Independence leaders call for regional, early-intervention response as homelessness rises

Councilwoman McCandless and officials from local service providers briefed the Independence City Council at a Nov. 10 study session on the growing local challenge of homelessness and steps the city and partners are using to prevent and mitigate it.

Councilwoman McCandless told the council that homelessness in the region is rising and that local housing markets have tightened. She cited an estimated regional shortfall of about 60,000 affordable units and warned that a share of subsidized units will 'drop out' of affordability as federal restrictions expire, noting "we think 20% of those units will drop out the next 5 years." She said barriers to rehousing include lost identification, outstanding warrants, past evictions and behavioral-health and substance-use disorders.

"Nobody gets to homelessness without a bunch of stuff happening to them on the front end," McCandless said, urging early intervention and regional coordination. She described city tools that are in use: ordinances that prohibit camping on public property and require permits for soliciting money, park and police authority to clear illegal encampments, demolition of dangerous buildings used as shelter, and recent zoning changes to allow group living facilities and drop-in centers.

Amber Bauer, senior director of the Continuum…