The United Way

By Dalton Black, executive director

I recently attended the Kansas Housing Conference as a Friend of Affordable Housing scholarship recipient. For three days, I sat alongside developers, city planners, housing authorities, and shelter leaders – all people who understand that housing is the root system that keeps a community healthy.

The conference opened with a keynote address from Ryan Vincent, Kansas Housing Resources Corporation Executive Director. He shared the story of his 12-year-old son, who passed away from cancer. Through treatments and then hospice care, his son had one clear wish: to be home. A place where he felt safe, comfortable, and loved. Ryan’s words grounded the entire conference in a simple truth — home is not just a physical structure. It is where life happens. It is where dignity lives.

As we have just started to formally convene a housing coalition back home, the timing felt right. I came away reminded that while the housing crisis is complex, progress starts when local leaders step up and choose to solve it together.

What I’m bringing home

1. Housing and homelessness are directly connected – affordability isn’t optional.

If people can’t afford a safe home, they end up homeless or one emergency away from it. Right now, many communities are only seeing construction or $300,000+ homes. That leaves out the workers who keep our towns running, young families trying to get started, and seniors wanting to age in place. We need homes that fit the people who live in our community, not just those who can afford the highest price point.

2. We have to design homes for the way people live now – not the way they lived 50 years ago.

Average household sizes are shrinking. Not everyone needs a three-bedroom home on a quarter-acre lot. Allowing smaller homes on smaller lots, duplexes, accessory dwelling units, and other flexible housing options could meet real needs faster. People deserve a place to sleep safely tonight, not just the promise of a future development.

3. Policy and taxes can either unlock progress or shut it down.

We have to be willing to review the rules that make it difficult to build smaller, attainable homes. One idea discussed was allowing multiple units on a single lot to share infrastructure and lower tax burdens for residents. Good policy should make it easier for communities to house their people.

4. This work depends on real collaboration.

Addressing housing and homelessness requires the public sector, private developers, service providers, and nonprofit organizations all pulling in the same direction. It won’t always be profitable. It won’t always be easy. And it will require partner to follow through on data sharing and reporting if we want to secure meaningful funding opportunities. But we need everyone’s contribution – even the messy, half-baked ideas – because that’s often where good solutions begin.

The housing crisis won’t resolve itself. But Kansas is full of communities ready to roll up their sleeves, and I’m proud to be one of them.

Ryan’s story reminded us that home is shelter – it’s where comfort lives. It is where healing can happen.

I’m back in our community with gratitude, a fresh perspective, and a deeper commitment to making sure more of our neighbors can simply be home.