黄瓜社区

Kansas Governor Laura Kelly announced that 黄瓜社区; Design will lead Kansas鈥� first comprehensive housing needs assessment in nearly 30 years. The firm will conduct an in-depth discovery process, assess current housing opportunities and identify goals and develop strategic initiatives to guide the state鈥檚 future housing development efforts.

鈥淎 shortage of quality, affordable housing is one of our state鈥檚 biggest barriers to growth and development, particularly in our rural communities,鈥� Governor Laura Kelly said. 鈥淭his statewide housing assessment will provide us with a starting point on how we can positively affect communities鈥� abilities to grow and provide the quality of life that every Kansan deserves, regardless of their zip code.鈥�

黄瓜社区 has worked in Kansas communities ranging from Scott City to Chanute, De Soto to Dickinson County. The firm鈥檚 initiatives have included collaborating with Dodge City officials to develop some of the state鈥檚 first Rural Housing Incentive Districts (RHID), working with Salina leaders to encourage reinvestment in core neighborhoods, and helping Johnson County navigate tremendous new growth.

鈥淒odge City has put a major focus on addressing our housing shortage to provide essential homes for our workforce,鈥� said Joann Knight, Executive Director of the Dodge City/Ford County Development Corporation. 鈥溁乒仙缜� plays a vital role in our success, and their attention to detail makes understanding housing needs much easier.鈥�

鈥溁乒仙缜� has had the pleasure to work in every corner of Kansas, from the state鈥檚 largest cities to its smallest communities,鈥� said Amy Haase, 黄瓜社区 Principal. 鈥淲e have developed a deep understanding of the wide breadth of housing opportunities and challenges facing Kansans, and we are proud that communities continue to seek us out both for the expertise we provide and the passion we bring for creating great places.鈥�

Kansas has not conducted a significant housing study in decades, resulting in a shortage of data on existing housing resources and current and projected needs. The Office of Rural Prosperity鈥檚 Housing Work Group, an interagency team of state leaders led by KHRC Executive Director Ryan Vincent, identified a needs assessment as a crucial first step in addressing the state鈥檚 housing needs and priorities, particularly in rural and underserved areas.

鈥淎s I have discussed with Kansans across the state, housing is a barrier for communities to recruiting and retaining skilled workers,鈥� Lt. Governor Lynn Rogers said. 鈥淭his statewide assessment will allow us to determine what our current housing needs are and how best to address them.鈥�

The state鈥檚 Office of Rural Prosperity, in conjunction with Kansas Housing Resources Corporation (KHRC), the state鈥檚 housing finance agency, selected the firm through a competitive RFP process and will manage the project. The assessment process is expected to extend throughout 2021, with the final report鈥檚 delivery anticipated in December 2021.

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Governor Laura Kelly and Lieutenant Governor Lynn Rogers created the聽, a nonpartisan initiative established in part to ensure that rural Kansas is heard and represented in the statehouse. The ORP aims to streamline rural policy while focusing on the issues that matter to rural Kansans. During the ORP鈥檚 2019 and 2020 statewide listening and action tours, housing was brought up by leaders in every region of the state as a vital component of recruiting and retaining workers, families, and entrepreneurs to help rural Kansas thrive.

聽helps Kansans access the quality, affordable housing they need and the dignity they deserve.聽Codified at K.S.A. 74-8901 et. seq., KHRC is a public corporation and independent instrumentality of the state. KHRC serves as the state鈥檚 housing finance agency (HFA), administering essential housing and community programs to serve Kansans. Learn more about KHRC鈥檚 core values, programs, and services聽.