Sept. 19, 2024

On Sept. 17, 2024, the Lenexa City Council voted to deny a Special Use Permit that would have been required for reStart to own and operate the proposed Homeless Services Center. Due to that decision, on Sept. 19, the BOCC voted to terminate the real estate purchase agreement with MAA Krupa Lenexa LLC for the La Quinta property and terminate the assignment agreement with reStart. The BOCC also directed staff to develop new options for $6.3 million in federal COVID funding with an emphasis on housing programs and services. Learn more in this news release.

Sept. 12, 2024

The Johnson County Board of County Commissioners authorized Chairman Mike Kelly to submit a letter on behalf of the county to the Lenexa City Council in support of reStart’s special use permit application for a homeless services center. The letter reiterates the importance of filling this gap in the continuum of housing services, explains the Chair’s disagreement with staff’s recommendation of denial and commits to exploring ways to support the city with additional law enforcement resources, housing options to offset Project 1020 occupancy overflow and other potential community impacts. Read the letter.

Sept. 5, 2024

The BOCC approved an amendment to the real estate contract. It delays the payment of $150,000 hard money to the Seller from September 9 to September 20, at which time it will be known if the Lenexa City Council will approve the Special Use Permit. Read the amendment.

July 25, 2024

On July 25, the BOCC took action on an assignment agreement defining the terms and scope of the transfer of ownership to reStart, Inc. when Johnson County Government closes on the real estate contract for the La Quinta property. Today’s board action also authorized the reallocation and expenditure of $3.7 million from the Countywide Support Funds, which originated from federal COVID-19 funding, to reStart for renovations. Since this project is adhering to federal eligible expenses, 10% will go towards early operating costs and capacity building. More information is available here and in this news release.

July 18, 2024

The BOCC held a Committee of the Whole to discuss a proposed assignment agreement defining the terms and scope of the transfer of ownership to reStart, Inc. when Johnson County Government closes on the real estate contract for the La Quinta property. The BOCC and staff also discussed the final anticipated renovation costs and the impact on the project if HOME-ARP funds are used. Find more information.

June 27, 2024

The BOCC met as a Committee of the Whole for a presentation on Homeless Services Center Operational Support. The BOCC discussed establishment of a City/County Fund that annually provides operational support to reStart, Inc. The BOCC passed a motion for staff to bring back an action item later this year for an allocation of up to $62,000 in support towards reStart’s ongoing operations fund. More information is available in this PowerPoint presentation.

May 16, 2024

The BOCC held a study session to get a longer project update than can be provided in a regular board meeting. The topics included: the final recommendations from UCS, who was contracted to run the request for proposals process to identify an owner/operator for the homeless services center; an introduction to reStart, Inc., the agency unanimously selected by the RFP Evaluation Committee; an update on the County’s due diligence activities on the property; and a financial update. View the study session presentation, RFP recommendation and due diligence overview.

April 18, 2024

The BOCC approved an amendment to the real estate contract to extend the closing date deadline by eight weeks, to on or around Oct. 31, 2024. The BOCC also approved an additional $350,000 to pay the seller’s franchise liquidation fee, which ended up being higher than originally anticipated once the county was able to review the seller’s franchise agreement with the hotel. More information is available in this briefing sheet. 

Feb. 22, 2024

Six new positions will be added to the Johnson County Mental Health Center homeless outreach services team of two. On Feb. 22, the BOCC voted to accept a grant from the Kansas Department of Aging and Disability Services that will help JCMHC meet an increasing need in our community. As you’ll see in this news release, local data shows 56% of individuals contacted during the county’s 2023 point-in-time count reported mental health as a factor in their household. You can also learn more about this service expansion in this briefing sheet.

Dec. 14, 2023

The BOCC voted to enter a real estate purchase agreement with MAA Krupa Lenexa, LLC to purchase two properties: a hotel located at 9461 Lenexa Drive and a closed restaurant at 9471 Lenexa Drive. The BOCC approved a total purchase price of $6 million for the two buildings, plus $500,000 for due diligence activities. The funds come from the federal Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds. The contract includes 270 days of due diligence. Learn more in this briefing sheet. Read the real estate contract.

Johnson County and its partners have been working on the issue of homelessness for several years. Please learn more in the following timeline and links.

• In 2021, the results of the comprehensive Johnson County Community Housing Study were released.
• The Board received a results report at their Committee of the Whole session on April 2021. At that meeting, the Board created the Housing Subcommittee (Commissioners Allenbrand, Fast and Hanzlick) to work with community partners and county staff.
• The Housing Subcommittee made reports to the full board of Sept. 30, 2021, April 28, 2022 and April 6, 2023. (Learn more about their work in our Housing and Homelessness Assistance Guide.) The subcommittee’s recommendations included addressing homelessness, specifically supporting community efforts to create a homeless shelter.
• In July 2023, Johnson County received a report with cover letter from Dignity Project that built on a series of studies to consider action to address homelessness. The county helped fund the report as part of a planning grant to explore the need for and viability of a homeless shelter in the community. The report outlined a 50-bed, non-congregate shelter for adults experiencing temporary or sporadic homelessness, staffed 24/7. It recommended the shelter include services like intensive case management and wrap-around services with a goal to stabilize and re-launch clients into permanent housing after about a 90-day stay.

The county is thoroughly vetting the property to identify and scope any potential issues and mitigate risk. The BOCC set aside funding to conduct these reviews, which fall into three categories: environmental reviews, physical inspections, and property and title review. Several reports in each of these categories are complete and the full text is available. The remaining reports in process should be completed around June 30.