The $6.35 million county officials had planned to spend on a homeless center may be redirected to other housing proposals, including new neighborhoods built by Habitat for Humanity.
The funds became available after the homeless services center and shelter proposed for motel property near Interstate 35 and 95th Street in Lenexa failed to get the necessary permit from the Lenexa City Council. The money must be obligated by the end of this year and spent by the end of 2026.
The Board of County Commissioners chose five housing-related spending proposals during a committee meeting Thursday to be further developed by staff and voted on by Dec. 12.
The money comes from federal coronavirus relief funds, which can only be spent on projects that meet eligibility rules. Among them are projects that address low-income housing, housing expenses and homelessness.
Commissioners were presented with 26 requests for spending on Thursday. All but two of them were housing related.
They voted 6-1 to look further into five, with Commissioner Charlotte O’Hara the sole dissenter.
Watch the commiittee meeting online here.
The proposals that will get a closer look are:
- $2.47 million for Habitat for Humanity to build new neighborhoods
- $3.1 million for new units for housing to support Johnson County Developmental Supports and mental health clients
- $476,000 for an expansion of the Salvation Army Family Lodge in Olathe
- $175,000 for research on homelessness by United Community Services
- The remainder, calculated at $137,000, in one-time funding for supplies and food for Project 1020, which operates a cold-weather overnight shelter in Lenexa
If approved, the allocation for Habitat for Humanity would go toward purchase and maintenance of land on which new neighborhoods for low-income potential homeowners could be built. County staff noted that Habitat has found two tracts — one of 37 acres and one of eight acres — that could be developed into neighborhoods for people who meet the nonprofit’s qualifications for affordable housing.
As there is no contract on the land yet, the locations were not identified, and there is no development timeline.
Construction is now underway for a similar project, Pathway at Heritage Park.
Housing would also be added for developmental supports and mental health clients, if it gets final approval.
The $3.1 million asked would support projects currently underway to build on three empty lots on Floyd Street near downtown Overland Park — at 7824, 7828 and 7830 along Floyd, through Friends of Johnson County Developmental Supports. That same chunk of money will also go toward renovating the unused Med-Act facility at 8500 Grandview Lane in Overland Park into housing units.
The Salvation Army Family Lodge proposal is to build four new units of transitional housing, plus services, for families experiencing homelessness.
‘An incredible opportunity’
Several commissioners stressed the need to do something impactful to address housing with the last of the COVID money.
“We have before us an incredible opportunity to make a significant, permanent difference in our county in regard to housing,” said Commissioner Janeé Hanzlick. “I don’t want to see us fritter this away on nickel and dime-ing different projects,” that will not have a significant impact, she said.
Commissioner Michael Ashcraft said he’d prefer the commission take more time to allow the county housing authority to come up with a long-range approach that would have the most significant effect.
“I’d like to see a thoughtful long-term solution,” Ashcraft said. However other commissioners pointed out the difficulty of the approaching deadlines and his motion to that effect was voted down.
O’Hara sought and received assurance that the agencies could screen for U.S. citizenship and that the money would be spent in Johnson County. But she also objected to the fast-tracking of the projects, pointing out that there is no timeline for the Habitat projects.
“The problem with making these rush decisions is that we’re going to be rushing into something just like we did with the homeless shelter,” she said. “When you rush into things you’re going to make a mistake.
“We have not taken time to really study these. We haven’t had the opportunity,” she continued.
What’s next
The recommendations will be developed further by staff and must be voted on no later than Dec. 12 to make the federal deadlines.
Keep reading: JoCo lacks ‘missing middle’ housing. This Olathe development aims to add more.
