Homelessness

402 E 2nd, Suite B Wichita, KS 67202
(316) 660-7800

According to the National Law Center on Homelessness and Poverty there are 3.5 million Americans homeless annually including:

In a 2023 national snapshot of homelessness taken one day in January, the Department of Housing and Urban Development counted more than 582,462 people. Locally, the snapshot of homelessness for Wichita/Sedgwick County’s annual point in time reflected more than 702 individuals and families are literally homeless, living on the streets, in homeless shelters or transitional “temporary” housing. Nationally, one-third of homeless individuals have a serious mental illness; locally that percentage is higher.

Center City

What is Center City?

The Center City homeless program is managed by COMCARE and connects individuals who have been diagnosed with a mental illness and who are experiencing homelessness with professionals who can help them manage their recovery. The goal of the program is to help these individuals achieve mental health stability, obtain housing, and become employed so their overall quality of life is improved.

Whom does this program serve?

Center City serves individuals who have a serious mental illness and have lived in places not considered adequate shelter or are receiving help through emergency shelters.

Which services are offered through this program?

Outreach - The Center City Outreach Team goes onto the streets, under bridges, and into shelters to assess mental health needs and connect individuals with mental health needs to appropriate services.

Mental Health Services - Center City staff members provide psychiatric care, individual and group psychotherapy, mental illness/chemical addiction counseling, employment support, peer support and intensive case management.

Permanent Housing - COMCARE works with individuals experiencing homelessness, and severe and persistent mental illness, helping them to access permanent housing and mental health services. Center City operates three permanent housing programs for persons with a severe and persistent mental illness and chronic homeless histories. Center City also provides mental health services while helping consumers access other permanent housing options such as Shelter Plus Care, Section 8 and Housing First.

How are individuals connected to Center City?

Ending Chronic Homelessness

Task Force

A task force to end chronic homelessness was created in 2006 to assess and intervene in the factors that contribute to homelessness in Wichita and Sedgwick County.

Read the task force's plan to end chronic homelessness in Wichita and Sedgwick County.

Send comments or questions to a county staff member assigned through the task force.

SOAR Program

The free Supplemental Security Income/Social Security Disability (SSI/SSDI) Outreach, Access and Recovery (SOAR) program teaches case managers and others who work with homeless adults about the SSI/SSDI application process. The goal is to secure benefits for eligible individuals on the first application.

Read about the SOAR program in Sedgwick County and step-by-step instructions to apply for benefits.

Get more information about the national SOAR program below.

Home | SOAR Works! (samhsa.gov)

Housing First Program

This program provides homeless individuals with apartments first, and then offers mainstream services. This approach allows individuals to experience a stable environment while working on mental health and substance use issues. Based upon their ability to pay, residents will pay up to 30 percent of their income.

Access the Housing First application.

Read a fact sheet about Housing First and the steps to apply.

Oversight Committee

One of the five strategies in the task force's plan was to create an oversight committee, with members being nominated by the city manager (Wichita) and the county manager (Sedgwick County). These members oversaw the programs put in place through the task force. The members were: