Several residents who spoke during the public‑comment portion of the Johnson County Board of County Commissioners meeting on Thursday urged expanded services and funding to address homelessness, while one commenter asked the county health department to address recent federal guidance on COVID‑19 vaccination.

Brian Perkins, who identified himself as homeless, said the county should adopt strategies similar to Houston’s Built for Zero and Housing First efforts and urged Johnson County to use partnerships and local resources to reduce unsheltered homelessness. Perkins said Houston reduced homelessness by 62% after implementing Built for Zero and a Housing First approach and argued a county of about 632,000 residents should be able to make similar progress.

Pam Randolph, who said she lives in Overland Park, urged commissioners to act with compassion and said family members are among those experiencing homelessness. Donald Stout, also identifying himself as an Overland Park resident, thanked a local church for providing cooling‑center services and praised Commissioner Hanslick for attending; he also urged the county to provide more funding and cited the work of a consultant named Mandy Sample, saying she had helped other cities address long‑term homelessness.

Separately, Ben Hobert of Westwood Hills addressed the Board and described COVID‑19 vaccine guidance. Hobert said that “the U.S. Health and Human Services Department announced on May 27 that COVID‑19 … vaccines have been removed from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommended immunization schedules for healthy children and pregnant women,” and cited figures from the Kansas Department of Health and Environment’s website he said he viewed on July 13. The Board did not take action on the health‑policy points raised by Hobert; commissioners did not endorse the factual claims and did not direct the health department to issue guidance during the meeting.

No formal Board action was recorded in response to the public comments. Commissioners acknowledged the speakers and thanked them for participating.