Public commenters urge more action on homelessness; commissioners note regional housing partnership launch

At the Oct. 2 Johnson County Board of County Commissioners meeting, several members of the public urged the board to increase action to help people experiencing homelessness and housing instability.

Brian Perkins, who identified himself as homeless, told commissioners “we're asking for help” and urged community leaders to come together to develop solutions. Pam Randolph described losing her phone and difficulty accessing resources; Jeff Harkness urged broader national policy changes and cleanup of polluted sites but connected them to workforce and community stability concerns.

Why it matters: Public commenters framed homelessness as a local crisis requiring coordinated leadership, practical support and compassion. Commissioners responded in later remarks by calling attention to existing and new regional efforts to address housing.

Board remarks and community initiatives: Commissioner Breuer highlighted the launch of a regional housing partnership and said the effort would focus on changing the narrative and collaborative storytelling about safe, stable, attainable housing. Breuer also noted upcoming open houses for a zoning regulation update in unincorporated areas. Commissioners did not take immediate policy action in response to the public comments during the Oct. 2 meeting.

What was not decided: The board did not vote on new homelessness programs or reallocate funds at the meeting. Commissioners described ongoing coordination with community partners and noted that staff and external organizations are continuing work on housing issues.