Back to Goal 2From Measures and Milestones 2002
p. 18-19, published 2002
The relative affordability of housing is one of many unsung advantages of living in Kentucky. However, affordable housing to own or rent remains scarce in some parts of the state. Thus, many Kentuckians face long waits for public housing, live in marginal or substandard housing, or, worse yet, have no home. Citizens believe we are making progress toward the goal of decent, safe, affordable housing for all Kentuckians. Between 1998 and 2002, citizen assessment of our progress has shifted in a positive direction, as more saw movement towards progress.
Table 1: Where Citizens Think We Stand
Population counts generally depend upon residency; therefore, it is difficult to measure the exact extent of homelessness populations. The Coalition for the Homeless of Jefferson County, however, seeks to measure local homelessness in a yearly census of persons served by Louisville’s overnight shelters. While these numbers are not a comprehensive count, they offer an indicator of the extent of urban homelessness. The yearly census of Louisville’s homeless found a record high population in 2000, many of whom are working poor. A separate 2001 survey conducted by the Kentucky Housing Corporation estimated Kentucky’s rural homeless population at 3,349, down from 4,450 in 1993. An estimated 31 percent of these were children.
Figure 1: Homeless Population Estimates, Louisville, 1994-2000
Home ownership is key to prosperity, but affordability remains an obstacle to many. A 2001 study finds that housing costs are relatively low in Kentucky, but incomes are also relatively low, and growth in the low-income population is outpacing the development of affordable housing. Nevertheless, over the past decade, home ownership rates steadily increased in Kentucky and remained consistently higher than the national average.
Figure 2: Home Ownership Rates, Kentucky and the U.S., 1990-2000
A concern about housing, particularly for Kentucky’s aging population, is the suitability of their homes to their needs. Nevertheless, a poll conducted by the UK Survey Research Center in the spring of 2000 showed that the majority of Kentuckians, regardless of age, are “satisfied” or “extremely satisfied” with their housing. Still, the recent 2000 Census identifies some woefully inadequate places that Kentuckians call home. While they represent less than 3 percent of the state’s housing units, 28,985 were deemed overcrowded, 9,990 had no plumbing, 11,570 no kitchen facilities, and 3,133 no heat.
Figure 3: How satisfied are you with your housing?
Publicly subsidized (Section 8) housing gives needy individuals and families access to affordable housing. Simply by applying for help, thousands of Kentucky families every year express their difficulty in meeting their housing needs alone. Unfortunately, while Kentucky is making some strides in meeting those needs, we see that thousands more are left waiting.
Figure 4: Waiting Lists for Section 8 Housing, Selected Kentucky Cities
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