Mental health is a growing concern both in our community and in our jails. Now, Shawnee County is working to become a model for treatment and rehabilitation. With a growing number of people living with mental illness in our community and our jails, it is becoming increasingly difficult to properly house many people. On average 35 percent of inmates in Shawnee County are considered severely mentally ill. Jail officials say it’s partially due to an increase in mental health conditions in the community, new and more severe illicit drugs on the market and a higher population in general. Now, the county is looking into building a new mental health unit within the Shawnee County Detention Center. In 2022, the county put aside $10,000,000 for this project with a goal of making inmates not feel like they’re incarcerated.
Source: KSNT 27 News

Topeka City leaders are weighing a new proposal to transform many of the city’s vacant and blighted properties into livable housing. District 8 Councilman Spencer Duncan introduced a plan to implement a land bank program to rehabilitate residential properties. A land bank’s sole purpose would be to acquire and repurpose foreclosed, vacant and abandoned properties – and turn them into affordable housing. A recent city housing study found Topeka needs to add more than 400 units in the next five years to meet the current housing demand.
Source: KSNT 27 News