Topeka partners preview 'Compassion Impact Center' and low‑barrier shelter pilot to coordinate services for chronically homeless

A coalition of nonprofits and local governments previewed a coordinated plan to expand services for people experiencing chronic homelessness and announced a same‑day press event to open a Compassion Impact Center at the Topeka Rescue Mission Children’s Palace.

Barry Feer, a lead organizer with the All Hands on Deck campaign, told Shawnee County commissioners on March 2 that the community has moved from knowing about homelessness to developing a coordinated plan that "does whatever it takes" to reduce chronic unsheltered homelessness. Feer said the project prioritizes a one‑stop resource center to centralize IDs, case management, medical and mental‑health connections and job supports.

Brett Martin of the United Way said local analysis shows high costs tied to unsheltered chronic homelessness: "we're talking about a cost of $36,000 per individual annually to a community," he said, and warned that an aging unsheltered population could raise costs substantially. Martin said the community currently spends an estimated nearly $40 million annually on homelessness‑related responses and that the coalition aims to reverse that trajectory by coordinating services and reducing recidivism.

Carrie Higgins, director of Topeka’s Housing Services Division, summarized a 2023 consultant review that recommended four core pieces: a one‑stop resource center, a low‑barrier shelter, permanent tiny homes and multisector collaboration. She said the community is pursuing the Built for Zero framework and expects to meet data and policy benchmarks required for a quality designation soon.

Topeka Rescue Mission CEO Lamanda Cunningham described the Rescue Mission’s long history of service and its role hosting the Compassion Impact Center. Organizers said the Children's Palace (about 18,000 square feet) will host a phased, early‑April soft launch of indoor services and that mobile units will demonstrate services on site. Presenters said the coalition (MAP/Impact Avenues/Topeka Rescue Mission and more than 60 partner agencies) piloted indoor one‑stop services last year and that MAP has served 2,263 unique individuals since launch.

The coalition outlined a "safe rest" low‑barrier shelter model intended to bridge gaps between street services and longer‑term housing or treatment. Presenters emphasized that "low barrier" is not no barrier: shelters will still have rules and time limits, and will not permit distribution of drugs on site; the shelters are intended to be pet‑friendly and to include wraparound supports to improve long‑term housing stability.

Speakers acknowledged operational gaps, including limited access to psychiatric beds and timely placements; they described instances where individuals ready for treatment waited hours or days for admission. Jenny Faulk, director of MAP operations, said MAP works with corrections staff on re‑entry planning, but presenters said gaps remain for people leaving jail without housing plans.

Organizers asked for commissioner support for several priorities: hosting costs for the facility (Topeka Rescue Mission will host without charging program operators rent), funding for the program operator (Compassion Strategies/MAP), facility modifications (additional showers and space reconfiguration), and continued partner funding. Presenters scheduled a public announcement at 1:30 p.m. the same day and said the first full day of on‑site services was planned for early April with a phased transition through the year.

Next steps: organizers will seek financial and policy support from county and city partners, refine operational plans for the safe‑rest shelter, and continue coordinating partner agencies to staff the one‑stop center and outreach teams.