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A million dollars earmarked for affordable housing is being activated after nearly two years, drawing reactions from advocates who say it’s a long time coming.
All Hands on Deck and Topeka JUMP highlighted the need for affordable housing in a meeting Friday afternoon, citing rising homelessness in Topeka, increasing cost of living and a lack of housing access.
“I think it’s gonna help stimulate some development in housing,” says Barry Feaker, CEO of Compassion Strategies and consultant for All Hands on Deck. “One of the things if we want to end chronic homelessness, we have to have housing and we have a shortage of affordable, attainable housing.
“That’s not the end of it,” Feaker continues. “There’s a whole lot on the back end that we have to create in this community and I think the Affordable Housing Trust Fund is a significant tool in that.”
Their message? A community is only as strong as those within it.
“It strengthens our community as a whole when families have a stable place of housing, they can contribute positively to the economy, engage in their neighborhoods and build connections that enrich our society,” said Rev. Khalani Britt, co-founder of Least of These Ministries, during her remarks.
“This is not something that just stays static,” said Brett Martin, vice-president of community impact for the United Way of Kaw Valley. “If we don’t act, the consequence is not that it stays the same. The consequence is that it gets worse.”
With no clear direction on how to use the funds, a million dollars held in the Affordable Housing Trust Fund had gone untouched since 2023.
“Sometimes you have a choice and you can do stuff fast, and that’s great, but sometimes you have to slow down to get it right and that’s kind of where we’ve been with the affordable housing trust fund,” said Spencer Duncan, Topeka city councilman who recently announced his bid for the mayor’s seat, during a press conference Wednesday.
“Everyone wants to make sure it’s done correctly, so we do want that but the money‘s been sitting there for over a year and a half unused and it needs to be used to build a housing,” says Anton Ahrens, a member of Topeka JUMP and it’s affordable housing steering committee. “We have an urgent need and that should make it our priority.”
At the end of the day, advocates say it’s about neighbors helping neighbors.
“The most important thing is that Topekans are our neighbors and when our neighbors are more secure, in good housing and have ways to get around the city to the things they need to do we’re going to have a better city,” Ahrens adds.
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