Fall 2024| Breaking Ground:

On the Homefront with Kansas Housing

Autumn has arrived in all its glory: blazing foliage, warm days, chilly nights, bonfires and football games. As an avid gardener, my boys and I strive every year to grow the biggest pumpkins, ready for Halloween carving.

That’s why an article caught my attention on the World Championship Pumpkin Weigh-Off. Last year, the world record pumpkin weighed in at a hefty 2,749 pounds. That’s a lot of gourd, estimated to make at least 687 pumpkin pies! The pumpkin grew at a rate of 40 pounds per day at its peak – like something out of a Halloween horror movie. Sometimes our housing challenges can feel a bit like this massive pumpkin.

The need for quality, affordable housing around the state keeps growing, in rural and urban areas alike. Just like the pumpkin’s leafy vines and tendrils, communities, employers, legislators and citizens reach out for resources and solutions.

Fortunately our state has made historic investments to finally make headway on the underlying problem, allowing KHRC and our partners to Unlock Home for thousands of Kansas families.

We’re carving away at this gourd, squashing the problem (sorry, couldn’t help myself) … one home at a time.

- Ryan Vincent, Executive Director

Breaking Ground is a quarterly newsletter from Kansas Housing Resources Corporation (KHRC), the state's housing finance agency. We hope you'll follow along to keep up on the latest Kansas housing news! Update your subscription preferences anytime.

Thank you to everyone who attended, sponsored and presented at the 19th annual Kansas Housing Conference in Overland Park this August. Please take a moment to enjoy our photo gallery on our KHRC Facebook Page!

We look forward to seeing you all again at the Overland Park Convention Center at next year's event!

Save the Date!

Oct. 27-29, 2025

Overland Park Convention Center

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Kansas Housing Receives $8M to Expand Affordable Housing for Kansans with Disabilities

Ulysses “Deke” Clayborn, Regional Administrator of U.S Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Region VII, presented a check for $8 million on Aug. 20 to the Kansas Housing Resources Corporation (KHRC) to administer the state’s new Section 811 Project Rental Assistance (PRA) for Persons with Disabilities program. The award will help KHRC identify and refer low-income Kansans with disabilities to 128 accessible homes, providing rental assistance and supportive services. Executive Director of KHRC, Ryan Vincent, and KHRC Director of Contract Administration, Laurie Fritz, accepted the award.

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development awarded $138.5 million in grants for more than a dozen state housing agencies to expand the supply of housing and supportive services for low-income persons with disabilities across America.

Housing Development

Kansas Housing awards more than $180 million in support of affordable housing developments

Fifteen housing developments in 14 Kansas communities will add a collective 522 affordable homes to the state’s housing stock, thanks to funds awarded through the state’s competitive housing development application process.

The awards, totaling $9.99 million in both federal and state tax credits and $8.625 million in HUD Resources, will create over $180 million in development to construct 437 new homes and rehabilitate 185 existing homes for Kansas seniors and families.

As part of the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, HUD obligated HOME-American Rescue Plan (HOME-ARP) funds to KHRC in the amount of $22,548,530. HOME-ARP is designed to support specific Qualifying Populations, as follows:

After accepting two rounds of applications in 2023 and 2024, KHRC announces plans to award 14 projects for a combined total of $19,166,250.50.

CONDITIONAL AWARD LIST

Kansas Housing awards more than $155,000 in vital services for low-income families and communities

Nine nonprofit community organizations across the state received a combined $155,000 to help low-income Kansans achieve stability and access economic opportunities.

The awards, provided through federal Community Services Block Grant (CSBG) discretionary funding, will support initiatives ranging from providing direct financial assistance to residents of Northeast Kansas for rent, utilities, food delivery, and stable housing; to installing deep freezers and stocking food pantries in Coffey and Osage Counties; to funding a disaster-readiness initiative for low-income communities through Habitat for Humanity Kansas.

Social Snippets

Affordable housing advocacy and grand openings continue to make headlines! Follow us to learn more about the new homes we're unlocking for Kansans.

An August ribbon cutting celebrated the grand opening of the Southern Hills Senior Homes in Topeka. The development will provide 28 new homes for seniors. Read more!

Did you know KHRC is on LinkedIn? This article, "Forget the stereotypes. Many homeless Kansans have jobs, but can't afford a place to live," provides insights from affordable housing advocates around the state, including KHRC's Communications Director, Emily Sharp.

Check out our News page for an archive of KHRC News.

Read KHRC News

Kansas Housing Resources Corporation

611 S Kansas Ave., Suite 300 | Topeka, KS 66603

info@kshousingcorp.org