Northeast Wichita community reacts to temporary winter shelter opening in their neighborhood

WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW) – The City of Wichita plans to open a temporary winter shelter in the coming weeks near 21st Street and Grove Street.

HumanKind Ministries says it will hold 250 unhoused people at the new location, but not everybody in the community is thrilled about the decision. Local business operators and homeowners want people to get help but share similar concerns that the shelter may negatively impact people already living there.

For Janeka Jones, she had just purchased property in the neighborhood and questioned the location choice of Wichita’s temporary winter housing solution. 

“How do you bring a homeless shelter next to a girls and boys club? We have to protect both. We have to protect our homeless as well as we have to protect our kids, so you’re putting them right there beside each other. I don’t understand that,” said Jones. 

She says opening the shelter there can bring stress for people already struggling nearby. 

“We have to revitalize, we have to get to the 21st, that area is looking better, we’ve got to get people jobs, so I just not understand how this was a good decision,” said Jones. 

Also, near 21st and Grove, Mr. MC’s Market. It is owned by Quantin McIntosh and his family. He believes the shelter opening in their community can work. 

“Anytime we can do anything to help the homeless, we’re for it,” said McIntosh. 

He wants the City to take steps to make sure harm isn’t done to their community. 

“I’ve seen when we give out food downtown, in front of open doors and other places like that, there’s tons of trash everywhere, no trash cans,” said McIntosh. 

Many in the community near 21st and Grove say they found out about the shelter today and wonder why they weren’t part of the conversation earlier. 

The Sedgwick County Commission is meeting tomorrow to discuss logistics like funding, transportation and their long-term plans.