Governing Body — Topeka, KS
Date: 2024-10-08

Cyrus K. Holliday Building First Floor
 Conference Room 620 SE Madison Street
 Topeka, KS 66607
 https://www.topeka.org




 Governing Body Agenda
 October 8, 2024
 4:00 PM

 SPECIAL MEETING WORK SESSION

 Mayor: Michael A. Padilla
 Councilmembers
Karen A. Hiller District No. 1 Marcus D.L. Miller District No. 6
Christina Valdivia-Alcala District No. 2 Neil Dobler District No. 7
Sylvia E. Ortiz District No. 3 Spencer Duncan District No. 8
David Banks District No. 4 Michelle Hoferer District No. 9
Brett D. Kell District No. 5
 City Manager: Dr. Robert M. Perez


Addressing the Governing Body: There will be no public comment allowed at the special meeting work session. View
the meeting online at https://www.topeka.org/communications/live-stream/ or at
https://www.facebook.com/cityoftopeka/.

Written public comment may considered to the extent it is personally submitted at the meeting or to the City Clerk's
Office located at 215 SE 7th Street, Room 012B, Topeka, Kansas, 66603 or via email at cclerk@topeka.org on or before
the date of the meeting for attachment to the meeting minutes.

If you need any accommodations for the meeting, please contact the City ADA Coordinator at 785-368-4470. Kansas
Relay Service at 800-766-3777. Please provide a 48 Hour Notice if possible. Assistive listening devices are available for
use in the community forum.
Agendas are available by 5:00 p.m. on Thursday in the City Clerk's Office, 215 SE 7th Street, Room 012B, Topeka,
Kansas, 66603 or on the City's website at https://www.topeka.org.
CALL TO ORDER:
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE:
1. ROLL CALL:
2. NON-ACTION ITEMS:
 A. Discussion - Joint City-County Work Session - Homelessness

 DISCUSSION on Homelessness.

 (This is a Joint City-County Work Session to discuss how the All Hands on Deck Homeless
 Initiative will work hand-in-hand with the Built For Zero Model.)

3. ADJOURNMENT:
 City of Topeka
 Council Action Form
 Council Chambers
 214 SE 8th Street
 Topeka, Kansas 66603
 www.topeka.org
 October 8, 2024


DATE: October 8, 2024
CONTACT PERSON: Dr. Robert M. Perez, DOCUMENT #:
 City Manager
SECOND PARTY/SUBJECT: Homelessness PROJECT #:
CATEGORY/SUBCATEGORY
CIP PROJECT: No
ACTION OF COUNCIL: JOURNAL #:
 PAGE #:

DOCUMENT DESCRIPTION:

DISCUSSION on Homelessness.

(This is a Joint City-County Work Session to discuss how the All Hands on Deck Homeless Initiative will
work hand-in-hand with the Built For Zero Model.)

VOTING REQUIREMENTS:
Discussion Only.
POLICY ISSUE:
Discussion on how the All Hands on Deck Homeless Initiative will work hand-in-hand with the Built For Zero
Model.
STAFF RECOMMENDATION:
Staff is making no recommendation.
BACKGROUND:
Barry Feaker, CEO of Compassion Strategies and CCT Strategies LLC, and Brett Martin, Vice President of
United Way of Kaw Valley Community Impact Program, will present on the All Hands on Deck Homeless
Initiative, which will include discussion on how this initiative will work hand-in-hand with the Built For Zero Model.
BUDGETARY IMPACT:
Not Applicable
SOURCE OF FUNDING:
Not Applicable
ATTACHMENTS:
Description
Special Meeting Notice
Homelssness Presentation
Barry Feaker Handout
 City Clerk Brenda Younger, M.M.C.
 City Hall, 215 SE 7th Street, Room 166 785-368-3940
 Topeka, KS 66603 Email: byounger@topeka.org
 www.topeka.org



 Special Meeting Notice
 Joint City-County Work Session
A special meeting work session of the City of Topeka Governing Body has been called
by City Manager, Dr. Robert M. Perez, on October 8, 2024. This will be joint meeting
with Shawnee County Commissioners to discuss Homelessness. There will be no public
comment allowed at the meeting. Written comments may be submitted via email to
cclerk@topeka.org or delivered in-person to the City Clerk’s Office located at 215 SE
7th Street, Room 012B Topeka, Kansas.
DATE: October 8, 2024


TIME: 4:00 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.


LOCATION: Cyrus K. Holliday Building
 First Floor Conference Room
 620 SE Madison Street
 Topeka KS 66607

TOPIC: Homelessness: Barry Feaker, CEO of Compassion Strategies and
 CCT Strategies LLC, and Brett Martin, Vice President of United
 Way of Kaw Valley Community Impact Program, will present on the
 All Hands on Deck Homeless Initiative, which will include
 discussion on how this initiative will work hand-in-hand with the
 Built For Zero Model.
Contact: Brenda Younger, City Clerk
 785-368-3940 or 785-368-3941
 cclerk@topeka.org
Addressing The Homeless Concerns In Topeka/Shawnee County




 kcurtis@tps501.org>




 1
Question?
Is chronic homelessness solvable in
Topeka/Shawnee County?




 2
DO WE WANT? DO WE BELIEVE? ARE WE WILLING?
Do we want to end chronic Do we believe we can end Are we willing to end chronic
homelessness? chronic homelessness? homelessness?

 3
4
5
6
7
 Chronic Homeless Crisis
 IMPACT

 *Humanitarian Suffering

 *Moral/Ethical/Spiritual
The Cost *Community Conscience

 *Community Health

 *Safety

 *Financial
 FINANCIAL IMPACT
 Avg. Annual Cost
 General Population
 $36k per Individual x 571 =
 $20.5 MILLION
The Cost
 Avg. Annual Cost
 60+ Population
 $175K per Individual x 101 =
 $17.6 MILLION

 TOTAL = $38.1 MILLION
Addressing Homelessness
in Topeka Using the
Path to Innovation Approach
Final Report | May 24, 2024



BY Brianna Sylver




 10
 Two asks of the Governing Body:

1 2

Support for the concepts of the: Official chartering of a multi-sector
• One Stop Homeless Resource Center community coalition, like the All Hands on
 Deck initiative being suggested by
• Low Barrier Shelter
 Compassion Strategies in the community.
• Permanent Tiny Homes




 11
 28
12
NEXT?
WHO?
HOW?




 13
 This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-SA-NC
 All Hands On Deck
  Campaign To End
 Chronic
 Homelessness
Topeka/Shawnee Co.
 2030
 14
 Compassion
 Strategies
 Approach

 • Building a bridge by
 working together,
 through multi-
 focused approaches,
 to bring dignity and
 hope to the
 unsheltered
 homeless.


 15
This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-SA
 Compassion Strategies
 Primary Activities




Mobile Access Partnership AHOD-Campaign To End Chronic
 (MAP) Homelessness

 16
Mobile Access Partnership-MAP Established 5/21
 Est. 1750 unique individuals served




 17
MAP Primary Partners




 18
 Compassion Strategies
 Primary Activities




Mobile Access Partnership AHOD-Campaign To End Chronic
 (MAP) Homelessness

 19
 WHO, HOW, BACKBONE?
Backbone organizations serve as coordinating bodies
that bring together a diversity of stakeholders and
lead a synchronized effort to achieve a common goal.

  COMPASSION STRATEGIES-ALL HANDS ON DECK
 MULTI SECTOR COALITION



 20
United Way of Kaw
 Fiscal agency Grant writing
 Valley

 Working together
Grant management Coalition leadership
 Community-level
 strategy
 to end chronic
 development
 homelessness in
 Strong relationships
 with the three
 Topeka/Shawnee
Meeting facilitation sectors: business, Trust
 government,
 nonprofit County by 2030
 21
22
23
24
 STRATEGY
 To develop a multi-sector (All Hands On Deck)
community coalition strategic framework to proactively
  address and end chronic homelessness in Topeka &
 Shawnee County Kansas by 2030.




 25
 AHOD Multi Sector Coalition System
1.Campaign Chair & Coaching Team
2.Strategic Development Team
3.Sector Team Quarterbacks
4.Sector Team Leadership
5.Community Sectors
6.Community Feedback
 26
 Campaign to End Chronic Homelessness
 Topeka/Shawnee County
 Sector Team Coalition as of 8/19/24

Campaign Chair Coaches


Brett Martin UW Campaign Chair Barry Feaker- Compassion Campaign Strategy/Project
 Strategies Development Consultant

TBD Campaign Vice Chair Carrie Higgins- City of Topeka Sector Team Coach


 Kourtney Barr- TRM Sector Team Coach




 27
 Campaign to End Chronic Homelessness
 Topeka/Shawnee County
 Sector Team Coalition as of 6/20/24

Strategic Development Team

Brett Martin- UW Chris Gnagi- LT. COL Retired 190th Air

Barry Feaker- CS Jennifer Schmidt- KU Law

La Manda Broyles- TRM Misty Bosch-Hastings- City of Lawrence Homeless Solutions

Carrie Higgins- COT Trey George- THA

Chris Palmer- Cornerstone Greg Schwerdt- Schwerdt Design Group

TBD- Behavioral Health Brad Wheeler- 1st UMC

Mary Thomas- CRC SJ Hazim- Community Advocate

Topeka JUMP- TBD Kourtney Barr- TRM

Miriam Krehbiel - TRM Pat Michaelis- Midwest Housing Equity Group 28
 Campaign to End Chronic Homelessness
 Topeka/Shawnee County
 Sector Team Coalition as of 8/19/24
 Coach- Kourtney Barr
 Sector Team Quarterbacks

 First
 Responders/ Lived
Behavioral Education/ Law Health & Human Experienced
Health Corrections Universities Faith Enforcement Veterans Trafficking Neighbors Animal Health
L-QB: L-QB: L-QB: L-QB: L-QB: Sgt. L-QB: L-QB:
 Brian Cole Coach Craig Matt Rose Angie Boles Dr. Allison
 Schurig Crow(SDC)
 (WU
 Football)

A-QB: A-QB: A-QB: A-QB: A-QB:
 Coach Chad Terri Hund
 Parks
 (FCA) 29
 Campaign to End Chronic Homelessness
 Topeka/Shawnee County
 Sector Team Coalition as of 8/19/24
 Coach Carrie Higgins
 Sector Team Quarterbacks

 Housing/ Nonprofit/
Business Investors Government Landlords Judicial Neighborhoods Social Services Seniors
L-QB: L-QB: L-QB: L-QB: L-QB: L-QB: L-QB: L-QB:
 Janice Mike Kagay Jessica Michael
 Watkins (DA SNCO) Lenherr Eichten
 (Habitat) (UW)



A-QB: A-QB: A-QB: A-QB: A-QB: A-QB: A-QB: A-QB:
 Steve Vogel Penny Moylan
 (Landlord) (Dist. Judge
 SNCO)

 30
31
  Same, Different,
Competition, or What?




 32
Built for Zero All Hands on Deck
A movement and a methodology to
achieve functional zero Campaign to end chronic homelessness


• By-name data driven approach • Improve local data systems to implement a by-
 name approach
• Assemble a community-wide team
 • Create a multi-sector coalition
• Centering racial equity
 • Core values of inclusion

 • Strategic, data-driven and diverse housing
• Targeted, data-driven housing investments supports investments




 33
 Two asks of the Governing Body:

1 2

Support for the concepts of the: Official chartering of a multi-sector
• One Stop Homeless Resource Center community coalition, like the All Hands on
 Deck initiative being suggested by
• Low Barrier Shelter
 Compassion Strategies in the community.
• Permanent Tiny Homes




 34
 28
 Considerations Underway
•One Stop Homeless Resource Center
•Low Barrier Shelter
•Permanent Housing (Tiny Home) Village



 35
DEEP DIVE INTO THE…



One Stop Homeless
Resource Center




 Picture of True Worth Place, a resource center for the homeless in Fort Worth, TX. 36
 9
 Employment Services Life Skills Services
 •Career training •Soft skills training
 •Resume training •Tenant training
 •Job search assistance •Communication skills




 Financial Services Shelter and Housing
 •Budgeting Services
 •Income identification •Emergency shelter
 •Disability •Transitional housing
 •Social Security •Long-term housing




 Mental Health Services
 One Stop Basic Needs Services
•Assessment
•Counseling
 Shop: •Showers
 •Food
•Trauma awareness training Homeless •Supplies
 •Medical services
 Resource
 Center
HRC TRM
System PSH
Structure HC- Homeless Camps
 Homeless
 HRC- Homeless Outreach Center
 Camp (one stop shop)

 ORT- Homeless Outreach Teams

 CMS- Case Management Services

 One Stop MTS- Mobile Transport System
 (formerly MAP)
 Shop:
 Homeless Homeless
 Camp
 Homeless Camp TRM- Topeka Rescue Mission
 Resource (education/equipping center)
 Center
 LBS- Low Barrier Shelter

 TSH- Transitional Supportive
 Housing

 PSH- Permanent Supportive
 Homeless Housing
 Camp
 TSH LBS
“Low
Barrier”
Congregate
Emergency
Housing

 39
 ”Low Barrier”
 Non-
  Congregate
  Transitional
Housing Village


 40
Eden Village
 41
Eden Village
 42
Ending Chronic Homelessness
Topeka/Shawnee County 2030?




 43
DO WE WANT? DO WE BELIEVE? ARE WE WILLING?
Do we want to end chronic Do we believe we can end Are we willing to end chronic
homelessness? chronic homelessness? homelessness?

 44
 AHOD
 SYSTEM TEMPLATE



CAMPAIGN SYSTEM TEAM SELECTION COMMUNICATION CAMPAIGN LAUNCH
  DEVELOPMENT PLATFORM
 DEVELOPMENT




PROJECT SELECTION PROJECT PROJECT LAUNCH PROJECT
 MANAGEMENT COMPLETION
 SYSTEM



 45
Campaign To End
Chronic
Homelessness
Topeka/Shawnee
County-2030




 46
 under CC BY
 So, what is the ask?
• Collaboration
 • Shared Goals: Establish a mutual objective between the city/county and AHOD to
 address chronic homelessness, ensuring efforts are aligned toward long-term
 solutions
• Communication
 • Open Dialogue: Foster regular and transparent communication between
 city/county officials and AHOD to ensure alignment on priorities, progress, and
 challenges.
 • Public Awareness Campaigns: Work together to launch public education
 initiatives that highlight chronic homelessness issues, destigmatize those
 affected, and promote the programs available for support.
• Connection
 • Resource Sharing: Pooling resources such as funding, expertise, and facilities to
 increase the capacity of services provided.
 47
 All Hands On Deck
  Campaign To End
 Chronic
 Homelessness
Topeka/Shawnee Co.
 2030
 48

Governing Body Special Meeting Minutes – October 8, 2024

 CYRUS K. HOLIDAY BUILDING, Topeka, Kansas, Tuesday, October 8, 2024. The

 Governing Body members of the City of Topeka met for a Joint City-County Special Meeting

 Work Session at 4:00 P.M. with the following Councilmembers present: Councilmembers

 Hiller, Valdivia-Alcala, Ortiz, Banks, Miller, Dobler, Duncan and Hoferer; and Shawnee

 County Commissioners Riphahn, Cook and Mays – 11. Mayor Padilla presided – 1. Absent:

 Councilmember Kell – 1.

 Public Comment was not permitted at this joint special meeting session; however, the

  meeting was open to the public. Written public comment was considered to the extent it was

  submitted to the City Clerk's Office located at 215 SE 7th Street, Room 012B, Topeka,

  Kansas, 66603, or via email at cclerk@topeka.org.

 AFTER THE MEETING WAS CALLED TO ORDER, Mayor Padilla announced the

purpose of the Joint Special Meeting Work Session was to discuss how the All Hands On Deck

Homeless Initiative will work together with the Built for Zero Model.

 Councilmember Kell entered the room.

 DISCUSSION on Homelessness, was presented.

 Barry Feaker, CEO of Compassion Strategies and CCT Strategies, LLC and Brett Martin,

Vice President of United Way of Kaw Valley Community Impact Program, provided an overview

of the All Hands on Deck Homeless Initiative, and how the initiative will work with the Built for

Zero Model. The topics highlighted included the impact of the Chronic Homelessness Crisis and the

financial impact totaling $38.1 million. The following two asks were made of the Governing Body

and the Shawnee County Commissioners:

 1. Support for the concepts of the One Stop Homeless Resource Center, Low Barrier and
 Permanent Tiny Homes.
 10-08-2024
 268
 2. Official chartering of a multi-sector community coalition, like the All Hands on Deck
 initiative being suggested by Compassion Strategies in the community.

 Other topics discussed were as follows:

 • The All Hands On Deck Campaign pledges to End Chronic Homelessness in Topeka
 and Shawnee County by 2030.
 • The Compassion Strategies approach will begin building the bridge by working
 together through multi-focused approaches, to bring dignity and hope to the unsheltered
 homeless.
 • The Compassion Strategies primary activities include the Mobile-Access Partnership
 (MAP), AHOD-Campaign to End Chronic Homelessness to include a Multi-Sector
 Coalition and Communication System.
 • The ask of the City of Topeka Governing Body and Shawnee County Commissioners
 was to collaborate, communicate and connect resource for sharing. (Attachment A)
 Councilmember Dobler expressed his excitement of the proposed approach. He questioned

how much it costs area hospitals to deal with the different aspects of homelessness and noted, they

may need to consider being a permeant solution to the problem. He spoke to the importance of not

duplicating services and allocating funding sources appropriately.

 Brett Martin reported they are still in the process of gathering data and building

relationships with the hospitals as well as other facilities and organizations.

 Councilmember Kell spoke to the importance of expanded availability of the One-Stop

Shop to include transportation services and improved communications.

 Commissioner Cook expressed concern with how the initiative will be funded. He reported

Shawnee County would need to draw from Reserve funds and asked how the City would fund the

initiative.

 Dr. Robert M. Perez, City Manager, reported City Reserve funds would be the most likely

source of funding; however, there are other possible funding sources such as the homeless

encampment clean-up fund.

 Councilmember Duncan stated funds have not yet been requested and it could be as simple


 10-08-2024
 269
as reallocating the funds already being spent on the “triage” of dealing with homelessness issues.

 Commissioner Cook reported Shawnee County contributes a substantial amount of

operating funds to the Shawnee County Department of Corrections on an annual basis, a facility

that deals directly with the unsheltered population as well as the mental health aspect.

 Councilmember Valdivia-Alcala stated she concurs with Councilmembers Duncan and

Dobler. She stated she believes it is not just a City and County problem, it is a problem for the

private/public sectors as well as all levels of government. She expressed the importance of

understanding that dollars must be spent to address the choric problem of homelessness and mental

health in the community.

 Councilmember Hiller stated they need to concentrate on what they are already doing well

as a community to address the issue and determine how to best leverage dollars already being

spent on dealing with homelessness. She spoke in support of utilizing a “case management

concept” because she believes it would be crucial to the success of the initiative.

 Mayor Padilla spoke to the importance of implementing the simpler items so they can

move the needle on homelessness jointly with Shawnee County and all the organizations willing to

assist with the situation.

 Councilmember Kell encouraged the implementation of a One-Stop Shop as soon as

possible because he believes it would be an easy first step to move the initiative forward.

 City Manager Perez reported a mobile One-Stop Shop is currently in place; however, they

may need to increase public education efforts, so people are aware of the service. He stated it was

not always about the funding, but instead, about the available mechanisms that need to be put into

place. He stated he believes there are community resources in place and ready to move forward

with a planned initiative.

 Councilmember Ortiz spoke about the Topeka Community and its giving nature. She
 10-08-2024
 270
requested a financial campaign start immediately and donated $100 to the cause.

 Barry Feaker stated they are not asking for funding at this time - they are asking for a

partnership. He stated additional resources will be needed in the future; however, all resources will

be serving under one umbrella with the intent of everyone bringing what they can to the table to

get the job done. He reported they plan to provide an update to the joint City-County Body in early

2025.

 Councilmember Hoferer questioned if healthcare organizations track Medicaid and

Medicare services that may be available to certain unsheltered populations.

 Brett Martin stated they plan to include these types of available services as part of the data

gathering initiative.

 Councilmember Miller stated a lot could be accomplished if they do not care who gets the

credit.

 Mayor Padilla thanked Shawnee County Commissioners for joining them in the discussion.

He urged Mr. Feaker and Mr. Martin to ensure all information was communicated to both the

Governing Body and the Shawnee County Commission as they move forward with the initiative.

 NO FURTHER BUSINESS appearing the meeting adjourned at 5:30 p.m.



 (SEAL)
 Brenda Younger City Clerk




 10-08-2024
 271
 Attachment A




-
• Collaboration
 • Shared Goals: Establish a mutual objective between the city/county and AHOD to
 address chronic homelessness, ensuring efforts are aligned toward long-term
 solutions
• Communication
 • Open Dialogue: Foster regular and transparent communication between
 city/county officials and AHOD to ensure alignment on priorities, progress, and·
 challenges.
 • Public Awareness Campaigns: Work together to launch public education
 initiatives that highlight chronic homelessness issues, destigmatize those
 affected, and promote the programs available for support.
• Connection ·
 • Resource Sharing: Pooling resources such as funding, expertise, and facilities to
 increase the capacity of services provided.
 47