Item Coversheet

City of Topeka
Council Action Form
 Council Chambers
214 SE 8th Street
Topeka, Kansas 66603
www.topeka.org
May 21, 2024
DATE:May 21, 2024
CONTACT PERSON:Richard U. Nienstedt, Interim City ManagerDOCUMENT #:
SECOND PARTY/SUBJECT:City of Topeka 2023 Homelessness Task Force RecommendationsPROJECT #:
CATEGORY/SUBCATEGORY 006 Communication / 005 Other
CIP PROJECT:No
ACTION OF COUNCIL:JOURNAL #:
PAGE #:
DOCUMENT DESCRIPTION:

 

DISCUSSION on findings and recommendations of the Homeless Initiative Team regarding mitigation of homelessness.

 

VOTING REQUIREMENTS:
Discussion only.
POLICY ISSUE:

Update the Governing Body on efforts of Homeless Initiative Team to mitigating homelessness. 

STAFF RECOMMENDATION:

Staff will provide an update on the City's Homelessness strategies.

BACKGROUND:

In February 2023, the City hired Sylver Consulting, Inc., to facilitate a team of individuals who will develop effective solutions to address homelessness in Topeka in a proactive and thoughtful way.

In August 2023, the Governing Body approved the working group, made up of a core and auxiliary team. The group was comprised of representatives from the City of Topeka, Shawnee County, local residents, a previously unsheltered homeless individual, and the following organizations:

  • Compassion Strategies
  • Habitat for Humanity
  • Shawnee County
  • Shawnee County Department of Corrections
  • Shawnee County Landlords Association
  • Topeka Housing Authority
  • Topeka Rescue Mission Ministries
  • Valeo Behavioral Health Care
  • YWCA Northeast Kansas

 

The group worked to understand and define the homelessness problem and conducted in-depth research with subject matter experts, collecting and reviewing the data, generating and testing possible solutions, and much more. The entire process was expected to last eight months with the expectation the City would be provided with multiple solutions to address homelessness in Topeka, including at least two that have been tested in the community. Multiple community engagement points occurred throughout the process, especially in the research phase.

BUDGETARY IMPACT:
To be determined.
SOURCE OF FUNDING:
Not Applicable
ATTACHMENTS:
Description
Presentation