KSHB 41 reporter Rachel Henderson covers neighborhoods in Wyandotte and Leavenworth counties. Share your story idea with Rachel.
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The mayor and commissioners of the Unified Government of Wyandotte County/Kansas City, Kansas, publicly committed Monday to securing a low-barrier homeless shelter and reversing the unsafe camping ordinance passed in November.
The commitment happened at a meeting that clergy and community organizers in Kansas City, Kansas, held to call on local authorities to address homelessness, affordable housing and rising property taxes.
Churches United for Justice, an ecumenical group founded in 2021, and leaders participating in the Nehemiah Action Assembly, an annual spring event where clergy address community injustices, have led the push for change.
Monday's assembly focused on creating a housing trust fund and building a local shelter.
Hundreds of people attended Monday evening’s event, filling the pews at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church.
Civic leaders included Mayor Christal Watson, County Administrator David Johnston and Commissioners Evelyn Hill, Andrew Davis, Melissa Bynum and Phil Lopez.
The program was split into three topics: property tax relief, advocacy for the unhoused and affordable housing.
The three demands the Churches United for Justice made were property tax relief for the “seniors who built this county,” a permanent shelter for "our unsheltered neighbors" and a fully-funded Affordable Housing Trust Fund.
“These are not three separate problems,” said Pastor Bruce Draper, Monticello United Methodist Church. “These are one problem wearing three faces.”
Officials were asked to answer several questions:
Will you commit to designating a UG staff member to lead Homestead Refund outreach and filing assistance, with the goal of reaching 3,000 approved recipients by the 2027 filing season?
The county administrator said yes and said this service is already available through the clerk's office.
Will you commit to completing a feasibility study for the CARE circuit-breaker proposal by Aug. 31, and bringing it to a Commission vote by Dec. 31, 2026?
The mayor and commissioners present said yes.
During the presentation on homelessness, the presenter shared that Churches United for Justice attended a memorial service in January 2026 for 20 of the known unhoused neighbors in KCK.
She also shared that the number of unhoused people is still growing rapidly.
Will you commit to securing a permanent, low-barrier shelter site by the end of 2026, including a plan for relocation of the Willa Gill Multi-Service Center and St. Mary's Food Kitchen so they can serve our neighbors with dignity?
The mayor and commissioners present said yes, with Commissioner Lopez adding he's going to try but "doesn't want to give false promises."
They all voted yes to the second question on implementing the Built for Zero strategy, including a dedicated homelessness coordinator and a real-time-by-name registry, with a focus on rapid rehousing.
The question that was not unanimous was this: Will you commit to reversing the unsafe camping ordinance?
Mayor Watson and Commissioners Hill, Bynum and Davis said yes.
Commissioner Lopez said no, explaining that and said "there's a lot more to the story."
Bynum and Davis added they both previously voted no.
Ahead of Monday evening's meeting, KSHB 41's Rachel Henderson spoke with Rev. Ronald King, pastor of Mason Memorial Community Church
King said the Churches United for Justice has helped create a housing trust fund to help address homelessness and affordable housing, with a specific focus on seniors.
"There is literally a biblical mandate for God’s people to seek justice in the communities where they live," King said.
King also mentioned the group wanted to reverse the unsafe camping ordinance and gain access to the housing trust fund, which they've worked to secure money for.
In the last round of questioning Monday, commissioners were asked:
Will you commit to an annual allocation of $2 million to the Wyandotte County Affordable Housing Trust Fund, beginning in the next budget cycle, to be deployed under the Community Benefits Ordinance?
The mayor and commissioners present unanimously said yes to this.
King noted that last year’s assembly event addressed aging in the community, something they’re still working on.
He also mentioned that KCKPD Chief Karl Oakman has helped decrease violence.
"We have an issue with people sleeping on the street," King said.
King said the consequences of high property taxes and rent put people in a tough position.
"All of a sudden, you have to choose between food, medical, utilities or living, and people can’t do that," King said. “Being poor is not a crime.”
Bryon Williams, lead organizer for Churches United for Justice, said a research action team worked to come up with solutions to the housing crisis.
He said a third of the county is cost-burdened, meaning they spend a third of their income on housing, while others spend over 50%.
According to Zillow, the average rent in KCK is around $1,400 a month.
Williams wants to see that number lowered.
"Property taxes, homelessness and affordable housing just came up over and over and over again," Williams said.
Williams said the trust fund is funded through economic development projects like American Royal kickbacks and Tax Increment Financing.
He said the group wants to see mixed-use housing and development in the Quindaro and Northeast corridors.
"If you fund it, affordable housing happens," Williams said. "I have an uncle who’s been on the street for eight years. I have family members that have to live multiple people in one household just because rent is so high right here in Wyandotte County.”
Churches United for Justice currently involves 10 churches.
King said the goal of Monday's event was to put these issues before community authorities and demand direct action.
"If the people aren’t invited to the table, if the people’s concerns aren’t addressed, if the people have no way to say to those elected that this is what we’re really concerned about, then essentially, we’re ignored as a body of people," King said. "It does no good for us to say yes and then push it over to the side like we never said anything or didn’t deal with it at all.”
Williams said the organizing efforts have given the community a sense of purpose.
"It’s given people a way to activate and to share a voice and to say, ‘Hey, we can do something about this. We don’t have to just talk about it, stay sad and move on with our lives,’" Williams said.
This story was reported on-air by a journalist and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. Our editorial team verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy.
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