LEXINGTON, Ky. (LEX 18) — The Catholic Action Center's Compassionate Caravan made the rounds overnight Thursday helping those who need shelter during cold nights.
When the city activates its emergency weather plan, shelters are required to take in all eligible people, including former residents under suspension for behavioral reasons, with the exceptions of those suspended for violent behaviors.
Volunteers tell LEX 18 that one of their biggest challenges they face is trying to convince people who suffer from mental illness to go to a shelter.
"What we're doing is to get out..not to only to give them stuff to wear, but to force nothing on them, give them opportunity to get a relationship with them so we can get them help. More than a shelter and a blanket...if we can find out what's going on, we can get them to the next step of their life," Brother Thomas Caudill explained.
Lextran will be offering free rides to shelters while the emergency plan is active and with cold temperatures on the horizon, the plan is expected to be re-activated on Monday.
