A program that would provide identification cards to homeless persons in the community was discussed Monday by Kansas City, Kansas, Police Department officials.
Deputy Chief Pam Waldeck with several police officials described the program, which is modeled on one currently in operation in Topeka, Kansas.
The police outreach team, in coordination with Cross-Lines Community outreach, identified a need, the difficulty that unsheltered people here have in getting identification cards, according to police officials.
Under the proposed program, identification cards would be issued by the Police Department and would be valid for one year. Police would verify the identity of persons applying for the cards.
After receiving the cards, it will make it easier for individuals to get a state identification card, increasing their access to medical care and financial services, according to police officials. The state will work with the police department’s identification card if the local program closely follows the Topeka program.
Without a state identification card, a birth certificate or Social Security card, it might be difficult or impossible for people to access their bank accounts, difficult to get a job, difficult to get a place to live and difficult to access prescriptions, according to police officials. Many homeless people do not have access to the documents necessary to obtain a state identification card, police officials said.
Some may have been through challenging times, losing identification in a home fire, or possibly identification was stolen or lost.
Currently, there are about 350 persons experiencing homelessness in Wyandotte County that the police department is aware of, and probably there are more than that estimate, according to police officials.
Cross-Lines and the Frank Williams Center are interested in scheduling remote application days for the homeless, according to police officials.
The cost of the program was estimated at $1,500 to $2,200, with the cost per year of maintaining it at about $100, police officials said. Officers in the COPPS unit are working with the homeless regularly and it was estimated they may spend one to two hours per person to confirm identity.
Commissioner Christian Ramirez said while he had an initial apprehension toward the program, he now is in support of it.
The program is different from the municipal ID program that Commissioners Ramirez, Melissa Bynum and Harold Johnson are working on, he said. The community municipal ID program would be open to a wider part of the community.
This program is very narrowly targeted for the homeless, he added.
The police department program would not be available for undocumented residents, according to Deputy Chief Waldeck.
Commissioner Johnson said this program is desperately needed. He is in favor of continuing the effort for municipal ID for undocumented residents, also.
Commissioner Bynum said she was not against the police department identification program, but her concern would be that there could be confusion when they get a broader community identification program started.
Deputy Chief Waldeck confirmed that the police department program does not require approval from the UG Commission to move forward, although the community ID program for undocumented residents requires approval.
Commissioner Bynum also asked if there had been any discussion about the program with new Police Chief Karl Oakman, who will start his job in around three weeks.
Deputy Chief Waldeck said while they have not talked with him about it yet, they are planning on discussing it with him. It will take a few weeks to move forward with the details of the program.
Commissioner Johnson asked Deputy Chief Waldeck to wait until the new police chief starts his job, and to get his opinion before rolling it out.
No action on the police ID program was taken at the Unified Government Public Works and Safety Committee meeting; the UG Commission will not be required to approve it.
Revisions to stormwater, wastewater and sewer ordinance
In other action, the Public Works and Safety Committee voted unanimously to approve an ordinance with revisions to the UG’s stormwater, wastewater and sewer ordinance. It amends the ordinance and creates nine new sections.
The UG has been under a consent decree with the EPA since 2013, and some changes were made to the plan in March. Many of the changes were minor and clarify language in the local ordinance. Some other changes were made to enhance enforcement, according to the UG. There were details added concerning the fat oils and grease program for food service facilities.
This ordinance next goes to the full Commission for final approval. The proposed changes are on the meeting agenda at https://civicclerk.blob.core.windows.net/stream/WYCOKCK/1ada1269ce.pdf?sv=2015-12-11&sr=b&sig=mMZgu8gRlTFz2GaUyBQTDap4wiEWAgw66qFt1eJiNKU%3D&st=2021-05-25T20%3A47%3A46Z&se=2022-05-25T20%3A52%3A46Z&sp=r&rscc=no-cache&rsct=application%2Fpdf.
Public hearing to be July 29 on Community Development budget
At the UG’s Administration and Human Services Committee meeting Monday night, the committee approved setting a public hearing for the Community Development annual action plan on July 29. The action plan is scheduled to be voted on by the UG Commission on July 29, after the public hearing.
Wilba Miller, director of Community Development, outlined the Community Development programs including the block grant program, which is budgeted for $3.36 million in 2021 and $2.32 million in 2022. She discussed the Home Investment Partnership Program and the Emergency Solutions Grant. She also discussed the Lead-Based Paint Grant, CARES Act funding to the CDBG and ESG programs, and American Rescue Plan funding for the Home grant program.
The Community Development budget is being approved at a different time this year than the UG budget.
The plan and the Community Development programs budget are online as part of the AHS Committee agenda at https://civicclerk.blob.core.windows.net/stream/WYCOKCK/15733c8e8d.pdf?sv=2015-12-11&sr=b&sig=IzysLLS3zYxWApbxfct9i8NYHeJT1ePo0Gl%2BDRpVyGA%3D&st=2021-05-25T21%3A03%3A58Z&se=2022-05-25T21%3A08%3A58Z&sp=r&rscc=no-cache&rsct=application%2Fpdf.
The committee meetings are on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h4AC44IY8KI.