The Wichita City Council has approved an agreement setting up a non-profit organization that will govern the planned new Multi-Agency Center for homeless services.
The city is in the process of converting the former Park Elementary School at 1025 North Main as the MAC, and it will provide short-term shelter and access to a variety of services to help the homeless transition into permanent housing. A 501(c)(3) organization will be made up of community leaders from Wichita, Sedgwick County, local non-profit agencies and the business sector.
The organization will start with a five-member board that is expected to expand to at least nine members in early 2025. The board will hire an executive director and establish policies for the MAC, and it will also lead fundraising efforts.
The City of Wichita has set aside $5 million in funds from the American Rescue Plan Act for activities related to the MAC through 2026. The funding will be used to offset costs of administration, operations, implementation and maintenance costs. The MAC board will have oversight of programs, services and issues related to the facility, and it will gather data that will be used to measure the impact of the MAC on homelessness, making reports to the city and county on its findings.
