By: Keith Kappes
Columnist
Carter County Times
Yes, I’ve teased members of the Kentucky General Assembly in the past about trying to fix things that aren’t really broken but the 2026 legislative session already has produced an opportunity to help ease a growing social problem — homelessness.
House Bill 333, a bipartisan measure with a co-sponsor from each party, received unanimous support last week from the House Local Government Committee and now moves to the full House for consideration.
The bill would enable religious institutions to build small-scale, affordable housing units for short-term occupancy on property already owned by such organizations.
Rep. Michael Pollock, R-Campbellsville, is the primary sponsor of the bill. He said the Sisters of Loreto, a Roman Catholic religious congregation of women, had asked him and Sen. Jimmy Higdon, R-Lebanon, about a plan to renovate an empty structure into short-term housing.
Pollack told his fellow committee members that he came away from that conversation with an understanding of both the need and opportunity here in Kentucky for affordable temporary housing.
HB 333 would allow faith-based organizations to build up to 24 small-scale affordable housing units on a parcel or contiguous parcel owned by the institution within a half mile of the proposed site.
The developer of such housing would be required to guarantee that the units remain affordable for at least 15 years.
Additionally, the bill would expand a religious institution’s ability to operate modestly-sized homeless shelters, including cooling or warming centers, in industrial zoned areas. Such facilities would be required to follow health and safety regulations.
Rep. Sarah Stalker, D-Louisville, is a co-sponsor of the legislation. She noted that creating rental housing on church-owned property would return it to the property tax base.
More than a dozen Kentuckians died as a result of the snow and ice storms which recently ravaged most of the U.S. Some of them were homeless, no doubt.
That means enlightened legislation like House Bill 333 would be a lifesaver and definitely should become law.
Contact Keith at keithkappes@gmail.com.
