HumanKind Ministries in Wichita said Thursday it would not be operating an emergency homeless shelter this winter.  The agency said an increase in homelessness has strained its capacity.

The shelter has been operated in a former church at Market and Murdock, next to the agency’s main office.   Humankind officials said because of an increase in the number of homeless people, it would be challenged to operate a shelter this winter.  The shelter took in more than 450 men between November 2022 and March 2023.

Wichita Mayor Brandon Whipple said at his weekly news conference Thursday that the city is working with Sedgwick County, HumanKind and local agencies to come up with a solution.  His goal is to have a shelter open in November that will serve several hundred people, but he said details are still being worked out.