An emergency homeless shelter opened Friday in Wichita and it will be operating as a temporary facility for the coming winter as local officials decide on a long-term approach to homelessness in the community.
The shelter opened at the former Fundamental Learning Center near 21st and Grove, and it will have space for 250 individuals. It will be a 24/7 shelter operated by HumanKind Ministries with support from the City of Wichita, Sedgwick County and a number of local agencies.
The facility will have office space for agencies to provide various services to the residents, and a major goal will be to transition them to more permanent housing. A private contractor will provide transportation to help people get to the shelter from HumanKind’s main facility downtown. Security services will be provided and there are a number of surveillance cameras that will be in use.
HumanKind president and CEO LaTasha St. Arnault said around 40 employees have been hired and trained to work at the shelter. She said she’s proud of the work that was done to get the shelter open, and she said the shelter will save lives this winter.
