Some officials hope less restrictive codes will reduce costs and spur new housing. Others say it will cost residents in the long run.
housing
Posted inHousing
Working homelessness: When ‘getting a job’ isn’t enough in KC
Increasing numbers of sheltered families have jobs while a growing population is caught in the gap between the wages they earn and the cost of housing. It’s a formula for rising homelessness.
Posted inHousing
Boarded buildings, displaced families: KC’s Olive Park Village residents forced out
Olive Park Village residents confront displacement as Kansas City cracks down on federally debarred Millennia Housing Management over deteriorating conditions.
Posted inHousing
For Latinos, the American Dream hinges on getting a mortgage
Latinos are expected to be 70% of net new homeowners in the U.S. by 2040. Local programs are designed to help increase Latino homeownership.
Posted inKansas State Government
Calls for state aid grow as homelessness worsens across Kansas
Takeaways: Homelessness is rising across Kansas. It’s booming in Lawrence, where it increased 51% from 2020 to 2023. Misty Bosch-Hastings, director of the Homeless Solutions Division for Lawrence, said that rise comes partly from people dropping off homeless people at camps in the city. Nearby hospitals, correctional facilities or mental health centers will pull up […]
Posted inHousing, How To, Wichita Journalism Collaborative
What to know if you’re thinking about buying a house in Wichita
Buying a house can be a daunting process at any time, with it being the largest purchase most people make. It may be especially so right now because of rising housing costs and interest rates, plus the limited market of houses available. This story was developed for an email course, part of the Wichita Journalism Collaborative’s […]
Posted inHousing
A new email course helps first-time homebuyers thrive in Wichita’s tight housing market
March tends to mark an uptick in homebuying activity in the Wichita area, with sales typically peaking in May, June, July and August. With housing in shorter supply, buying a home in the Wichita area looks different these days than it did even just five years ago. Listings are down, and there are fewer sales. […]
Posted inHousing, Wichita Journalism Collaborative
A young Wichita couple become first-time homebuyers — by acting fast
Carla Mendez and Jacob Salas spent just three days shopping for their first home. It was either that, or miss out on the place the young couple fell in love with. The open dining room and living room connect to the kitchen that comes with new appliances. And it sports a patio off the living […]
Posted inHousing, Local Government
Wichita counted 42 homeless deaths last year, but the count is suspect
At least 42 homeless people died in Wichita in 2023. But the actual number could be bigger. Neither Sedgwick County nor Wichita keeps records of people who die without stable housing. “We simply don’t have metrics,” said Shelly Steadman, the director of the regional forensic center in Sedgwick County. Without reliable data, it is harder […]
Posted inHealth, Local Government, State Government
The outlook for 10 things Kansas City wants from the Missouri legislature in 2024
Kansas City’s Statehouse lobbying team holds big ambitions, and likely even bigger obstacles, for the Missouri legislative session that starts next month.
Here’s a list of some of Kansas City’s priorities this year, ranked by likelihood.