said.

In addition to housing, Option to Success offers programs including outpatient therapy and other support services. Visit the organization's website to learn more about available services or how to get help.