Here’s who’s taking over shelter operations at Second Light
Wichita’s longtime shelter provider, HumanKind Ministries, will no longer operate the city’s homeless shelter.
Humankind has operated shelter services at Second Light, the city’s new homeless shelter, since it opened last year. It operated the city’s emergency winter shelter for more than two decades.
Instead, Mental Health America of South Central Kansas will take over operating the new shelter space, according to a news release.
“At MHASCK, we believe that stable housing and mental health support must go hand in hand,” said Mary Jones, president and CEO of Mental Health America of South Central Kansas, in a release. “This partnership reflects work that has been part of our community for decades and allows us to meet individuals where they are while supporting both immediate needs and long-term stability.”
It will take over operations by mid-May and will work with Humankind during the transition before then.
The release said HumanKind would remain a partner at the shelter, focusing more on getting shelter residents into affordable housing when they’re ready.
HumanKind board chair Ryan Bond said now that the shelter is in place, “HumanKind is able to focus more fully on expanding affordable housing options, helping ensure that guests have a stable place to go when they’re ready to transition out.”
He said HumanKind looks “forward to continuing this work alongside Second Light and our community partners to support long-term stability in Wichita.”
Second Light Board Chair Steve Dixon called the shelter’s new operations innovative, in the news release announcing the change.
“Mental health plays a huge role in homelessness,” Dixon said, “and we are grateful to have the expertise, compassion and solutions that they offer in this space.”
In its second year, Second Light now provides 130 beds for homeless people. About 100 of those are part of its Shelter+Services program, which offers a bed and services to eventually transition people into housing.
The remaining 30 beds are night-by-night beds, with six of those held for people who are dropped off by law enforcement.
Earlier this year, providers began moving into the shelter to offer more services to the city’s homeless residents. Those include help with getting identification, substance use treatment, mental health and health care, housing support and more.