Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Homelessness Services topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Residents experiencing homelessness urge Johnson County to expand shelter services and case management
Summary
Multiple speakers during the June 12 public-comment period described personal experiences with homelessness, praised Project 10:20, and urged the county to support shelters and integrated services including showers, meals and case management while longer-term affordable housing solutions are developed.
During the June 12 public-comment period, several community members experiencing homelessness told the Johnson County Board of County Commissioners that they need more immediate shelter and wraparound services while longer-term housing solutions are developed.
Donald Stout of Overland Park, who said he had become homeless after working as a teacher, described being turned away from a business awning while seeking shelter from rain and thanked local service providers for food and lodging he has received. “If I had a lot of money, I would open a day shelter that would give the homeless a chance of having a shower and a good meal,” Stout said.
La’Ron Crowley Dydell of Atlantic, who said he has been homeless four times, credited Project 10:20 with helping him survive and called for more assistance to help people escape what he described as a “loophole” of repeated homelessness.
Pamela Randolph and Brian Perkins, both of whom identified themselves as experiencing homelessness, described heat-related hardship and urged the county to ensure interim services while low-income housing and development work continues. Perkins asked the county to consider programs that pair housing with case management for medical, mental-health and employment services.
Commissioners did not take action on the comments during the meeting. Several members acknowledged the speakers and later highlighted county efforts—such as multiservice centers and Project 10:20—while noting ongoing budget and service-planning work.
Speakers asked for collaboration between the county and community providers to expand short-term sheltering capacity, provide hygiene facilities and increase case-management services that link people to medical, mental-health and employment resources.
