Earlier this summer, the Post asked our readers what issues you wanted to hear candidates in contested races address leading up to the Nov. 5. election.
Based on that feedback, we developed a five-item questionnaire centering the issues most important to residents across Johnson County.
Each day this week, we’ll publish the candidates’ responses to one question.
Today, we’re publishing candidates’ responses to the following question:
The county commission’s plan to convert a Lenexa hotel into a homeless shelter and services center suffered a major blow after the Lenexa City Council voted to deny a special permit needed for the project. Still, many readers say Johnson County’s increasing rates of homelessness need to be addressed. With the shelter plan now seemingly off the table, how do you want to see the county address this issue? What specific policies and solutions, if any, will you advocate for if elected?
Below are the answers the Post received from candidates on the issue:
District 2
Mark Hamill
I recognize that there are concerns about homelessness in Johnson County. I do believe that we have an obligation to address homelessness, but we have to do it in a way that is in the best interest of our community. I believe that addressing the causes of homelessness, such as financial literacy, lack of career skills, and substance abuse is the best route available for tackling this issue.
I would have opposed the Lenexa homeless shelter that was proposed earlier this year because of the assessment made by law enforcement that the project could increase crime in the area around where the homeless shelter was set to be built. I do not believe it is wise to attempt to solve a problem without first considering the unintended consequences that will result from the decisions that we make as elected officials.
Jeff Meyers
I am a proponent for helping the most vulnerable in our community. I know when you get knocked down you get back on your feet and continue to work on solutions that have a positive impact on our community. It is what I have proven time and time again in my 30 years of experience in elected local government.
I will continue to collaborate with partners and address the housing crisis in Johnson County, from sheltering unhoused individuals to expanding permanent affordable housing. I would advocate for staff to look at other options for the State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds (SLFRF) funding (approximately 6.3m) with an emphasis on housing services and programs. This would include enhancements to existing programs such as Utility Assistance, Home Rehabilitation and Minor Home Rehabilitation, Landlord Incentive Program and filling the gap for the homeless in our community.
I also would advocate on a case-by-case basis for home investment partnership programs which have had success in Johnson County such as Prairiebrooke Townhomes in Gardner, Habitat for Humanity homes in Olathe and the Hedge Lane development in Shawnee.
District 3
Julie Brewer
I agree with your readers, addressing the needs of our community members experiencing homelessness is a priority. Homelessness is a housing issue, workforce issue, health issue, economic issue, safety issue, and impacts the very vitality of a community.
This is not a new issue for our community. United Community Services of Johnson County (UCS), an organization I led until my retirement in 2023, conducted the first research on homelessness in Johnson County more than 30 years ago, which led to the creation of this community’s first homeless shelter that still serves families today, the Salvation Army Family Lodge.
Over the last 30 years, this community and its agencies, public schools, health systems, faith communities, and public safety agencies have worked to address growing homelessness and have successfully brought in increased federal resources through the Continuum of Care on Homelessness. Experience shows, we need county and city governments to come alongside these entities and create lasting solutions.
So here is the good news, this most recent effort is the farthest we’ve come in 30 years to real progress. And we had the three key ingredients needed: 1. Political will of the majority of County Commissioners, 2. Awareness and support of residents, 3. Sufficient resources thanks to the federal relief funds the Commissioners accepted which were restricted to uses such as the proposed shelter. The first two ingredients still remain. We need a policy and commitment for a county/city collaboration to find resources. I have the experience to take on this challenge.
Charlotte O’Hara
The best solutions to help those who are homeless come from within our own community. The faith-based model used by City Union Mission is a great example of how to address homelessness effectively.
Communities across our nation which have relied on the federal government’s blueprint have proven not only ineffective but also extremely expensive. Johnson County must work towards a plan tailored to our specific needs—not one designed for bureaucrats in Washington, D.C.
I will continue to advocate for a Johnson County-focused approach, partnering with local organizations and faith-based initiatives to provide help for Johnson County residents.
District 6
Shirley Allenbrand
We have single adults, children, and families experiencing homelessness in Johnson County every single day. Johnson County commissioned a housing study in 2021 which provided dozens of recommendations to address a wide array of housing issues in Johnson County. The county needs to work together with the cities to implement other recommendations.
In the meantime, we must continue our mental health outreach efforts through the Mental Health Center and provide resources to other social services and nonprofits. Doing nothing puts these children and adults at risk and increases the burden on important community infrastructures such as emergency rooms, schools, and law enforcement agencies. All of these are more costly to taxpayers than preventative measures would be.
Mike Storm
Any government program that Johnson County creates to address homelessness should critically analyze and address the contributing factors of homelessness instead of aimlessly throwing money at the problem and hoping the issue fixes itself.
Research has shown that a significant portion of the homeless population struggles with mental health issues or substance abuse. The county should prioritize resources for rehabilitation for those struggling with these health conditions and then look to prioritize public-private partnerships to help get recovering patients back on their feet. The county should look at providing tax incentives for businesses that support homeless outreach or hire individuals transitioning out of homelessness. I am also supportive of the county partnering with Johnson County Community College to provide free financial literacy classes and basic job skills training for those experiencing homelessness.
We also need to look at funding additional training for our local law enforcement officers to ensure they are prepared to effectively assist our county’s homeless populations with their mental health and substance abuse needs.
Although those pushing the Lenexa homeless shelter had their hearts in the right place, scholarly research has shown that similar projects have increased crime in surrounding neighborhoods. This is why I believe focusing on the contributing factors of homelessness is likely the more effective solution for making progress on this issue.
Coming up:
Tomorrow we will publish the candidates’ responses to the following question:
We heard from many readers concerned about the burden taxes are placing on them in Johnson County, especially seniors living on fixed incomes. The county and state do already offer some tax relief for low-income residents. But some readers want to see the county do more, including potentially cutting property taxes, assessing a different tax rate for seniors or even temporarily freezing valuations. What steps, if any, would you advocate for to give residents some tax relief? What’s realistic and what’s not?
