The city of Lenexa has changed its laws to allow for homeless shelters, carving out a path for Johnson County’s winter shelter to continue operating and for an organization to propose a much-needed permanent shelter. Lenexa is the second city this year, following Shawnee in January, to approve regulations for homeless shelters. Most Johnson County cities lack any written rules stating when or where a shelter is permissible, which has led to tense debates, both between advocates and neighbors, and in court. And it has made it more difficult for advocates to build a year-round shelter for single, homeless adults — a desperate need as the county’s homeless population grows. The Lenexa City Council voted unanimously last week to allow for homeless shelters, which was a win for Project 1020. The nonprofit offers the only place for single homeless adults to sleep in Johnson County in the winter.
Source: Joco 913 News
