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May 31, 2021

“In June of 2020, while Community Action was still operating the pop-up Community Care Station in response to COVID, we met ‘Sally’ and her two children when they used the drive-up windows. They were escaping a domestic violence situation and looking for a means to pay their first few months of rent. While they were at the Care Station, we started an application for rent assistance and also provided her and the children with several days of free food from our emergency food pantry.

Sally’s household was eligible for two months’ rent assistance through United Way funding our agency had leveraged. Staff involved in the transaction were paid for through a combination of CSBG and local government grants. Sally sent her Community Action Partner (our staff member) this email: ‘Thank you so much for your help. This has helped me and my children stay safe and stable. Keeping us going without falling back into our abused past we overcame. Thank you Wendy!’

Nine months later, Sally’s Community Action Partner followed up with to see how the family was doing. We were shocked to learn that in February, 2021, the children and children’s father were in a car accident, and, unfortunately, the children’s father passed away from his injuries. Sally’s children survived with broken arms. The children are going to trauma counseling as well as physical therapy for their injuries. Sally said she’d found herself constantly in and out of doctor offices and therapist visits, and her employer recently let her go because she was missing too much work. Our staff member, Wendy, reported that Sally was really pleased Community Action reached out to her. Sally exclaimed, ‘How did you know I needed you guys again?!’ Sally said she was too shy to call Community Action since she had already received assistance at the Care Station. Our Community Action Partner told her, ‘Not to worry! That’s why we are here and never feel bad about asking for help when it’s needed.’

Sally begins a new job with the Kansas Department of Labor this week. Meanwhile, Community Services Block Grant funds helped Sally avoid utility shut-offs by getting her up to date with her Kansas Gas Services and Evergy electricity bills.”

April 26, 2021

Eight nonprofit community organizations across the state received a combined $133,968 to help low-income Kansans achieve stability and access economic opportunities. The awards, provided through federal Community Services Block Grant (CSBG) discretionary funding, will support initiatives ranging from contactless grocery delivery in a food desert in Leavenworth County, to professional development services for survivors of domestic violence in Sedgwick County, to housing and employment resources for rural youth aging out of foster care.

“The CSBG program aims to reduce poverty, revitalize low-income communities, and empower low-income families and individuals to become fully self-sufficient,” said Marilyn Stanley, KHRC’s CSBG Program Manager. “We’re so pleased to work with our community partners to provide these vital resources to Kansans in need.”

Funded by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), the CSBG program supports local service partners that provide resources and assistance to low-income community members. Kansas Housing Resources Corporation (KHRC) serves as the state’s CSBG program administrator. CSBG grant awards fund a range of community services, including job training, financial management education, childcare services, housing and food assistance programs, and more.

Service partners apply for annual and discretionary funding through competitive application processes. Complete award details are available online.

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Kansas Housing Resources Corporation (KHRC) is a self-supporting, nonprofit, public corporation committed to helping Kansans access the safe, affordable housing they need and the dignity they deserve. KHRC serves as the state’s housing finance agency (HFA), administering essential housing and community programs to serve Kansans.

April 21, 2021

The recently passed $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan includes $5 billion allocated through the Home Investment Partnerships Program (HOME) formula to help communities create housing and services for people who are experiencing or at risk of homelessness. Eligible activities will include rental assistance, supportive services, development of affordable housing, and acquisition or development of non-congregate shelter units.

The State of Kansas expects to receive almost $40 million to spend on eligible activities statewide. KHRC will receive over $22 million to allocate across the state, and Lawrence, Wichita, Topeka, Kansas City, and Johnson County will receive lesser amounts to use in those jurisdictions.

Funds must be expended by September 2030. HUD is currently in the rulemaking process, and we anticipate that it will be several months before we have details and guidance on how the funds can be used.

KHRC hopes to be able to provide more information and guidance later this year.

See HUD Secretary Marcia Fudge’s funding announcement to learn more.

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April 15, 2021

State officials are seeking feedback from Kansans to help guide future housing development efforts. The initiative, part of the state’s first comprehensive housing needs assessment in nearly 30 years, aims to review current housing opportunities, identify strategic goals, and develop recommendations to guide future housing development.

“We’ve long known that the state’s shortage of comprehensive housing data limits our ability to provide affordable homes for Kansans,” said Ryan Vincent, Executive Director of Kansas Housing Resources Corporation. “The feedback gathered through this study will be a crucial first step in identifying current needs and resources so we can ensure that every Kansas community has the housing needed to grow and thrive.”

The study’s current discovery phase includes a series of public listening sessions and a statewide survey to gauge community and stakeholder input. Consultants will use feedback gathered throughout the discovery process to assess opportunities and set strategic housing goals. The project’s final phase involves developing a statewide housing plan and recommendations, with delivery anticipated by December 2021.

Community members are encouraged to share their input three ways:

Complete the Kansas Statewide Housing Needs Assessment online survey, available in English and Spanish.
Participate in their region’s public listening session. Sessions will be held in person and virtually.
- April 21: South Central – Newton
- April 27: Johnson and Wyandotte Counties
- April 28: Southeast – Iola
- April 29: North Central – Salina
- May 4: Southwest – Dodge City
- May 13: Sedgwick County
- May 18: Northeast – Manhattan
- May 19: Shawnee and Douglas Counties
- May 27: Northwest – Colby
Visit the Kansas Statewide Housing Needs Assessment webpage to learn more and spread the word.

Governor Laura Kelly, noting the state’s shortage of quality, affordable housing and need for comprehensive data, announced the study’s launch in December. The state’s Office of Rural Prosperity and Kansas Housing Resources Corporation (KHRC), the state’s housing finance agency, manage the project. RDG Planning & Design, a consulting group with extensive housing experience in Kansas, was chosen to lead the study through a competitive RFP process.

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Governor Laura Kelly and former Lieutenant Governor Lynn Rogers created the Office of Rural Prosperity (ORP), a nonpartisan initiative established in part to ensure that rural Kansas is heard and represented in the statehouse. The ORP aims to streamline rural policy while focusing on the issues that matter to rural Kansans. During the ORP’s 2019 and 2020 statewide listening and action tours, housing was brought up by leaders in every region of the state as a vital component of recruiting and retaining workers, families, and entrepreneurs to help rural Kansas thrive.

April 12, 2021

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) last week announced nearly $700 million in nationwide funding to support affordable housing for extremely low- and very low-income households.

Kansas expects to receive $4,207.374, of which $3,786,636 will be available for rental housing development through the Housing Trust Fund (HTF), a federal initiative designed to provide affordable rental housing to low-income households. This represents an increase of just under $1 million in available HTF funds compared to previous years.

Kansas Housing Resources Corporation (KHRC) allocates HTF money through the annual competitive rental development application process, which also includes Low Income Housing Tax Credits (LIHTC) and HOME funds. Applications for the current round closed in late January, with those proposals currently being evaluated by KHRC staff.

KHRC often does not know the exact amount of funding that will be available prior to the closing of applications. Because the HTF pool is based on annual activity by Fannie Mae and Freddy Mac, it is unknown whether future allocations will also increase, or will be at the $3 million minimum.

This year’s increase will allow greater flexibility in how available resources can be directed to successful rental development proposals. Remaining HTF funds, if any, will be held for future needs subject to the statutory commitment deadlines.

To learn more about the HTF program, visit our website or contact Housing Development Manager Barry McMurphy.

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March 17, 2021

Governor Laura Kelly and Kansas Housing Resources Corporation (KHRC) this week announced the launch of the Kansas Emergency Rental Assistance (KERA) program to provide rent, utility, and internet assistance to individuals and families financially impacted by COVID-19.

“Keeping Kansans in their homes and businesses – and ensuring they have access to the high-speed internet needed for telehealth, telework, and virtual school – has been a top priority for my administration since day one,” Governor Kelly said. “This program will be critical in ensuring Kansans can stay secure in their homes, stay warm, and maintain access to the internet.”

The program offers tenants up to 12 months of assistance with current or past due household rent and past due residential utility and internet bills. Utilities covered may include electric, gas, water, sewer, trash removal, and home energy costs. Renters can apply for assistance with all, some, or any one of the services offered.

Both tenant and landlord must apply online. If the applicant meets the eligibility criteria, KHRC will make payments on the tenant’s behalf directly to the landlord or service provider(s).

Last year KHRC administered the Kansas Eviction Prevention Program (KEPP), a nearly $20 million rental assistance initiative to support Kansans financially impacted by COVID. In the roughly 60 days that the program was in statewide operation, it received applications from more than 10,000 tenants and more than 4000 landlords, ultimately serving 21,642 Kansans.

“Home has always been a place of shelter, but during the pandemic it’s become so much more,” said Ryan Vincent, KHRC’s Executive Director. “The outpouring of interest we saw in the KEPP program demonstrated the tremendous need COVID has created across our state. We’re so pleased to offer not just rent, but also utility and internet assistance so we can keep Kansans safely housed and connected when they need it most.”

The KERA program will initially serve Kansans across the state, except those living within the Wichita city limits. Wichita residents may apply for assistance through the Wichita Emergency Rental Assistance Program (WERAP).

To learn more and apply for KERA assistance, visit the KHRC website.

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