Five efforts focused on providing affordable housing or helping those experiencing homelessness will share more than $6.3 million of State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds previously planned to support the proposed Homeless Services Center project. Those funds were required to be reallocated by Dec. 31, 2024.

When the city of Lenexa voted to deny the permit required for that project to proceed, the Board of County Commissioners directed staff to come back with proposals for projects that support those on the Johnson County Housing Continuum. After consideration of potential projects in October, today the BOCC approved the following allocations:

• $2.47 million to Habitat for Humanity of Kansas City to acquire land to build a 50+ home development in Johnson County
• $3.1 million to Friends of Johnson County Developmental Supports to purchase and renovate properties to create affordable multi-family housing units for individuals served by Johnson County Developmental Support or Johnson County Mental Health.
• $467,346 to the Salvation Army for its Family Shelter Expansion.
• $137,654, to Project 1020 to support operations of the county’s only cold-weather emergency shelter for adults.
• $175,000, to United Community Services for the purpose of housing system investments.

“We are proud to invest in trusted partners who are doing important work to meet the needs of Johnson Countians. Our investment today fills critical gaps along the housing continuum and will provide attainable housing to some of the most vulnerable members of our community, but our work is not done,” said Johnson County Board of County Commissioners Chairman Mike Kelly. “We need more housing to ensure that everyone in Johnson County has a safe place to live, work and raise a family. I invite all partners – public, private, parochial, and non-profit – to join us as we continue to address the housing crisis in Johnson County.”

In reaction to the allocation for Friends of JCDS, Chief Executive Officer Janel Bowers shared a quote from a former U.S. Congresswoman to convey her organization’s appreciation.

“The Honorable Patricia Schroeder, Former United States Representative from Colorado, once said, ‘you can’t wring your hands and roll up your sleeves at the same time.’ These funds represent rolling up sleeves and getting to work addressing the lack of attainable housing in our community,” said Bowers. “This allows us to build an intentional community of people who have intellectual and developmental disabilities and other community members in order to have housing they can call home. “

Background on the SLFRF Funds

Johnson County Government received $117,009,332 of SLFRF from the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, which has earned $2.4 million in interest. The funding must be obligated by December 31, 2024, and fully spent by December 31, 2026. Interest earned on these funds is being allocated to SLFRF eligible projects and programs.  

Johnson County’s SLFRF spending plan has aligned with the BOCC’s priority to provide support for those experiencing housing insecurity and struggling to find shelter and affordable housing. Funding allocations have also supported workforce development opportunities for low-income and unemployed individuals, decreasing individuals and families living in poverty and childcare assistance programs to provide individuals a safe place for their children to learn and play while they are at work. The programs focused on supporting segments of our community negatively impacted by COVID-19 and small business owners continuing to experience staffing shortages and revenue loss.

Learn more about Johnson County Government’s multi-year COVID-19 Response and Recovery efforts.