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HUD’s FY 2018 Continuum of Care on Homelessness’ Competition released June 20, due September 18, 2018 Each year, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) releases a competitive funding opportunity to Continuums of Care nationally working to end homelessness.  UCS acts as Johnson County’s CoC lead agency (KS-505) and submits the application annually on behalf of local members.  In FY 2017, $704,000 was awarded to members of KS-505’s CoC to support 10 programs in Johnson County offering permanent supportive housing, rapid re-housing, and transitional housing in addition to data management services and planning support. KS-505’s CoC application is ...

Register now for the June 13th Human Service Summit - Investing in Healthy Communities - Deadline June 8th Join UCS for the 2018 Human Service Summit: Investing in Healthy Communities , and be a part of the community conversation about what impacts our health and well-being. This is a unique opportunity to come together with representatives from various community sectors who care deeply about Johnson County. Our community's economic vitality and sustainability are only as healthy as those who live and work in it. When: 8:30 a.m. - NOON Wednesday, June 13, 2018 Where: Johnson County Arts & Heritage Center 8788 Metcalf Overland ...

HOUSING AFFORDABILITY IN JOHNSON COUNTY Safe, stable, and affordable housing is the foundation on which families build healthy and sustainable futures. Housing also represents one of the largest expenses in a household budget, and where one lives can impact access to schools, jobs, and community resources. Housing influences both individual and community health and well-being in significant ways. Substandard housing conditions such as water leaks, poor ventilation, dirty carpets and pest infestation can lead to mold, mites and other allergens associated with poor health. Rapidly increasing property values can displace low- and fixed-income home owners unable to keep up with ...

UCS Releases 2018 Johnson County Point-In-Time Count Data on Homelessness Today, UCS released its annual factsheet on homelessness. One hundred and sixty-eight persons were identified in Johnson County's 2018 point-in-time (PIT) count of homelessness - a sharp increase after years of decreasing overall numbers. The increased number of unsheltered individuals powered much of the almost 30% one-year rise - although all categories of housing increased somewhat. Understanding who is experiencing homelessness and their barriers to regaining permanent housing is critical in Johnson County's work to end homelessness in 2018 and beyond. 2018 PIT results reverse the recent trend of decreasing ...

REGISTER NOW FOR THE JUNE 13 HUMAN SERVICE SUMMIT Join UCS for the 2018 Human Service Summit, and be a part of the community conversation about what impacts our health and well-being. This is a unique opportunity to come together with representatives from various community sectors who care deeply about Johnson County. Our community's economic vitality and sustainability is only as healthy as those who live and work in it. When 8:30 a.m. - NOON Wednesday, June 13, 2018 Where Johnson County Arts & Heritage Center 8788 Metcalf Overland Park, KS 66212 The morning kicks off with Dr. Marci Nielsen as the keynote ...

SAVE THE DATE! -- UCS Human Service Summit Mark your calendars now for Wednesday, June 13, 8:30 - Noon at the Johnson County Arts & Heritage Center. The 2018 UCS Human Service Summit will focus on health equity in Johnson County. This community conversation will explore how social, economic, and environmental factors impact the health and well-being of Johnson County residents, and will include a discussion about the role all sectors can play to improve health outcomes and build a healthy community. Cost of Living Jumps for Johnson County and Metro Area Residents, 2014-2017 Earlier this month we saw numerous ...

Participate in a Community Listening Session What determines how well and how long you live? Would it surprise you to know that, even in Johnson County, where you live matters? If you are a Johnson County resident, join us on March 21 at 1:30pm for an hour-long conversation about how you experience health and quality of life. The event is a part of the planning process for the Johnson County Health Equity Network - a UCS' facilitated initiative to address health disparities in Johnson County. Creating health equity ensures that everyone who lives in Johnson County has a fair opportunity ...

Participate in a Community Listening Session What determines how well and how long you live? Would it surprise you to know that, even in Johnson County, where you live matters? If you are a Johnson County resident, join us on March 21 at 1:30pm for an hour-long conversation about how you experience health and quality of life. The event is a part of the planning process for the Johnson County Health Equity Network - a UCS' facilitated initiative to address health disparities in Johnson County. Creating health equity ensures that everyone who lives in Johnson County has a fair opportunity ...

Health Insurance Coverage in Johnson County Access to health insurance has been an important policy topic for many years. Since the passage of the Affordable Care Act in 2013, the proportion of residents throughout the country, state of Kansas, and Johnson County who have insurance has steadily increased. According to the most recent data from the U.S. Census Bureau, almost 95% of Johnson County residents have health insurance. However, that leaves more than 31,000 people in our community without the critical coverage that they need to see a doctor when they get sick, pay for prescription medications, and receive the ...

Celebrating and Learning from Black History Month Julie Brewer, UCS Executive Director Today marks the beginning of Black History Month and this year's theme is African Americans in Times of War, which commemorates the centennial of the end of the First World War in 1918 and looks at the role of African Americans in every war. A decade ago, I had the chance to have lunch with Civil Rights Movement icon and Presidential Medal of Freedom recipient, Representative John Lewis of Georgia.  I asked him about the march from Selma to Montgomery he helped lead and the attack on the Edmund Pettus ...