Shelter.
Drop-In Center
353 North Market • 269-4250
Monday-Friday
7 a.m. - 5 p.m.
The Drop-In Center is the only comprehensive day assistance center for homeless in Wichita. The center provides case management, a daily meal, access to showers, laundry facilities, small storage, a telephone with message board and mail service.
Individuals, groups, churches and organizations provide the noon meal. If you would like to provide a meal once a month, every other month, or even once a year, please click on “How to Help” for the Volunteer Director’s contact information. Providing a meal or snacks makes a significant difference!
Additional needs include hygiene items such as wash clothes, towels, soap, shampoo, toothbrushes, toothpaste, razors, combs, and brushes, toilet paper as well as other paper products.
In 2009, The Drop-In Center served 2,289 unduplicated individuals and a daily average of 181 while 50 people moved off the streets and into permanent housing.
Safety Net Housing
228 Ellis • 265-9371
Permanent supportive housing is provided in collaboration with COMCARE of Sedgwick County Homeless Services Division and Mennonite Housing. The program addresses the needs of a growing demographic of homeless who are mentally ill by providing an apartment for single persons who are chronically homeless and disabled with a mental illness. The Safety Net served has 11 one-bedroom apartments.
Transitional Housing
228 Ellis • 265-9371
Through a Housing and Urban Development (HUD) grant and private donations, the program provides housing to homeless families and individuals referred by a local shelter. These participants receive intensive case management and may stay up to two years. Open Door provides seven single-family homes and nine apartments. A total of 34 families were served in 2009. Partner agency, StepStone, provides an additional six homes for victim survivors of domestic violence.
Volunteers are often needed for minor home repair and yard cleaning. Also, we encourage “adoption” of the single-family homes by church or civic groups. See “How to Help” for volunteer contact information.
VisionQuest
228 Ellis • 269-0905 or 269-0991
This home-based outreach program is designed to prevent homelessness and help families break out of the cycle of poverty. Case management is provided to teach budgeting, life skills, job readiness training, etc. Our two case managers make home visits as often as needed to assist the family to develop a family work plan with full time employment and long term self sufficiency as the main goals. A total of 103 families were served in 2009.