Louisville Metro Office of Resilience and Community Services (RCS) is offering pre-registration for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), Subsidy Component. The pre-registration will begin on Wednesday, October 2, and end on Thursday, October 31.
Pre-registration is for Jefferson County residents who are elderly (60 years or older) or disabled and receive a fixed income (Social Security, SSI, pension or Black Lung benefits).
This pre-registration phase is for the LIHEAP Subsidy Program, meaning eligible residents can apply regardless of the status of their utility bills. Applicants must provide the following documentation:
Eligible residents who wish to apply during LHEAP Early Registration must schedule an appointment in advance. Starting today, Sept. 25, the toll-free automated appointment system is available twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week.
The caller can follow the prompts to get the information needed and/or to schedule an appointment if available. The system provides a confirmation number indicating that an appointment was successfully scheduled.
Scheduling an appointment by phone: Call 502-991-8391.
Scheduling an Appointment On-line: Appointments can also be made quickly and easily online at louisvilleky.cascheduler.com.
LIHEAP applications will be completed at the time of the appointment at one of the six locations listed below.
Benefits provided by this program are paid directly to the applicant’s heating vendor. Benefits for this program will not be applied until on or after Nov. 4, 2019.
For more information about this process on how to apply for LIHEAP pre-registration, please contact Metro311 by simply dialing 311 or 574-5000, email metro.call@louisvilleky.gov, visit the website’s On Line Customer Service or Live Chat at https://louisvilleky.gov/government/metro311, tweet @LouMetro311, or download the free Mobile 311 app from the website.
Income-eligible residents who do not meet the requirements for pre-registration (who are not elderly or disabled and on a fixed income) may still apply for LIHEAP benefits beginning Nov. 4. Appointments will be taken in advance starting Nov. 1 utilizing the phone and on-line appointment system. Visit louisvilleky.gov and search for “LIHEAP” or call 502/574-1157 for periodic updates.
Individuals who are unable to apply for this program in person may send a representative on their behalf. Simply provide the representative with the documentation listed above as well as a hand-written note, dated and signed from the applicant, giving them permission to handle their application for services. Residents who are homebound and who are unable to send a representative may call 502/780-7937.

Photo: Kentucky Department Fish and Wildlife
The Canoemobile is coming back to Shawnee and Riverview Parks on Oct. 4-5 for its eighth year on the banks of the Ohio River.
The Canoemobile allows residents ages three and older to take guided trips in 24-foot canoes on the Ohio River. Canoe trips are free. Participants under the age of 18 must have a waiver signed by a parent or legal guardian in order to participate. No advance sign-ups are required, wavers can be signed on-site or brought with the participants.
This free event is designed for individuals and families who are new to canoeing to experience the water in safe and stable voyageur canoes which hold 10 to 15 people.
All safety equipment and trained staff are provided. Wear comfortable outdoor clothing that can get wet; no flip flops please.
All safety equipment and trained staff are provided by Wilderness Inquiry.
Complimentary t-shirts will be given to those who participate, while supplies last. For more information, call (502) 368-6856.
Waivers for Participation:
SCHEDULE:
Friday, October 4, 2019
10 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Shawnee Park
4501 West Broadway
Saturday, October 5, 2019
10 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Riverview Park
8202 Greenwood Road
Louisville’s homeless population will have an opportunity to access services, information and assistance in a one-stop environment at the 2019 Project Homeless Connect/VA Stand Down, on Wed., Oct. 2. Resources available at the event will include food, clothing, medical evaluations, help with employment, education and benefit services, State ID’s, and many other forms of assistance.
The event takes place from 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. (entry doors will close at 1 p.m.) at The Salvation Army (Old Male High School) campus located at 911 S. Brook St. in Louisville. Several TARC buses will provide access throughout the day from emergency shelters to the event site at no cost courtesy of TARC. The event is coordinated by the Robley Rex Veterans Affairs Medical Center (VAMC), Louisville Metro Office of Resilience and Community Services, Coalition for the Homeless and other community partners including The Salvation Army.
The Project Homeless Connect/VA Stand Down (PHC/Stand Down) is an annual one-day community outreach project where representatives from community service organizations come together to address the collective needs of the homeless during a single visit. This event is made possible by the work of hundreds of volunteers and resources from the Robley Rex VAMC, Kentucky Department of Veterans Affairs, Louisville Metro Government, Coalition for the Homeless, and Louisville Metro Council.
The latest numbers from the 2018 Homeless Census indicate 6986 individuals were homeless at some point in Louisville last year — either on the streets, in homeless shelters or accessing services through Louisville’s homeless service providers. A variety of factors can lead to homelessness and often these individuals may be victims of domestic violence, disabled, veterans or senior citizens.
At last year’s event more than 400 persons participated receiving a variety of individual services including State of KY ID cards, flu shots and other medical exams and services, housing linkages, mainstream benefit access (SSI/SSDI), clothing, food and general case management services. The “Stand Down” event, named for the military concept of renewal, personal care, etc., is replicated from a national service delivery model that has proven to be crucial in eliminating barriers to housing, employment, education and the myriad of other factors that contribute to long-term homelessness.
“This is a vital event for our community because it allows our service providers to connect much-needed resources to our homeless residents,” stated Eric Friedlander, director of the city’s Office of Resilience and Community Services. “It also allows us a great opportunity to measure the needs of our homeless population so that we can come together to be more responsive”.
Offered again this year will be a foot-washing service provided by community volunteers and the Coalition for the Homeless. Many individuals experiencing homelessness have issues with their feet due to diabetes, frostbite and other exposure issues. Every participant at Project Homeless Connect/Stand Down will be invited to soak their feet and have them examined by medical volunteers.
For more information about the Homeless Connect event contact:
Mayor Greg Fischer announced today that global design and consultancy firm Arcadis is donating engineering and design services to Russell: A Place of Promise, in support of its community engagement efforts around vacant warehouses at 3025 W. Madison St.
Russell: A Place of Promise is an economic justice-based initiative created through a partnership between Louisville Metro Government, Cities United and the William R. Kenan Jr. Charitable Trust. It focuses on generating investments in the people and places that make Louisville’s historically African American Russell neighborhood special.
“The key to being a good steward of investment like the kind we’re seeing in Russell is to be intentional about making sure that as we regenerate, we don’t displace,” the Mayor said. “That’s what Russell: A Place of Promise is about, and we appreciate the Arcadis partnership, which should help us get even more residents involved.”
Arcadis will help document current building conditions and plan for the future redevelopment of the Madison Street warehouse property.
As part of that work, Russell: A Place of Promise is inviting Russell residents to participate in conversations that will shape the site design and the uses for the property, as well as consider a community ownership model that would allow residents to become co-owners of the project.
Russell: A Place of Promise staff will knock on doors and host multiple events to update and listen to residents. An initial open house is scheduled from 2 to 6 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 4, at Roosevelt-Perry Elementary School, 1615 W. Broadway.
“We are excited about this opportunity to partner with the Arcadis team,” said Anthony Smith, Executive Director of Cities United. “It will allow us to use technology to bring more community members into the planning and design process for the amazing Madison Street warehouses.”
The Madison Street warehouses were once the home of a cigar manufacturing operation and have housed several other industrial uses since the buildings were constructed. The warehouses are located immediately to the south of the Heritage West property where the Louisville Urban League is building its Sports and Learning Complex.
The approximately 3.6-acre property includes five buildings in various states of deterioration. Arcadis’ work will help Russell: A Place of Promise understand existing structural conditions to inform the community conversation around potential for redevelopment.
“Clearly, there is a strong sense of pride, energy and potential flowing from the Russell community,” said Joachim Ebert, CEO of Arcadis North America. “We’re thrilled that Arcadis can support Russell: A Place of Promise in taking bold moves to share a more prosperous and sustainable future for everyone who calls this neighborhood home.”
Russell was a center of black homeownership and has a history of being a vibrant and diverse hub of small, black-owned businesses that served neighborhood needs, created jobs, and contributed to neighborhood resilience. Redlining and urban renewal practices crippled Russell’s residential and business community, stifling opportunities for generational wealth building.
With nearly $1 billion in investment planned and underway, Russell is poised to experience neighborhood transformation. Russell: A Place of Promise is working to build a model for black wealth creation by connecting individuals and families to resources leading to home ownership, by building pathways and opportunities for traditional and nontraditional business retention and creation, and by developing innovative solutions for career-track job placement and growth.
25For more information about the open house and Russell: A Place of Promise’s work, please email info@russellpromise.com.

Photo: Louisville Metro Council
Councilwoman Barbara Sexton Smith (D-4) will join the neighbors of Shelby Park and many others for a special unveiling of a plaque which honors two special Louisville Women.
On Tuesday, September 24th, a plaque honoring the accomplishments of Nellie Crawford and Christa Robinson will be unveiled at the corner of East Oak Street and South Jackson.
“This is a very special moment for our Shelby Park Neighborhood and many others throughout our city. Nellie Crawford was an accomplished stage, film and television actress born right here in Louisville. Christa was my Legislative Assistant who was one of the most caring people I have ever encountered. Sadly, she left us too soon earlier this year,” says Sexton Smith.
Born in 1873, Nellie Crawford began her life as a laundress and had a keen interest in acting. She took the stage name of Madam Sul-Te-Wan and was the first African American to sign a major film contract in the infancy of the film world. Through her career she appeared in more than 50 films. She was inducted into the Black Filmmakers Hall of Fame in 1986.
Christa Robinson had a long career as a public servant for Councilwoman Sexton Smith and Congressman John Yarmouth. She passed away in April of this year.
“I want to thank the neighbors of Shelby Park for this fitting tribute to Christa and Nellie,” says Councilwoman Sexton Smith. “To all who see this plaque, please know these are two very dedicated women setting examples for all of us.”
The unveiling ceremony will take place tomorrow at 5:30pm at the corner of East Oak Street and South Jackson.
We are bringing folks together from all walks of life for one purpose: to show unity and understanding through song. This Sunday, September 15th, hundreds are expected to come together and experience “Love Sings Louder” at the Iroquois Amphitheater.
Councilwoman Barbara Sexton Smith (D-4) has joined with The Jewish Federation, Jewish Community Center, Fund for the Arts and the Republic Bank Foundation to sponsor this musical event. This is a free, community-wide, multi-faith, multi-cultural, intergenerational program.
“We invite all races, all cultures and all religions to come forward together for one afternoon in unity through song to show a spirit of community and understanding,” says Councilwoman Sexton Smith. “At a time when we see violence and the rise of racism, we have an opportunity to do something unique and special to show each of us that we can find common ground through music.”
“Love Sings Louder” is inspired by the currently popular “mass singing initiatives” facilitated by groups like Israel’s Koolulam and Canada’s Choir!Choir!Choir!. These events have brought together a diverse range of community members with the idea to stop everything for a few hours and just sing together.
Councilwoman Sexton-Smith and Mark Perelmuter are co-chairs of the event. Jecorey 1200 will lead the way.
In the setting of the Iroquois Amphitheater, those who gather to participate in “Love Sings Louder” will be taught one special song by various community leaders and musical performers. Then, together everyone will sing as a way of feeling of togetherness through a deep communal experience – their sounds and voices coming together to create a social choir, full of hope and optimism.
“This will be a wonderful experience for our community and our city, and I hope it will continue to grow over the years. I look forward joining many others who want to be part of something that will leave a magical memory. Together, we can make something beautiful happen,” says the Councilwoman.
“Love Sings Louder” will begin at 2:00pm. The Iroquois Amphitheater is located at 1080 Amphitheater Road.
Day One of the inaugural Hometown Rising Country Music & Bourbon Festival is in the books with big crowds turning out at the Highland Festival Grounds at the Kentucky Fair & Expo Center.
Fans were treated to country music staples including Pikeville native Dwight Yoakam, Trace Adkins, and Tim McGraw; established acts like Little Big Town, Frankie Ballard, and Jimmie Allen; and rising stars including Lindsay Ell, IMAJ, The Cadillac Three, and Taylorsville native J.D. Shelburne.
In addition to the three main stages full of talent, the festival also features dozens of festival merchandise vendors, a wide variety of bourbon labels to try, great food offerings from standard festival fare to gourmet offerings as well as dance lessons and performances.
The two-day party continues this afternoon for the final day featuring headliners Luke Bryan, Keith Urban, Brett Young, and Jake Owen; as well as Poison frontman Bret Michaels and Lo Cash on the main Barrel and Oak stages. All three stages, including the Boots & Bourbon stage will be rocking all afternoon until 6PM, when the action moves to the main stages.
Dance lessons, including line dancing, east coast swing, and two-stepping, as well as barn dance mixers, bourbon history lessons also continue throughout the festival grounds.
The three weekend long Trifesta series continues next weekend with the three-day Bourbon & Beyond blend of bourbon, food and music – featuring headlines such as the Foo Fighters, John Fogerty, Robert Plant, Hall & Oates, Zac Brown Band, and ZZ Top.
The series wraps up September 27-29 as Louder Than Life returns to Louisville, bringing with it such heavy metal titans as Slipknot, Godsmack, Disturbed, Rob Zombie, Marilyn Manson, and Guns N’ Roses. The colossal lineup also features Ice Cube, Dropkick Murphys, Stone Temple Pilots, Gwar, Crystal Method, and many more feature acts. Continue reading