Call To Action – July 25th at 9am – $10 Million money-pit-scheme for Homeless Shelter at 95th & I-35
Do YOU support YOUR Johnson County Board of County Commissioners’ $10 million money pit scheme for a homeless shelter in the LaQuinta Inn at I-35 and 95th St?
This scheme is ill conceived, ill advised and has zero ongoing funding sources……except, naturally YOUR tax dollars.
This area, according to law enforcement data, is the hotspot for drug and human trafficking in Johnson County. Wow, talk about pouring gasoline on a fire.
The list of issues is long:
1. Rushed process: application for the special use permit is being submitted July 22nd, prior to BOCC approval of reStart, to whom this $10 million investment will be deeded.
2. Staff chose reStart: the BOCC abdicated their responsibility by allowing staff to choose only one organization, reStart, for Board consideration.
3. Clients from anywhere: according to staff the BOCC cannot require JoCo residency or even U.S. citizenship cannot be required or other U.S. legal status.
4. Criteria not followed: BOCC originally required that the organization chosen MUST BE able to fund operational expenses. This has been thrown out the window as reStart has submitted an annual operating budget with a $500,000 deficit.
5. Drop offs from law enforcement not in plan: reStart stated in the July 17th BOCC Committee of the Whole meeting, that “perhaps” they could have 2 overnight beds for drop offs. This is a non-congregant facility for 50 adults and 42 transitional one room efficiency apartments with kitchenettes. Clients are to be selected through the Coordinated Entry System…..CES, which spells TROUBLE.
6. No agenda review: That’s right this highly impactful project is going through the process like a greased pig.
YOUR voice must be heard, this is a disaster in terms of planning, community involvement, financial planning (none) and in terms of actually addressing the homeless issue in Johnson County.
DEI, the lens through which all health and safety issues must be viewed (according to BOCC policy) appears to be front and center in the selection of reStart.
According to City Union Mission staff, they weren’t notified of the RFP (Request for Proposal)……Faith based need not apply seems to be the mantra.
Please attend the BOCC meeting July 25th, this Thursday morning, 9:30 a.m. Admin Building 111 Cherry Olathe. Arrive by 9:15 to register for the agenda item.
From the Committee of the Whole on July 17th to the action agenda on the 25th….
no agenda review. Why ARE THEY RUSHING this through?????? It’s obvious, the community, when told, does not support a homeless shelter in the La Quinta Inn and Old Denny’s at I-35 and 95th St.
Charlotte O’Hara
District 3 Commissioner
