Homeless Services Center

The Board of County Commissioners' adopted priorities for 2023-2024 included housing needs identified in the Johnson County Housing Continuum, including planning for those experiencing homelessness.  As a result of this priority, the Board began a process of developing a homeless services center in Johnson County.

The homeless services center intended to provide short-term shelter, plus services and support to help unhoused men and women work towards securing stable permanent housing. The county had selected an owner and operator for the center, but the Lenexa City Council denied a special use permit for the development. This resulted in termination of the real estate agreement for the project and reallocation of the project’s federal funding for other efforts.

Project Recap

Johnson County enters real estate contract for homeless services center

On Dec. 14, 2023 the Board entered a real estate purchase contract for a property to serve as a homeless service center in Johnson County. The Board approved a total purchase of price of $6 million for the La Quinta property at 95th and I-35 in Lenexa, plus $500,000 for due diligence activities.

restart, Inc. recommended as center’s owner and operator

On May 1, 2024, a review committee convened by United Community Services of Johnson County unanimously recommended the proposal submitted by reStart, Inc. to serve as the center’s owner and operator. The county thoroughly vetted the property to identify and scope any potential issues and mitigate risk.

Special use permit denied, real estate purchase terminated

In Sept. 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 the Board 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.

Board Chairman Mike Kelly issued this statement following Lenexa’s denial of the Special Use Permit:

Statement from Board Chairman Mike Kelly

I have been heartened by the robust community conversation being had about homelessness in Johnson County, and the consensus that now is the time to address what is currently a manageable level of homelessness. Thank you to every person who has participated in this important conversation.  More importantly, thanks to those who will continue working toward solutions. 

 

I am deeply disappointed in the Lenexa City Council’s denial of reStart’s SUP application which prevents what I and many others feel is the right solution, at the right place and at the right time. Despite this setback, the work must continue. 

 

The need to fill gaps in services for our unhoused community members still exists. We still have residents who need a solution to get them off the streets. Our unhoused population needs programs to help them find permanent housing, employment, mental health services, and assistance with rent and utilities.

 

Thank you to reStart for all of the hard work towards the vision of a homeless services center. I want to thank my colleagues on the Board of County Commissioners for their leadership and navigation through some tough policy decisions and the staff of Johnson County Government who have been working tirelessly on this issue for many months.

 

We look forward to continued collaboration with our partners as we continue to address the housing crisis in our community, from sheltering unhoused individuals to expanding permanent, affordable housing.  Again, I welcome all partners — cities, private entities, faith based organizations, and others — to join us.  While I appreciate that conversations are crucial, they must be met with courage and the willingness to take tangible actions in the near future.

The Board directed staff to develop new options for the $6.3 million in federal COVID funding originally allocated for the homeless services center, with an emphasis on housing programs and services.

$6.3 million reallocated to projects in the community

The Board approved allocations of the $6.3 million in federal COVID funding to fund affordable housing and homelessness projects in the community on Nov. 21, 2024. Those funds were required to be reallocated by Dec. 31, 2024.

Project Newsroom

News Releases

Media Stories