Featured Program Segment
Department staff achieve the "housing" portion of the mission through managing 578 units of Public Housing, administering over 2,500 Section 8 Housing Choice Vouchers, providing funds for home repair for low income homeowners, and providing down payment and closing cost assistance for first-time homebuyers. Several special populations are served in the department's housing services, including prisoners returning to Wichita from Kansas prisons (Prisoner Reentry), homeless veterans and the chronically homeless population (Housing First). For the next several months, the Department will feature a different housing program that illustrates our vision "to help people make Wichita home - where the heart is!" Homeless Programs--Housing First Program In the spring of 2008, the Task Force on Ending Chronic Homelessness (TECH) presented a report to the Sedgwick County Commission and the Wichita City Council, with five specific recommendations. The Housing and Community Services Department is operating one of the recommendations, "Housing First". The Housing First program is designed to place 64 chronically homeless persons in permanent housing while case managers offer community resources to help them become stable. Housing First will pay the full amount of rent or a portion if/when the participant has income and can contribute to the rent amount. Housing First will also pay utility costs, as needed and other costs associated with housing--application fees, deposits, and moving expenses. Household goods are also made available as a result of donations from local companies. The program is funded in the 2009 and 2010 City and County budgets.
Department staff achieve the "housing" portion of the mission through managing 578 units of Public Housing, administering over 2,500 Section 8 Housing Choice Vouchers, providing funds for home repair for low income homeowners, and providing down payment and closing cost assistance for first-time homebuyers. Several special populations are served in the department's housing services, including prisoners returning to Wichita from Kansas prisons (Prisoner Reentry), homeless veterans and the chronically homeless population (Housing First).
For the next several months, the Department will feature a different housing program that illustrates our vision "to help people make Wichita home - where the heart is!"
Homeless Programs--Housing First Program
In the spring of 2008, the Task Force on Ending Chronic Homelessness (TECH) presented a report to the Sedgwick County Commission and the Wichita City Council, with five specific recommendations. The Housing and Community Services Department is operating one of the recommendations, "Housing First". The Housing First program is designed to place 64 chronically homeless persons in permanent housing while case managers offer community resources to help them become stable. Housing First will pay the full amount of rent or a portion if/when the participant has income and can contribute to the rent amount. Housing First will also pay utility costs, as needed and other costs associated with housing--application fees, deposits, and moving expenses. Household goods are also made available as a result of donations from local companies. The program is funded in the 2009 and 2010 City and County budgets.
Housing & Community Services 332 N. RiverviewWichita, Kansas 67203
Hours:8 AM-5 PMMonday-Friday
: (316) 462-3700 : (316) 462-3719 : Housing & Community Services
Mary K. Vaughn Director of Housing & Community Services
Brad Snapp Assistant Director