LENEXA, Kan. — The city of Lenexa is discussing an ordinance change that would increase the capacity of cold weather shelters like Project 1020.
KSHB 41 spoke to Project 1020 in December when the organization shared it needed more space.
“To think that seven or eight years ago we were sheltering 30 people, the need has just increased. It's not enough,” said Barbara McEver, Project 1020 president.
The cold weather shelter operates from December to March. Project 1020 routinely serves more than 30 people a night, which is one of the city’s concerns.
If the city were to change the code, it would also increase capacity enforcement.
Scott McCullough, Lenexa’s community development director, explained why that’s necessary.
“What we found with a few years of Project 1020 being established in the city is that they sometimes exceed the occupancy limit of the code,” McCullough said. “We've also found because it's a seasonal use type of operation that our current mechanisms to enforce the code are a little inefficient.”
McCullough explained that if a shelter breaks the new code, it could result in fines and eventually a license revocation.
Lenexa denied the county homeless services center in the fall. The city agreed the need for shelter space has increased but views homelessness as a regional issue.
The city would like to see collaboration to address the need for more homeless services.
“We have what amounts to the county's only homeless shelter being operated by Project 1020,” McCullough said. “We appreciate that need, but we know there's need elsewhere, and so we are happy to be part of a discussion about where and how that need is met elsewhere.”
The planning commission will vote Monday, Feb. 3. The city council will make the final decision Feb. 18.
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KSHB 41 reporter Olivia Acree covers portions of Johnson County, Kansas. Share your story idea with Olivia.
