Council member Reynolds presented a report-out from the Social Services and Public Safety committee with updates on affordable housing, juvenile treatment court outcomes and a veterans housing expansion project.

Rick McQuadey, the city's affordable housing manager, summarized the affordable housing fund's purpose: to leverage public and private investment to preserve and produce safe, quality affordable housing for Fayette County residents whose incomes are at or below 80% of the area median income. McQuadey told the committee that adding owner-occupied units is difficult and that additional homeowner units often require substantial subsidy; he said a pro-housing grant application was in and the committee should hear something in the spring.

Judge Lindsey Hughes Thurston and Keevy Figgs, program coordinator, reviewed the juvenile treatment court (JTC). The committee report said JTC accepts some referrals and provides a four-phase approach that includes random drug screening, mental-health services and family and education supports. The report noted that since the court began on March 11, 2022, 39 of 70 referrals were accepted and there were 11 graduates from the program.

Jeff Crook, chief executive officer of the HOPE Center, updated the committee on a veterans housing expansion project described in the report as a $7,300,000 project. The report said the HOPE Center received $2,000,000 in ARPA funds and $1,500,000 from Veterans Capital Funds; fundraising to cover the remaining balance is in progress. The committee report said the project is progressing and expected completion was February 2025. The presentation clarified that ARPA funds were restricted under terms that prevent their use to expand emergency housing; those funds were directed to transitional housing or other forms of housing.

No committee action was taken on these items during the reported meeting; the committee's report was accepted as information at the work session.