Director's Take

Reducing Homelessness Takes All of Us

09-05-2025

Dear Friend of Downtown,

Reducing homelessness is a goal that is shared by virtually everyone. The homeless themselves, who are in need of a stable home and services to get back on their feet, advocates who are on the streets everyday helping to get these individuals to shelter or referrals to service, and business leaders and owners who need to have order around their places of business for their customers and clients.
 
The Louisville community’s homeless numbers have increased over the past five years, and while they are now at a plateau, there is a rising chorus of people in the community who want to see improvement in the system.
 
We were invited to a screening of the documentary Beyond the Bridge: A Solution to Homelessness, and a panel discussion that followed with the filmmakers, Mayor Greenberg, and two housing officials from Milwaukee who started their reduction efforts in earnest about a decade ago.
 
We have lessons to learn, and I’m inspired by the examples of these other cities who did the hard work of getting all the government agencies, nonprofits, and community partners on the same page and rowing in the same direction. Our mayor is engaged and wants to help find solutions. Advocates and service providers know that there is a better way to be working together. And the private sector has a clear ask to put money toward defined and goal-driven solutions.
 
The Coalition for the Homeless has worked tirelessly to turn the conversation from who’s to blame for what hasn’t gone right, to pulling all groups together to work toward a solution. The documentary and panel discussion drew nearly 1,000 people to the Louisville Palace, and that in and of itself, demonstrates our community’s interest and commitment to this issue.
 
The Home for Good campaign was launched last night, and I hope that you will see value in participating and giving what’s meaningful to you to help us start to fund the services that will help our most vulnerable population.
 
We can all help. You can learn more here.