Affordable Housing

Years ago, BUILD pushed for and won the establishment of an affordable housing fund. Despite the success public officials now celebrate, it took six years of persistent effort from BUILD to secure the fund's creation in 2014 with $2 million in annual funding.

While this was a significant victory for Lexington, we didn't stop there. In 2020, our research showed that $2 million each year wasn't enough to address the need. Currently, 14,000 families in Lexington face difficult choices between rent and essential needs like groceries or medicine. In 2021, we secured a $13 million investment in affordable housing through the city budget and the American Rescue Plan. By 2023, BUILD successfully advocated for council members to establish a dedicated revenue stream for the fund, ensuring its stability regardless of political changes. 

On June 29, 2023, the Lexington Urban County Council voted to move forward with an ordinance dedicating 1% of the city's revenue to affordable housing. Because of our work, over 3,800 families have a safe, decent, affordable place to live.