HOUSING & HOMELESSNESS

UNDERSTANDING HOUSING & HOMELESSNESS

to address root causes
Affordable housing and homelessness in Johnson County is a complex and evolving issue, but it is solvable. While UCS is not a direct service provider, we coordinate and support community efforts to understand and address housing insecurity and homelessness —both as lead agency of the Johnson County Continuum of Care on Homelessness and as a co-convener of the Kansas Housing Advocacy Network. UCS also leads the Point-in-Time Count to assess local needs and inform strategic responses.

If you or someone you know is experiencing a housing crisis, call United Way 211 and explore other county resources by clicking below.

COUNTY RESOURCES
EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE GUIDE

CONTINUUM OF CARE ON HOMELESSNESS

UCS is the lead agency for the KS-505 Johnson County Continuum of Care on Homelessness (CoC)—a community collaboration that seeks to improve the community’s response to poverty and homelessness.  The CoC is made up of both private and public organizations and agencies who either serve those who are currently homeless or those who are most at risk.

ABOUT THE CoC

HOUSING FOR ALL TOOLKIT

 

We all have an important role to play in achieving our vision of safe, stable, and attainable housing for all. In 2021, UCS partnered with Johnson County Government and municipalities within the County to facilitate a results-oriented, multi-sector process to identify sustainable housing strategies to ensure vibrant, healthy communities now and into the future. The collaborative process involved:

  • A county-wide housing study
  • Multi-sector Housing for All Task Force
  • Extensive evidence-based research

The Housing for All Toolkit equips local governments, organizations, service providers, developers, and residents to learn, take action and contribute to solutions in their own jurisdictions. The nearly 30 recommendations range from state legislation to local planning and zoning, from funding mechanisms to public-private partnerships and beyond. This Toolkit is a menu of options, and not all recommendations will be appropriate for all. The right combination and application in each community will help shape the future of housing in Johnson County.

VIEW TOOLKIT

JOHNSON COUNTY COMMUNITY HOUSING STUDY

UCS partnered with Johnson County Government and municipalities within the County to conduct a housing market and needs assessment led by RDG Planning & Design. This resulted in the Johnson County Community Housing Study, an in-depth analysis of the current and future needs for affordable, workforce, and other housing options to bridge gaps in housing demand and supply. Each strategy is included in the Housing for All Toolkit and is tied to a wealth of information that forms a picture of Johnson County’s housing market. The coordination of all cities in Johnson County is vital for addressing housing challenges. All cities must be willing to participate to realize the full impact of new regional housing strategies. Strategies cannot be accomplished by cities alone—public and private partnerships are essential to leveraging all possible resources and regional cooperation.

VIEW STUDY
“I’ve always believed if individuals have the opportunity to own real property, that’s the first step. But if real property is not accessible for acquisition, then that becomes just as bad as not making it accessible to them at all. I want Johnson County to be better tomorrow than it is today. That’s my wish.”

BRIAN BROWN, FORMER UCS BOARD MEMBER

EXPLORE HOMELESSNESS IN KANSAS

Learn more about homelessness in Kansas through this interactive story map, created as part of UCS’s role in the Kansas Housing Advocacy Network (KHAN). The map explores five common questions related to homelessness in Kansas. Follow the path to watch informative videos, download PDF resources, and compare misperceptions with reality. Click the button to explore the tool in English or Spanish on the Kansas Statewide Homeless Coalition website and preview the first video in the series below. Please share with others who may not be familiar with the data and solutions for homelessness in Kansas.
EXPLORE STORY MAP
2025

2025 PIT Count

2024
2024 Annual Data
2024 Fall PIT Count
2024 PIT Count
2023

2023 Annual Data
2023 PIT Count

2022
2022 Annual Data
2022 Fall PIT Count
2022 PIT Count
2021

2021 Annual Data
2021 Homelessness in JoCo Fact Sheet

2020
2020 Homelessness in JoCo Fact Sheet

JOHNSON COUNTY DATA

The term “homelessness” conjures up a variety of images and experiences. Even for those who work year-round to assist households to regain and sustain stable housing, the term has multiple meanings. The experience of homelessness results in significant barriers and challenges for adults and children, both now and in the future.  Learn more about homelessness in our community through multiple years of data.
ALL COMMUNITY DATA