 Friday, March 22, 2024
Older adults are now able to receive
an additional dose of updated COVID-19 vaccine
 The Centers for Disease Control recommends that adults ages 65 years and older receive an additional updated 2023-2024 COVID-19 vaccine dose. Adults 65 years and older are disproportionately impacted by COVID-19, with more than half of COVID-19 hospitalizations during October 2023 to December 2023 occurring in this age group.
The recommendation acknowledges the increased risk of severe disease from COVID-19 in older adults, along with the currently available data on vaccine effectiveness. Data continues to show the importance of vaccination to protect those most at risk for severe outcomes of COVID-19.
An additional dose of the updated COVID-19 vaccine may restore protection that has waned since a fall vaccine dose, providing increased protection to adults ages 65 years and older.
To learn more information about COVID-19 vaccines and a list of providers, please visit our website or vaccines.gov. You can also visit our Immunizations site for available vaccines. Vaccines are given by appointment at our Newburg and Dixie clinics, which are open Monday through Thursday with evening appointments available Tuesday and Thursday. If you have questions or need assistance, call 502-574-5380. Language assistance is available.
Learn more about who we are and what we do
Join us at our Free Health
and Wellness Fair on March 30
Louisville Metro Department of Public Health and Wellness is excited to host a Free Health and Wellness Fair from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday, March 30 at our headquarters, 400 E. Gray. The outdoor event will showcase a variety of vendors, family activities, a free health screening and CPR training. Food will be sold by six forks burgers co.
For more information, please call (502) 574-6675 or email louhealthed@louisvilleky.gov.
Updated Housing Needs Assessment
shows increased demand for housing
among lowest-income residents
 Mayor Craig Greenberg recently released the final My Louisville Home housing strategy, the first of its kind in Louisville that outlines significant investment and policy actions by Louisville Metro Government to spur housing development across the city. This includes increased funding for the Louisville Affordable Housing Trust Fund to support new affordable housing construction and for housing programs such as Louisville Metro’s Down Payment Assistance, Louisville Metro Housing Authority’s Section 8 to Homeownership, and the Trust Fund’s REVERT.
“For far too long, far too many people have had to pay more than they can afford for a place to live. That’s unacceptable. While I am encouraged by the signs of progress we are seeing, the updated Housing Needs Assessment shows that we have a long way to go to ensure that everyone has a safe place to call home,” the Mayor said. “We are going to keep working with urgency to create quality and affordable housing in all neighborhoods – not just other peoples’ neighborhoods.”
After releasing a draft version of the plan in October 2023, the city received hundreds of comments from residents, housing organizations and advocates, including from a group recommending cohousing, which is now part of the finalized My Louisville Home document.
Louisville Metro Government has already begun work to implement the strategy, including:
- Releasing new draft regulations that would allow middle housing, small-scale multifamily housing such as duplexes, triplexes and fourplexes, to be constructed on properties zoned for single-family homes as long as they meet certain requirements;
- Partnering with Volunteers of America to provide shelter and care facilities at the new Community Care Campus;
- Announcing that modular housing manufacturer MMY is locating its first U.S. operations in West Louisville;
- Initiating the rezoning of three metro-owned properties so that the city can partner with developers on affordable housing projects; and
- Helping low-income residents access homeownership through the city’s Down Payment Assistance and Louisville Affordable Housing Trust Fund’s REVERT program.
The Housing Needs Assessment, which offers an in-depth analysis of housing stock in Louisville, found that from 2016 to 2021, Louisville saw an increase of nearly 18,400 housing units available and affordable for the city’s lowest income residents. The increase is due to a combination of factors, including new construction and existing housing stock that is now priced affordably for those earning 30% of area median income or less ($26,900 a year for a family of four).
Despite this, the unmet need for housing for the city’s lowest income residents grew 15 percent to 36,160 units, and more than a quarter of Louisville households remain cost burdened, meaning they pay more than 30 percent of their income toward housing expenses. More than 11 percent are severely cost burdened, paying more than 50% for housing expenses.
Housing costs citywide have continued to rise since the last housing assessment. Louisville’s median household income is up 29% to $64,619 a year, while home prices have risen 48% to $242,900, and rents are up 37% to $1,057 a month.
Louisville Metro Government and the Louisville Affordable Housing Trust Fund commissioned the original assessment in 2019 and the updated assessment. Both were conducted by Mullin & Lonergan Associates of Pittsburgh. The Housing Needs Assessment will continue to be updated every five years.
Read the full Housing Needs Assessment report at https://louisvilleky.gov/government/housing/housing-needs-assessment.
Read the full My Louisville Home housing strategy at www.louisvilleky.gov/government/housing/my-louisville-home.
Read the proposed Middle Housing regulations and provide your input at https://louisvilleky.gov/middlehousing.
|
