Many Area Homeless Are Veterans, Employed According To Census

by Gabe BullardThe latest homeless census for Louisville has been released. The study gives new information on the demographics of the area homeless population.Of the more that nine thousand homeless people counted in Louisville last year, about one-fifth were veterans, one-third could not afford a mortgage or rent and one-fourth were employed, with overlap between each group.Coalition for the Homeless director Natalie Harris says the census shows that Louisville has generally done better than other cities at helping homeless families, but still lags in some areas."We're a little behind on individual homelessness and chronic homelessness and also serving veterans," she says. "That's a new focus of the federal government as well so I think we might get some new supports to help us with that."Harris says the coalition is seeking to increase supportive housing over the next few years. Supportive housing typically consists of subsidized rental units with access to individual care for renters.