Provide equity in social services by ensuring those in need are served by social service community facilities that address homelessness, substance abuse, mental health, and other significant issues.
The typical community facilities that serve Lexington-Fayette County, including libraries, schools, fire and police stations, sanitary sewers and stormwater facilities, have been addressed in planned documents and discussed over the course of many decades. The social service community facilities addressing homelessness, substance abuse, mental health and other significant issues have not been addressed in the same manner. Although the Division of Social Services exists, its interaction with the Planning Commission and the Division of Planning has been minimal over this same time period.
However, the social needs and their physical locations within the community must be addressed to ensure a high quality of life for all citizens. The distances people must travel to get to social service agencies such as the Lexington-Fayette County Health Department or the Social Security Administration office, and the concentration of such services in certain areas has been a concern for residents and providers for many years. Further research is necessary to determine where gaps exist and how such services should be distributed in an equitable manner that improves the overall health and well-being of the citizens. Where gaps do exist, barriers to providing social services should be removed.