Last month, I shared my thoughts about the proposed Wyandotte County healthcare sales tax that will be on the November 3 ballot. With Election Day just a week away, I want to take a closer look at what this funding could mean for our community.
For years, there have been gaps in available services that leave some of our neighbors without the support they need. The Wyandotte County healthcare sales tax could help us begin to close those gaps.
One of our greatest needs is a year-round homeless shelter and service hub. Wyandotte County currently has no such facility. Imagine a place where someone experiencing homelessness could find safe shelter while also getting connected to physical health care, mental health services and substance use treatment. Navigating all of these systems can be overwhelming. Bringing them together under one roof could be a game changer for someone who is ready to get help.
We also need more transitional housing programs for people leaving state psychiatric hospitals or nursing facilities for mental health. Without a stable place to go, these individuals face a greater risk of homelessness.
At Wyandot Behavioral Health Network, we’ve seen the difference transitional housing can make. Our four-bed Lester Paul’s Place program has served 24 individuals over the past two years. But four beds aren’t enough. Our community really needs closer to 20 to 24 beds across several programs to help people build stability as they move toward independent living.
The Wyandotte County healthcare sales tax could also help expand crisis stabilization services by supporting RSI’s transition to a Crisis Intervention Center, giving people more options for care during a mental health crisis. It could also help make an inpatient substance use treatment facility a reality in Wyandotte County.
These are not small needs, and none of these projects would happen overnight. They would require careful planning, strong partnerships and ongoing support.
But after more than 30 years working in mental health, I know how much the right support at the right time can change someone’s life.
As our community considers the Wyandotte County healthcare sales tax, I hope we keep these needs and the people behind them at the center of the conversation.
