Addressing Escalating Violence Against Unhoused in Ashland and Championing National Solutions

Urgent Appeal & Comprehensive Strategy: Addressing Escalating Violence Against Unhoused in Ashland and Championing National Solutions

Dear Esteemed Public Officials, Concerned Citizens, and Members of the Press,

I am writing to you today not only as an advocate for our nation's most vulnerable but also as a resident of Ashland, Kentucky, who is currently experiencing homelessness. Since May 2024, my husband, our vital service dog, and I have been living in our vehicle—a harsh reality after being on the HUD/Section 8 waiting list for over a year and the Welcome House list for approximately a year. My husband actively seeks employment, and I continue to fight for disability due to debilitating chronic illnesses directly linked to my Camp Lejeune toxic water exposure, where I was conceived and born in 1978. Exposed to harmful chemicals at levels up to 280 times the EPA's safe limit, this has led to severe cardiovascular disease, musculoskeletal pain, and cancer.

Despite our profound personal challenges, we remain unwavering in our commitment to helping others. We actively support fellow unhoused individuals in Ashland, offering compassion, resources, and a safe presence amidst escalating violence.

Ashland, Kentucky: Where Cruelty Has Become a Sport

There is a disturbing and escalating trend of violence targeting our unhoused neighbors in Ashland. I have personally witnessed and experienced malicious, intimidating, and outright cruel acts. This is not merely disturbing; it is terrifying, and the true scope of these crimes is severely underreported due to profound fear and distrust among victims. They are overwhelmingly afraid to report due to fear of retaliation and a deep-seated belief that reporting will not lead to help.

Just last night, between 10 PM on June 19, 2025, and 5 AM on June 20, 2025, someone started keying and scratching words into our car twice while we were sleeping. I don't know if we or someone else startled them, but they didn't finish. This act of vandalism while we were inside our only shelter is a terrifying escalation.

Other incidents exemplify this crisis:

 * A few months ago, a truckload of young adults deliberately blared a horn and screamed at me, triggering severe PTSD.

 * A group of young people chased, beat, and threw a sleeping unhoused man into traffic, where he was struck by a car. No charges were filed.

 * A red truck with a lifted frame has been harassing unhoused people across Ashland, revving its engine inches from them, stalking them, and even driving onto curbs to terrorize them. This is not a prank; it is targeted terrorism.

 * My car was surrounded by this same group, their headlights glaring into my home for hours—a clear act of targeting and intimidation.

 * Recently, a young unhoused girl and her dog were attacked by this group. When she defended herself, police reportedly threatened her with arrest.

 * Most devastatingly, I have been informed of an older man in a gray truck preying on and sexually assaulting unhoused women, who are too traumatized and vulnerable to report.

This is more than heartbreaking; it is a crisis that tests our community's soul.

 We urgently request from our local officials:

 * An immediate, public investigation into these patterns of violence.

 * Stronger, trust-building collaboration between city leadership and law enforcement to ensure protection for the unhoused, not punishment. This includes community policing strategies that foster rapport.

 * Increased visible security (lighting, patrols, security cameras) in areas where unhoused residents seek shelter.

 * Direct support for mental health and trauma-informed services for survivors of violence.

 * Funding for self-defense education and basic protective equipment for vulnerable individuals.

Investing in Solutions, Not Sanctions: A Comprehensive National Strategy for Addressing Homelessness

Beyond Ashland, our ultimate goal is to foster a more just and compassionate society across the entire United States. We envision a future where all vulnerable individuals are protected, basic needs are met, and everyone has the opportunity to thrive. Our current national response to homelessness is reactive and fragmented, inadvertently imposing what I call the "invisible tax" on American communities.

Consider the staggering financial burden incurred by our fragmented approach:

 * The Criminal Justice Treadmill: Laws criminalizing life-sustaining activities for unhoused individuals lead to arrests, citations, and incarceration. Federal resources (DEA, marshals, court resources) are diverted to minor offenses. Jailing an individual for a few days costs hundreds of dollars per day; for someone experiencing chronic homelessness, repeated interactions can amount to $30,000 to over $80,000 annually per person in law enforcement, court, and incarceration costs. (A San Francisco study cited costs as high as $80,000/year per chronically homeless individual).

 * Overburdened Emergency Services: Without stable housing, unhoused individuals rely on expensive emergency rooms and inpatient hospitalizations for preventable conditions. A single ER visit can cost thousands; a prolonged hospital stay tens of thousands.

 * Lost Human Capital and Economic Drain: Homelessness prevents individuals from working, contributing to the economy, or paying taxes. Criminal records create insurmountable barriers to employment and housing, perpetuating a costly cycle.

This punitive approach drains federal, state, and local budgets. We propose a national initiative to establish Comprehensive Integrated Service Hubs in every county. These hubs would serve as a single, dignified point of entry, offering a full spectrum of services designed to move people rapidly from crisis to stability. This Housing First approach is not only profoundly more humane but also demonstrably more cost-effective. Studies show that every $1 invested in Housing First yields $1.44 or more in societal cost savings. Communities like Houston have demonstrated a 62% reduction in their homeless population by adopting this model.

Imagine a centralized facility offering:

 * Emergency Shelter & Rapid Rehousing: Low-barrier emergency shelter rapidly transitioning individuals into permanent homes with temporary rental assistance and case management. Studies show 75-91% of households remain housed a year after participating.

 * Diverse Housing Solutions: On-site or nearby tiny house communities, designated safe parking sites for vehicle dwellers, trailer park partnerships, and supportive housing tailored for specific populations (youth, ex-offenders, chronically ill, elderly).

 * Homelessness Prevention Programs: Rental/utility assistance, mediation services, and diversion programs to prevent individuals and families from entering homelessness.

 * Basic Needs and Well-being: Daily hot meals, food pantries, nutritional education, distribution of essential items (clothing, hygiene kits, diapers, school supplies), and flexible emergency funds.

 * Healthcare and Holistic Support: On-site or partnered clinics offering comprehensive medical, dental, vision, and preventative care. Integrated substance recovery and mental health support (including trauma-informed care and grief counseling). Veterinary care for pets.

 * Education, Employment, and Empowerment: Affordable childcare, after-school tutoring, GED preparation, vocational training, financial literacy workshops, robust employment assistance (resume writing, job placement, tool libraries), and digital literacy training. Dedicated re-entry programs for ex-offenders.

 * Transportation and Mobility: Vehicle maintenance classes, repair assistance, and direct transportation aid (bus passes, gas vouchers).

 * Legal, Advocacy, and System Navigation: Legal aid for documentation, eviction prevention, family law, expungement, public benefits navigation, and specialized victim advocacy. "Warm hand-offs" and system navigators to ensure seamless transitions between services. Mobile outreach teams for unsheltered individuals.

 * Community Engagement and Policy: Programs for community integration, youth outreach and mentoring, robust volunteer coordination, community advisory boards (including individuals with lived experience), peer support networks, advocacy for affordable housing policies, public awareness campaigns, data collection, and therapeutic art programs.

The Federal Imperative: Investing in Solutions, Not Sanctions

Members of Congress, your role is critical. We must:

 * Repeal Federal Support for Criminalization: Re-evaluate federal policies and funding that inadvertently incentivize punitive measures. Prioritize federal funding for Housing First and comprehensive service models, urging states to reconsider criminalization laws (e.g., Kentucky's Safer Kentucky Act).

 * Champion Federal Funding for Integrated Hubs: Increase appropriations for HUD's Continuum of Care (CoC) grants, Emergency Solutions Grants (ESG), and Housing Choice Vouchers (Section 8). Initiate targeted federal funding for counties developing these hubs.

 * Incentivize Interagency Collaboration: Promote seamless funding streams and technical assistance across federal agencies (HUD, HHS, DOJ, Labor) to support integrated service models.

 * Promote Best Practices and Data Sharing: Leverage federal capacity to collect and disseminate data on successful models, facilitating replication nationwide.

The Budget Equation: Crisis Management vs. Comprehensive Solutions

Our current "budget plan" of crisis management is financially unsustainable:

 * Total Annual Cost of Criminalization & Crisis (Illustrative): Managing homelessness through crisis intervention costs taxpayers anywhere from $30,000 to over $80,000 per chronically homeless individual per year. For a county with 100 chronically homeless individuals, this means $3 million to $8 million annually to maintain the status quo.

In contrast, a Proposed Budget Plan for a Comprehensive Integrated Service Hub offers a strategic, upfront investment that yields significant long-term savings:

 * Initial Capital Investment (One-Time Costs, Illustrative per County): Ranging from $2 Million to $10 Million+, depending on scale and existing infrastructure (e.g., land acquisition for Ashland/Boyd County: $500,000-$2M; construction/renovation: $1M-$5M+; tiny house community for 20-50 units: $260,000-$3.5M+).

 * Annual Operating Costs (Illustrative per County Hub): Ranging from $1 Million to $4 Million+ (e.g., staffing: $500,000-$2M+; rapid rehousing: ~$15,000 per client; clinic operations: $250,000-$500,000+).

The Return on Investment: This investment significantly reduces direct costs by freeing up millions of taxpayer dollars from jails, emergency rooms, and crisis services. It also increases revenue as people become tax-paying citizens and improves community well-being immeasurably.

Phoenix House: A Blueprint for Hope and Action

As a concrete example of this integrated service hub model, I present the blueprint for Phoenix House, a nonprofit, non-denominational shelter and ministry envisioned for Kentucky. Our mission is to empower vulnerable individuals and families by offering holistic support that fosters dignity, hope, and independence.

Phoenix House will serve populations disproportionately affected by homelessness, as highlighted by HUD's 2023 Point-in-Time count (653,104 homeless nationwide):

 * Individuals experiencing chronic homelessness: Over 190,000 in 2023.

 * Families with Children: Nearly 1 in 4 people experiencing homelessness in 2023.

 * Veterans: Approximately 35,574 veterans experienced homelessness in 2023.

 * Youth (under 25): Over 33,000 unaccompanied youth in 2023.

 * Racial and Ethnic Minorities: Significantly overrepresented due to systemic inequities (e.g., Black individuals comprised 37% of the homeless population but 13% of the U.S. population; Hispanic/Latino individuals 28% of the homeless population versus 19% of the U.S. population; Indigenous populations are also disproportionately affected).

 * Victims of Domestic Abuse or Trauma; individuals with disabilities, LGBTQ+ individuals, and seniors.

Our estimated annual budget for Phoenix House is $900,000, covering all comprehensive services. A main building would require 20,000 to 40,000 square feet, and overall land needs, including tiny house communities and safe parking, could range from 1.1 to 2.2 acres or more.

Reaching Out: The Path Forward and Bureaucratic Realities

I have already attempted to spark change by reaching out to local officials and Governor Beshear. While acknowledging receipt, initial responses from a local office were standard administrative replies, and the Governor's office redirected me to legislative representatives. These interactions highlight the bureaucratic maze and the "pass the buck" tendency that often hinder immediate, decisive action. They underscore that getting through to the right person and sparking action requires persistence and amplified voices.

I am not deterred. The profound fear and distrust among victims of violence, which severely underreports the true scale of the crisis, demands that we keep pushing.

This is an unparalleled opportunity to redefine our national response to homelessness—an opportunity to save billions of taxpayer dollars currently wasted on managing a crisis that could be solved. It’s an opportunity to empower our most vulnerable citizens to reclaim their lives, contribute to our communities, and realize the American dream.

Thank you for your valuable time and thoughtful consideration of this vital issue. I urge you to support immediate action in Ashland and champion these integrated solutions nationwide.

Sincerely,

Rev. Catherine "Cat" Christenberry

Ashland Resident & Advocate for the Vulnerable

thehopefulguardian@gmail.com

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