Commissioners ask NEK-CAP to return with homelessness data before environmental review vote

Atchison County commissioners opened discussion of a Northeast Kansas Community Action Program (NEK-CAP) environmental review for the 'Housing with Opportunities' tenant-based rapid rehousing project and decided to delay formal approval pending clearer data.

The program, as explained at the meeting, provides rental assistance and supportive services to individuals and families experiencing literal homelessness across four counties: Atchison, Brown, Marshall and Leavenworth. Commissioners noted that the project does not construct or rehabilitate buildings and that it does not impact local water resources, airport runways or overall air quality.

Commissioners and attendees raised concerns that the chart included with the packet used color-coded bars without percentages or explicit counts and therefore did not convey the homelessness rate or demographic breakdown for Atchison County. One attendee asked, “What is the homeless rate percentage in that?” and commissioners suggested NEK-CAP rely on Census data and local housing authority numbers to provide clearer metrics.

The board asked NEK-CAP representatives to return to explain the data and demographics shown in the chart and to make their application materials available for legal and staff review before the commission votes on the environmental review.

What happens next: NEK-CAP will be asked to present demographic details and clarify figures at a future meeting; the commission tabled final action pending that presentation.