At Tuesday's Wichita City Council workshop, council members discussed affordable housing, homelessness and the community's efforts on those issues.
The city receives nearly $5 million in funding from the Department of Housing and Urban Development, or HUD. As a part of the application process, the city must develop a comprehensive annual and 5-year plan on how those funds will meet strategic needs and goals.
Eryca Fambro, a consultant for the city, discussed the key takeaways from their research, which indicates housing affordability and availability are major concerns among Wichitans. Another major community need and priority is making resources available for the homeless and those at risk of becoming homeless.
A virtual public meeting will be held on November 1 and a survey will be available through November 15. City leaders will develop key priorities for the plan and prepare a "request for proposals" this winter. A draft plan will be completed by April and presented before the public for review and comments. The plan must be submitted to HUD no later than May 15.