RESOLUTION NO. 210731

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Directing the City Manager to develop a comprehensive, collaborative local strategic plan for addressing the City’s unhoused housing needs with regards to houseless intervention and prevention and that incorporates the City’s community needs assessment for the houseless population and those at risk for houselessness; and report the strategic plan back to the City Council in 180 days.

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WHEREAS, over the past few decades, housing costs have risen faster than incomes in many U.S. cities, towns, and counties. As a result, an increasing number of households struggle to pay their mortgages and rent, while others face eviction and even homelessness; and

WHEREAS, while local governments alone cannot address these challenges, they are on the front lines of the houseless crisis and play a critical role in addressing it; and

WHEREAS, a local houseless strategy will comprehensively describe the approach Kansas City plans to take to meet its objectives in addressing houselessness and coordinates the actions of local government and non-governmental agencies and divisions that administer policies and programs affecting housing including the Housing and Community Department, City Planning and Development, Finance, the local housing authority, Regional Continua of Care and homeless services agencies; and

WHEREAS, as there is no one houseless strategy that is right for every person or jurisdiction, the City will develop houseless intervention and prevention strategies that are detailed and that include multiple initiatives and programs based on a detailed analysis of local housing needs affecting houselessness and available resources; and

WHEREAS, houselessness is a regional issue affecting communities throughout the Kansas City area, so the City will strive to collaborate with communities within the metropolitan area to establish solutions to confront and address a shared issue; NOW, THEREFORE,

BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF KANSAS CITY:

Section 1.  That the City Manager is hereby directed to develop a comprehensive, collaborative local houseless strategic plan for addressing the City’s unhoused housing needs with regards to houseless intervention and prevention and that will:

(a)                     Incorporate the City’s needs assessment with regard to housing needs for the houseless and illustrate the problems the City is seeking to solve;

(b)                     Define the policy objectives the City hopes to achieve through the strategy, incorporating any findings from the City’s community needs assessment for the houseless population and provider services;

(c)                     Develop a comprehensive approach to meeting these objectives using the full array of resources available to the City and local agencies in the community;

(d)                     Identify funding sources and contingencies;

(e)                     Develop a plan for implementing the recommended approaches;

(f)                     Establish a list of numerical goals and associated milestones that will be used to track and monitor progress and uncover any shortfalls; and

(g)                     Strive to include collaborated efforts with other communities in the greater Kansas City metropolitan area.

Section 2.  That the City Manager is hereby directed to report the strategic plan back to the City Council in 180 days.

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