Metro Lex News

Grants to 37 social services agencies have been authorized by the Urban County Council as part of its vote last week to approve a final City budget for the 2024-25 fiscal year.

“Through these grants, we help our partner agencies help residents who are most in need,” Mayor Linda Gorton said.

The “Extended Social Resource Grants” include $4.795 million for support in five priority areas: Community Wellness & Safety ($990,000); Childhood & Youth Development ($660,000); Food Insecurity & Nutritional Access ($633,520); a new priority of Mental Health ($633,500) and Emergency Shelter ($1.9 million).

“I am happy we have added the additional category of mental health, which can directly affect the positive outcomes for many in our community,” said Mayor Linda Gorton.

The grants, which will be made in the 2025 fiscal year and then again in 2026 (with Council approval), will support programs and services for mental health, substance use recovery & treatment, violence prevention, hunger, access to affordable and nutritious food, early learning opportunities, positive youth development, violence intervention, and low-barrier shelter for individuals and families experiencing homelessness.

Department of Social Services Commissioner Kacy Allen-Bryant said the grants are one way of assuring the needs of vulnerable populations are met and that Lexington’s “most pressing social problems” are addressed.

“As the name suggests, Extended Social Resource grants allow the City to fund agencies that provide services that are beyond our capacity and reach,” Allen-Bryant said. “This new Mental Health priority area will allow for innovative programs that utilize best practices and evidence-based models to address the issue of mental health.”

In awarding the grants, City teams from the Department of Social Services, Homelessness Prevention and Intervention, and Procurement extensively reviewed 67 proposals requesting a total of $8.295 million.