A new partnership is developing to address homelessness in and around Emporia.
Since the start of the year, the United Way of the Flint Hils has led the Plumb Place Steering Committee — with the help of several agencies like CrossWinds, Corner House, SOS, Lyon County Community Corrections and Kansas Legal Services — to fill the gap in emergency housing left open when Plumb Place closed its doors for good at the end of last year.
The Emergency Housing Project, announced Tuesday, is a temporary measure that can provide housing services until additional housing resources come available, quite possibly when Plumb Place or a replacement agency are established locally. The East Central Kansas Economic Opportunity Corporation, also known as ECKAN, will offer one-to-one assistance like finding housing, setting goals and developing projects to help with future success. This will be open to people regardless of gender or identity, unlike Plumb Place, which was open to women in crisis situations.
The United Way is launching this partnership through a $90,000 grant from the Jones Testamentary Trust and a $25,000 grant from the Trusler Foundation. Other grants are being sought to fully fund this project.
United Way Director Mickey Edwards will be on KVOE’s Newsmaker segment at 7:15 am Thursday with more information.
