The foundation has been laid; however, the exact look of future homelessness policy development locally is still in the early stages of development.
That was according to United Way of the Flint Hills Director Whitney Johnson, who, along with Assistant City Manager Tayler Wash and UWFH Community Food and Housing Coordinator Jessica Reth, joined KVOE’s Morning Show Monday to discuss the plans for handling such policy following the dissolution of the city’s Homelessness Advisory Board. The discussions on policy moving forward come after it was announced that the city’s Homelessness Advisory Board’s three-year authorization ended two months ago, leading to the development of a community-led structure that will be led and developed by the United Way. Johnson says the changeover is a “natural” fit for the United Way as the purpose of the Homelessness Advisory Board falls perfectly within their mission and values.
As it pertains to the work of the city’s advisory board over the last three years, Wash says they did a tremendous job in “Opening the eyes” of many residents to the seriousness of homelessness in the local area.
As for next immediate steps, Johnson says the United Way will be taking September to plan with the city and former members of the homelessness board, as well as reaching out to other similar-sized communities to learn what they have done in the past that could be successful for the city down the road.
According to Reth, this will include a major emphasis on data collection, noting that a full and clear understanding of the data related to the issue is extremely important to lay out a roadmap.
Over the course of its three years, the Homelessness Advisory Board developed a number of community programs and initiatives, including work to solidify Rural Champions grant funding and to start projects like community lockers. For questions or more information, contact the United Way of the Flint Hills by calling (620) 342-7564 or by visiting unitedwayoftheflinthills.org.
