National report commends local work on homelessness

WICHITA, Kan., Thursday, Mar 12, 2020 — A national study supported by Arnold Ventures has released a report commending Wichita’s work to reduce chronic homelessness (see HUD definition below). See full report of the nine U.S. localities studied: https://www.arnoldventures.org/stories/research-results-nine-u-s-localities-offer-human-centered-approaches-to-unsheltered-homelessness.

The report cited the fact that Wichita’s chronically homeless population has steadily dropped since 2011–from a high of 140 to 20 in the 2019 Point In Time Count (the 2020 count has not been released yet).

The report stated, “Many of the gains made in reducing homelessness in Wichita come from a well coordinated homeless services system.” That system is Impact ICT CoC, a coalition of community organizations and homeless advocates led by United Way of the Plains.

“While there is no silver bullet answer, jurisdictions across the nation are working to help people make lasting exits out of homelessness,” said Nikki Smith-Kea, criminal justice manager at Arnold Ventures. “Health care providers, law enforcement, providers of homeless services, and local leaders specifically have a critical role to play in any effort to build human-centered solutions to homelessness.”

The report briefs show that these frontline advocates can pursue lasting change by promoting policies and interventions that are driven by data, backed by evidence, centered on people and aimed at effective and sustainable outcomes. The study looked at the following nine U.S. localities: Minnesota, New Orleans, Philadelphia, Portland, Rockford, Santa Barbara, Southwest Minnesota, Syracuse, and Wichita.

NOTE: “Chronically homeless” – According to U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), a person is considered chronically homeless when he/she is: An unaccompanied homeless individual with a disabling condition who has been homeless for 12 months in the last three years—either continuously OR during four or more occasions. A family is considered chronically homeless when at least one adult member of the household is chronically homeless. HUD defines a disabling condition as one that impairs the individual’s ability to get or keep a job or take care of personal matters.

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MEDIA CONTACT: Delane Butler, Vice President of Marketing, United Way of the Plains, (316) 267‑1321, ext. 4105, dbutler@unitedwayplains.org