Last week, Kentucky Youth Advocates hosted a webinar introducing the Kentucky Eviction Data Dashboard, an interactive tool that displays eviction filings and trends across the state from 2022-2024. The dashboard was developed to help policymakers, advocates, and community members understand the scope and impact of eviction in Kentucky and its impact on kids and families. 

Understanding the Impact of Eviction on Kids and Families

The webinar opened with an overview of eviction, emphasizing its disproportionate impact on children and families. 

  • Families with children are 2x more likely to face eviction than other households. 
  • The average Kentucky family facing eviction has at least one child in the household. 
  • The experience is linked to educational disruption, food insecurity, as well as negative physical and mental health outcomes for kids. 
  • In some cases, minors are listed on eviction filings, causing irreversible damage to their housing record before they are even old enough to sign a lease.  

Exploring the Kentucky Eviction Data Dashboard

The webinar provided an overview of the dashboard’s key features, which displays eviction trends for all 120 counties and 138 legislative districts in Kentucky. 

Users can view:

  • The percentage of renters, annual filings, and dismissal and judgement rates by legislative district. 
  • County-level data on average filings and dismissals and judgements
  • State-level case data and monthly eviction patterns 

Policy Solutions and Next Steps

State Representative Susan Witten joined the webinar to talk about her work as the co-chair of the Kentucky Housing Taskforce and discuss legislation to: 

  • Automatically expunge dismissed eviction cases
  • Prohibit minors from being named on eviction filings. 

She provided reflections on her district’s Eviction Data Profile and stated her intention to file a bill to make these common sense changes to Kentucky’s eviction process on Day 1 of the 2026 state legislative session.

We are pleased to see this Blueprint for Kentucky’s Children policy priority gaining momentum as we prepare for the 2026 legislative session. Eviction reform has also been an ongoing priority for the Housing Policy Ambassadors, you can learn more about their advocacy efforts in these spotlights.