OLATHE, Kan. (KCTV) – The clock is ticking on the Johnson County Commissioners to choose the destinations for $6.35 million before the Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery (SLFRF) Funds disappear at the end of the year.
There are parameters behind what the money can be used for, and the Commissioners have identified housing as the target for the funds, according to Chairman Mike Kelly.
“We want to expand access to housing at all stages of the housing continuum in Johnson County, catalytic one time investments at various stages of that housing continuum help the overall goal of creating more affordable, attainable and just more housing here in Johnson County,” Kelly said.
The biggest piece of the five project pie is $3.1 million for Friends of JCDS. That money would go towards 20 beds for the Intellectual and Development Disabilities/Mental Health population that the organization helps.
Another large chunk, $2,470,000 is to help Habitat for Humanity of Kansas City acquire land.
“We know Habitat’s got a good track record,” Kelly said. “We want that model to expand in Johnson County, so we wanted to catalyze the next Habitat for Humanity project here in Johnson County.”
Habitat homes come with considerably good terms when it comes to loans for homeowners, plus they require applicants to put in “sweat equity” hours before they qualify to move into the homes.
The other three projects include expanding the Salvation Army’s Family Lodge, research on the homeless community by United Community Services, and support services for Project 1020.
“Project 1020 is the only overnight, cold weather shelter that we have,” Kelly said. “It’s not big enough to cover the full need in Johnson County, but we know it’s what we have right now, and as we think about how we continue to expand capacity for unhoused adults in Johnson County — we also recognize the people who are on the front lines right now, that’s why we want to provide additional resources.”
The next step is for the Johnson County Commission to vote on allocating those funds. Kelly said their final meeting of the year is December 12. Currently, Johnson County staff are looking into the five projects to finalize their recommendation to the commission.
Previously the SLFRF funds were earmarked for a low-barrier homeless shelter in Lenexa at a former La Quinta hotel, but that plan fell through after the Lenexa City Council voted against the idea.
https://www.kctv5.com/2024/10/23/johnson-county-plans-use-over-6-million-help-with-housing-needs
