Up to 500 people can be housed in Kansas City hotels after unanimous council decision

Following a months-long protest on the south lawn of City Hall seeking housing for Kansas City’s homeless population, elected officials on Thursday unanimously adopted a measure that could provide temporary housing with hotel rooms for up to 500 people.

The measure cleared the City Council without opposition. It was a fast-tracked proposal agreed on by Mayor Quinton Lucas and the Kansas City Homeless Union to arrange housing for the next 90 days.

Since February, roughly 40 tents housing dozens of people have sat in front of City Hall with other satellite encampments in areas including Westport. The encampments have become a political statement as its leaders seek additional resources for those across Kansas City without secure housing.

The mayor was joined Thursday afternoon by the leader of the homeless union, James Shelby, as the pair announced an agreement had been reached.

“Kansas City does not have unique problems, but Kansas City can have unique solutions,” the mayor said. “And a way that we can have those unique solutions is working together.”

On Tuesday, Lucas toured another temporary housing hotel as he expressed his hope for expansion of such programs.

He visited a facility managed in part by Hope Faith Homeless Assistance Campus. That specific program, which began in January and will end in a couple weeks, is funded in part by the city.

“This offers individuals and families something they have largely not gotten for years, which is privacy, which is some level of dignity, it is your own bathroom, your own space to think, and importantly, services that are right down the hallway,” Lucas said Tuesday.

The city is not disclosing the hotel locations to protect the privacy of its residents.

On Thursday, Lucas asked the city manager to identify a plan by which they can either use federal funds or other resources to invest in the additional hotel rooms.

Back at City Hall, Shelby, who goes by the name Qadhafi, said he was encouraged by the progress made thus far.

“To me, that is a beautiful first step,” said Qadhafi, who became homeless roughly two years ago. “It’s not the end. But that’s the first step of the beginning of resolving this issue.”

The mayor also announced longer-term solutions he is seeking support from the rest of the city council to accomplish. Lucas said the 90-day extension for hotels will give time for stakeholders to work on two other goals: a land bank for permanent housing and a workforce initiative.

Lucas and City Councilwoman Ryana Parks-Shaw sat down with leaders at the encampment Thursday morning in the fourth straight day of talks.

“I think it’s a sign of good faith that we have the hotels as the first of those three,” Lucas told the group of people who had gathered to hear the discussion.

Qadhafi said the new action would affect every camp in the city and it is his goal “to try to look out for everybody that’s out here.”

“The rest is contingent on the city council continuing to work with us and to create systemic policies and different stuff that affect our lives for the better. That’s all we’re looking for, we’re tired of being on the bottom of the totem pole. It’s time to treat everybody with the same respect and dignity.”

Earlier this week, the City Hall encampment and a camp in Westport were issued notices to vacate. Advocates mobilized and removals have not occurred.

As of Thursday morning, about 40 tents dotted City Hall’s south lawn along with signs that read “House the people” and “We want homes.” By Thursday afternoon, buses were already bringing some of the encampment’s residents to hotel rooms that had been set up to receive them.

Wilson Vance, campaign manager for KC Tenants, an organization that has been advocating for additional housing resources, said securing hotel rooms should be considered a win. But she said the fight isn’t over.

“We can claim today as a real victory,” Vance said. “Obviously there’s not a true victory until people are in permanent homes so really this is going to be about continued discussion, and not only discussion, but having a true seat at the table.”

An estimated 2,000 people experience homelessness every day in Kansas City.