A new ordinance expanding Louisville’s park ranger program has raised serious concerns among advocates, who fear the increased police presence could push homeless individuals out of one of their few remaining safe daytime spaces. The worry stems from the recently passed House Bill 5 — the Safer Kentucky Act — which bans camping in public spaces statewide.

While camping in city parks is now technically illegal, advocates stress that these public areas have long served as vital refuges where unsheltered residents can rest and find some peace without being harassed or displaced. Many now fear that the growing presence of park police will lead to further criminalization of homelessness in Louisville, deepening an already urgent humanitarian crisis.

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Two weeks before issuing an unlawful camping citation to a pregnant homeless woman in active labor beneath a Louisville overpass, Louisville Metro Police Lt. Caleb Stewart was nominated for a local tourism award. Deputy Mayor Nicole George praised Stewart as a “rock star,” citing his efforts to reduce homeless encampments and claiming they had made city streets “safer and healthier.”

According to the nomination obtained by The Courier Journal through open records, Stewart’s leadership reportedly led to a 40% decrease in calls related to encampments in city rights of way. However, the recognition drew outrage from advocates, who pointed to the citation against a woman in such a vulnerable state as a stark example of how punitive policies continue to harm Louisville’s unsheltered population.

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Faced with the complex crisis of homelessness, Louisville Outreach for the Unsheltered (L.O.U.) operates on a powerful premise: that compassion, consistency, and human dignity are the foundation for lasting change. Every Sunday—through heat, rain, or cold—volunteers show up not just to hand out supplies, but to build relationships rooted in trust and respect. Each interaction begins with choice, permission, and genuine listening, creating connections that transform lives.

Those connections have led to remarkable moments of stability and hope. A man named Josh, once sleeping under a blanket in the cold, was able to secure shelter through ongoing support and encouragement. A mother and her two children, living in their car, found safety and stability after L.O.U. mobilized donors to secure temporary housing and guided them through the process of rebuilding their lives.

During frigid weather, L.O.U.’s work becomes even more critical. Volunteers load up vehicles with tents, blankets, and fuel, visiting encampments across the city to reach those who have nowhere else to go. For many, these encounters are more than lifesaving—they’re reminders that they are seen, valued, and not forgotten.

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A new investigation highlights a growing public health and human dignity issue in downtown Louisville: the lack of accessible restrooms. Since 2021, the Louisville Downtown Partnership has cleaned more than 3,380 instances of biohazardous waste — most often human and animal waste left in alleys, sidewalks, and green spaces. In just the first half of 2025, nearly 1,000 incidents were reported, reflecting both the city’s rising homelessness crisis and the absence of basic public amenities.

Currently, restroom access is limited to a handful of sites like the public library, local shelters, and churches such as the Cathedral of the Assumption. But after dark, options disappear entirely. While advocates, faith leaders, and public health experts argue that public facilities are essential, city officials cite costs, liability, and maintenance concerns.

L.O.U. Executive Director David Smillie emphasizes that without restrooms, showers, and hygiene facilities, Louisville will continue to face sanitation issues downtown. “Homelessness isn’t going away because you cut off the water supply,” he said.

Louisville Outreach for the Unsheltered (LOU) will open a new headquarters and resource hub at 1801 Portland Ave. this fall, bringing critical services closer to the city’s West End. The center will host a rotating schedule of providers offering medical care, harm reduction, case management, and housing assessments, with partners like the VA and Solution’s Health already committed.

The facility will feature a small medical clinic, bathrooms, private offices, and laundry services designed to encourage return visits while reducing clothing waste. LOU founder David Smillie says the goal is to “bring the services to where people need it,” ensuring outreach is accessible and rooted in harm reduction. Volunteers and donations of essential toiletries will play a key role in keeping the center running.

n the year since Kentucky passed the Safer Kentucky Act—making it a crime to sleep or camp on public property—over 400 people have been cited. Homeless outreach workers across the state, including L.O.U. Outreach Executive Director David Smillie, say the law has driven people deeper into hiding and further away from the services meant to help them. Volunteers at L.O.U. continue their weekly efforts, bringing food, water, and support directly to those in need, even as anxiety over enforcement grows.

The new law, aimed at reducing visible homelessness and pushing individuals toward treatment, has sparked debate. While some lawmakers call it a success, outreach leaders report that it’s made it significantly harder to reach and support those experiencing homelessness. The most recent statewide homelessness count shows unsheltered homelessness is rising, not falling—with many individuals too afraid to even be counted.

Despite these challenges, organizations like L.O.U. remain committed. Volunteers continue to show up, build trust, and meet people where they are, knowing that real help starts with listening—not citations.

Ten Louisville organizations, including Louisville Outreach for the Unsheltered (LOU), have received a combined $4.5 million in grant funding from the Bezos Day One Families Fund to support families experiencing homelessness. The funding will help expand housing access and tailored support services across the community. Grant recipients include Catholic Charities, Mama to Mama, LOU, Metro Office of Social Services, Option to Success, Salvation Army, St. Vincent de Paul, UP for Women and Children, Volunteers of America, and Wayside Christian Mission.

It all begins with an idea.

It all begins with an idea.

It all begins with an idea.

It all begins with an idea.