Homelessness, an issue that is affecting communities across the nation and even worldwide, has become a large topic of discussion in Hopkinsville, as officials look to find solutions to a difficult problem.
In a public discussion in November that included representatives from Hopkinsville City Council, Christian Fiscal Court, the Salvation Army of Hopkinsville, State Representatives Myron Dossett and Walker Thomas, the Christian County Jail and others, officials spoke about the problem at hand.
Hopkinsville Police Chief Jason Newby says there’s not much law enforcement can do, including the jail, because many times when a homeless person is arrested, it is on a violation, which means they quickly get re-released—because it’s not illegal to be homeless.
He went on to say that they need to find a way to make it uncomfortable to be in Hopkinsville for those who choose to not seek help and remain homeless, whether that be through new or expanded ordinances or changes to state law.
Mayor J.R. Knight says Hopkinsville is home to some of the most generous people you can find, but often times, that can have unintended side-effects.
Talk turned to the homeless population locally possibly being increased by those from mental health facilities—especially those who are not from the county—but a representative with the Salvation Army says that’s not entirely the case. She says the Salvation Army served 296 homeless individuals in between October of 2022 and September 2023, but only a small portion of that number came from health facilities or the jail.
The Salvation Army does have an emergency shelter where people can take refuge in the overnight hours—but it does not have 24/7 capabilities, meaning residents have to find a different place during the day.
Representative Dossett says he would like to find a way for the families of those individuals to have quick time knowledge on where their family member is, so they could possibly help—especially if that person has been reported missing.
The conversation will undoubtedly continue around the topic of homelessness for some time, as there’s no easy answer—in the meantime, Mayor Knight says they have increased police patrols downtown in an effort for safety.