Rising costs contribute to growing homelessness in Sedgwick County, report says

Rising costs, especially in housing, are contributing to a growing number of homeless people in Sedgwick County, according to a report from the United Way of the Plains.

The report shows that seniors, many of whom live on fixed incomes, have been particularly affected by rising costs. The number of seniors experiencing homelessness doubled between 2020 and 2025.

“Senior citizens in our community, those 65 and older, are the fastest growing population of those experiencing homelessness in Sedgwick County,” said Matt Lowe with the United Way of the Plains.

Homelessness in Sedgwick County has been rising dramatically since 2020. In 2020, the United Way of the Plains said there were 841 households who were newly homeless. In 2025, that number is 2,077, a 147% increase.

Other areas where costs are rising include childcare, food, transportation and healthcare. That’s leading to a growing number of cost-burdened households in the county, according to the United Way.

“As housing and basic living costs continue to outpace wages, more households are being pushed into instability,” Lowe said. “Too many of our neighbors are living on the edge of a financial crisis, where a single unexpected expense leads to homelessness.”

The United Way of the Plains said a number of groups are addressing homelessness in the county. That includes the city’s new homeless shelter, Second Light, and the United Way’s housing navigators that connect people to housing resources.

It also said it was launching a new program soon that will focus on finding housing for families that have children

“By intervening earlier and providing targeted support, we hope to prevent more families from entering homelessness in the first place,” Lowe said. “The challenges before us are significant, but so is our community’s commitment to addressing them.”