This month’s vote on the proposed quarter-cent Wyandotte County healthcare sales tax brought an important issue to the forefront in Wyandotte County: how do we better support people experiencing homelessness and those struggling with mental health and substance use challenges?
While the Wyandotte County healthcare sales tax did not pass, I was encouraged by the close margin and that nearly 20,000 residents voted in favor of funding these much-needed services. That’s a significant number of people who recognize the need to do more.
So where do we go from here? Because the work cannot stop just because this proposal was rejected.
Homelessness affects people throughout our community, from individuals living in encampments to families with children who rely on support from our local school districts. For those living with serious mental illness or substance use disorders, the path to stable housing can be especially difficult.
Unfortunately, recent funding changes are making that path even harder. At Wyandot Behavioral Health Network, we have begun the difficult process of closing Lester Paul’s Place, a transitional housing program that has supported 24 individuals over the past two years who otherwise would have been discharged from state institutions into homelessness. Losing programs like this only compounds the challenges our community faces.
There is no single solution to homelessness and this issue cannot be solved overnight. Emergency shelter is important, but so is access to behavioral health care, substance use treatment, and supportive housing. We must address immediate needs while also investing in long-term solutions.
Other communities have shown that progress is possible. Bergen County in New Jersey, has achieved what is known as “functional zero” for chronic homelessness. While people may still experience homelessness, systems are in place to support them and help them quickly return to stable housing.
We can work toward that same goal in Wyandotte County.
Wyandot Behavioral Health Network remains committed to working with the Unified Government and other community partners to secure funding for shelter, treatment and housing services.
I recognize that these challenges and the solutions to them are complex and that people have different views about how to address them. But we know solutions exist. The outcome of this Wyandotte County healthcare sales tax vote cannot be the end of the conversation. It must be another step toward building a community where everyone has a path to stability.
