Thursday October 30, 2025
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The Metro Council’s Budget Committee has approved $546,791 in an effort to deal with the current homeless problem in Metro Louisville. The funding was found as part of the year-end budget adjustment after the completion of audits of the 2017 -2018 Operating and Capital Budgets.
“This appropriation will help us deal with a shelter system in crisis serving a population in crisis. The new services will serve as a bridge to a more permanent plan to address these needs,” said Councilman Bill Hollander (D-9), who chairs the Committee.
“The Metro Government has enough growth to allow the Metro Council to increase our funding for emergency homeless assistance. This is being done in a bipartisan manner as we recognized this is an issue we must address as a united community,” said Councilman Kevin Kramer (R-11), who is the Committee’s vice chair.
Pending full Council approval, the funding will support several partnerships with nonprofit groups who provide shelter and services for the homeless in Metro Louisville. The initial goal is to temporarily find additional beds and storage lockers for people experiencing homelessness as the city gets ready for another cold winter.
“We recognize these are complicated challenges and we are laser focused on common sense solutions. I am confident the emergency temporary sheltering plan will produce a collective impact. Our goal is to make sure anyone wanting to sleep inside has a place to go. Louisville – TOGETHER, we can do this!” said Councilwoman Barbara Sexton Smith (D-4).
“Let’s be clear. This is not yet a solid plan to address the problem, but rather earmarking and reserving funds for a concept for a plan to address the crisis. I have great faith in Eric Friedlander and the Office of Resilience and Community Services in providing us with this initial plan. We still have much work to do and little time to do it in order to try to make a timely impact to protect this vulnerable portion of our population,” said Councilman Brent Ackerson (D-26).
A longer term goal is to develop a low barrier shelter while expanding beds in existing facilities. A low barrier shelter relaxes some of the rules for those facilities which maintain programs, food and shelter for homeless men, women, and families.
The measure moves on to the full Council for a vote on December 13th.
Mayor Greg Fischer and other local leaders today reminded families of the many free and low-cost activities to keep students active and engaged during winter break.
Camps, movies, parties and sports clinics are among the dozens of activities available during the Jefferson County Public Schools winter break, Dec. 24-Jan. 4, and throughout the month of December.
“Parents who are looking for affordable, fun and festive ways to celebrate the holidays and keep their kids active during their winter break won’t have far to turn once again this year,” Mayor Fischer said. “We want students to enjoy their time off but also keep their minds sharp and bodies healthy.”
The Mayor spoke alongside Metro Councilman Pat Mulvihill and representatives of Louisville Parks and Recreation, JCPS, the Louisville Free Public Library and the Kentucky Science Center gathered at the Cyril Allgeier Community Center in the Camp Taylor neighborhood.
Louisville Parks and Recreation has published a Holiday Event guide that contains more than 30 events taking place during the month of December at community centers, the city’s two historic homes and more. The season is capped with a free winter break sports camp offered by University of Louisville basketball legend Robbie Valentine at Cyril Allgeier on Jan. 3-4. To register for Valentine’s camp, click here.
Also, The Louisville Free Public Library will offer more than 100 free programs for kids, teens, and families while school is out, including storytimes, crafts, film screenings, games, and more. As always, the library also offers a wide selection of books and DVDs to keep kids reading and entertained during the break—all for free. A complete list of library programs is available at http://www.lfpl.org/events.
The Southwest Regional Library will host the Winter Wonderland Train Show — presented by K & I Model Rail Road Club —Dec. 22-Jan 6. The show is free and open during regular library hours, for more information, click here.
In addition, the Kentucky Science Center is offering day camps for children ages Pre-K through grade 5. Children can attend as many days as they like or just do it a day at a time and learn about coding, robotics, engineering and more. For more information, click here.
The Croghan and Clark families and their friends welcome guests from near and far to Locust Grove for a special one-day only celebration of Christmastide, 1816. On Saturday, December 8, from 12pm to 7pm, Locust Grove will come alive with the sights, sounds, and smells of the season as Locust Grove’s corps of First Person Interpreters bring to life the residents of the historic house, as well as their friends and neighbors. Visitors will have the opportunity to converse with the Croghans about the news of the day—the recent election of James Monroe as the fifth president, the admission of Indiana to the union as the nineteenth state—and learn about life in the 19th century. Guests can join in the dancing and period games, and will have the opportunity to stop in the hearth kitchen to watch meal preparations for the festive occasion.
“Christmastide is a great opportunity to experience Locust Grove as it was alive with friends and family celebrating the season and being together”, says Program Director Brian Cushing. “The craftspeople we have pulled in to show you how the world around them worked in those days really rounds out the experience.”
In the Visitors’ Center, enjoy live music, shop in the museum store, and find gift-quality books for a special holiday edition of Locust Grove’s Used Book Sale. If you’re looking for 19th century gifts for your 21st century life, look no further than the Holiday Artisan Market. Here you’ll find vendors selling period wares, including stoneware, leather goods, textiles, and more. Children will have the opportunity to make period holiday cards and orange and clove pomanders. Christmastide is the perfect time to make a new holiday tradition as you learn about traditions of the past!
Christmastide, 1816 will take place on Saturday, December 8 from 12 pm – 7pm. Admission is $6 for adults, $3 for children, and free for children 6 and under. Locust Grove is located at 561 Blankenbaker Lane (between Brownsboro Road and River Road), Louisville, KY 40207. For more information call 502.897.9845 or visit www.locustgrove.org.
Photo: Louisville Metro Council
The holiday season is underway and President David James is once again hosting a special seasonal event for residents of District 6 when the Light up California Holiday Celebration gets underway beginning at 5:00pm on Friday, December 7th.
“It is always a joy to take the time to come together as a community and praise the true spirit of the season,” says James. “A new year is on the horizon and I am confident that good things lie ahead for one of Metro Louisville’s greatest neighborhoods.”
The fun begins in the festive atmosphere of California Leisure Park at 5:00pm. Santa Claus will be on hand to take the wishes and requests of children back to the North Pole.
The evening’s festivities will include live musical entertainment, free snacks, and refreshments will be available to all those who attend. There will be music, hot apple cider, a bike raffle, and Santa will be there to give out toys.
This year several groups and individuals have joined Councilman James to help spread holiday cheer for children and families in the District. Those sponsors include Kosair Charities, Al Schneider Inc., Play, 7NT Engineering, Henderson’s and Ronaldo Designer Jewelry.
“I want to invite everyone to come out and join this community celebration as a way to embrace the holiday season in a neighborhood that enjoys the togetherness this time of year brings,” says James.
California Leisure Park is located at 963 Dixie Highway.
For more information about the Light up California, please contact Councilman James’ office at 574-1106.
Jefferson County Public Schools (JCPS) and the 15th District Parent Teacher Association (PTA) invite Louisville community members to “Take What You Can Tote” at a clothing giveaway this week.
The annual Take What You Can Tote! event will be held on Saturday, Dec. 8, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., at the Clothing Assistance Program (CAP) building, 319 S. 15th Street. Tables and racks of gently used clothing and accessories for men and women will be available free on a first-come, first-served basis. Items include men’s and women’s pants, shirts, shoes, belts, purses, hoodies, T-shirts, jackets, accessories and other assorted items.
While this particular clothing giveaway does not include children’s clothing or uniforms, CAP does provide new uniforms and gently used clothing to district families, by appointment, throughout the year. Families needing assistance should contact their child’s Family Resource and Youth Services Center (FRYSC) coordinator to make an appointment.
Louisville Metro leaf drop-off service, originally scheduled to end December 1, has been extended by three weeks. Metro residents not mulching autumn leaves into their lawns or using curbside collection have the option to dispose of them at one of three drop-off sites through December 22.
Only loose leaves will be accepted. Containers used to bring leaves to the drop-off sites must be disposed of off-site by residents.
Leaf drop off sites:
Public Works Yard
- 10500 Lower River Road (enter from Bethany Lane)
- Thursday – Saturday 9 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Public Works East District Operations Center
- 595 Hubbards Lane
- Thursday – Saturday 9 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Public Works Waste Reduction Center
- 636 Meriwether Avenue
- Tuesday – Friday: 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Saturday: 9 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Credit: Louisville Metro Police
President David James (D-6) and officers of the LMPD’s Fourth Division are planning a special celebration of the season when they host the Parkhill Holiday Party at the Parkhill Community Center on Thursday, December 6th.
“I look forward to continuing this community tradition when we give needy children throughout the district a Merry Christmas with holiday fun for the family,” says James. “It will be a wonderful time for anyone who lives in the Parkhill area.”
The Parkhill Holiday Party will be held from 5:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. at the Parkhill Community Center, 1703 South Thirteenth Street.
Parents are encouraged to bring their children ages 1-15 to the event.
There will be music, food and fun for all! Santa Claus will also be on hand to hear Christmas wishes and parents and families can take pictures of their child with the Jolly Old Elf. There will be a toys and bicycle give-a-way!
This year several groups and individuals have joined Councilman James to help spread holiday cheer for children and families in the District. Those sponsors include Kosair Charities, Al Schneider Inc., Play, 7NT Engineering, Henderson’s and Ronaldo Designer Jewelry.
“So I want to encourage everyone in the Parkhill area to come out and join us for some fun as we bring in the holiday season,” says James.
For more information about the Parkhill Holiday Party, contact Councilman James’ office at 574-1106.
