Winchester City Commission briefed on social services, housing

Published 1:30 pm Thursday, June 22, 2023

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In the name of social services, many throughout Clark County have long shown dedication to others.

The most recent City Commissioners Meeting at City Hall on Tuesday, June 20, made others aware of issues and discussed current projects.

World Elder Abuse Awareness Day was recognized and the Kentucky River Foothills Development Council spoke of recent developments to provide affordable housing.

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Regarding the initial matter, World Elder Abuse Awareness Day was first instituted on June 15, 2006, and has been recognized on this date each year since.

According to NCEA, the National Center on Elder Abuse, “The purpose of WEEAD is to provide an opportunity for communities around the world to promote a better understanding of abuse and neglect of older persons by raising awareness of the cultural, social, economic, and demographic processes affecting elder abuse and neglect.”

Sarah Eldridge and Mary Crowley Schmidt from the Bluegrass Area Agency on Aging and Independent Living were present to mark the occasion.

“Most people don’t realize how prevalent elder abuse is. It’s actually more prevalent than child abuse today in our society [with] self-neglect, and then financial exploitation primarily by families, sadly,” said Schmidt. “We just want to raise awareness about it.”

Mayor JoEllen Reed read from a proclamation.

“The City of Winchester recognizes the importance of taking action to raise awareness, prevent and address elder abuse as our population lives longer,” she said. “We are presented with an opportunity to think about our collective needs and future as a nation.”

Additionally, affordable housing – which has previously been discussed – was considered at the meeting.

David Estepp, the Executive Director of Kentucky River Foothills Development Council, was present to talk about plans the council has put forth to help the situation.

KRFDC Director of Housing Development Jimmy Stone and Budget Manager & Grant Specialist Brandon Campbell accompanied Estepp.

As one of 23 community agencies statewide, KRFDC provides services, including a community-centered healthy marriage and relationship Project, a home care program and more.

The organization utilizes community needs assessments when planning steps to take.

KRFDC has identified that affordable housing is needed locally.

“There is a tremendous need not only in Clark County but all the counties that we serve,” Estepp said. “We focus our efforts trying to provide the assistance they need through our strategic goals and our plans.”

The five current strategic goals are to increase access to employment opportunities, health care, and community & civic engagement; increase community health outcomes and health education awareness; reduce homelessness & increase access for low-income individuals and families to obtain stable, safe, and affordable housing; respond to the opioid epidemic and expand supportive services; and build agency capacity through various means.

Recent projects include Kit Carson Commons and the Eastern Scholar House Program in Richmond, each providing three apartment buildings with at least 30 housing units.

KRFDC hopes to create opportunities within Clark County.

“If we started today [and] you identified a project like this with tax credits and all, you’re three years [away from completion],” Estepp said. “It doesn’t happen overnight…but we would be able to do something like that here.”