Kansas Emergency Rental Assistance (KERA) program closed

More than $290 million in rental, utility assistance awarded

A year and a half after Kansas Emergency Rental Assistance (KERA) launched, the program has closed. More than $290 million provided relief for more than 82,000 Kansans and more than 11,000 housing and service providers, preventing evictions and providing vital services to more than 32,000 households.

“Home has never been more important,” said Ryan Vincent, Executive Director of Kansas Housing Resources Corporation (KHRC), which administered the KERA program. “In the midst of the pandemic, home became so much more than shelter—it became our virtual workplace, classroom, marketplace, gathering space, and more. Thanks to KERA, more than 30,000 Kansas families remained safely housed and connected to vital services at the time they needed it most.”

The Kansas Emergency Rental Assistance (KERA) program was established in March 2021 to lessen the financial burdens on renters and landlords impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Federal relief funds provided up to 18 months of temporary emergency rental, utility, and internet assistance for households at risk of homelessness or housing instability. Rental assistance was paid directly to housing and service providers, helping landlords cover their operating costs and keep up with essential maintenance and repairs, stimulating the local economy.

The robust disbursement of program funding has prevented evictions from taking a devastating toll on Kansas communities while keeping families stably housed in uncertain times. More than 2000 active evictions were halted and nearly 19,000 utility disconnections were stopped or reconnected thanks to KERA. More than 400 utility vendors, many of them rural community government entities, continued to collect monthly payments even when customers couldn’t cover their bills.

Prior to the KERA program, KHRC administered the Kansas Eviction Prevention Program (KEPP), a federal CARES-Act funded initiative to provide rental assistance to Kansans who had fallen behind on rent payments due to the pandemic. KEPP provided more than $17 million in rental assistance to more than 10,000 Kansas households, ultimately serving 21,642 Kansas residents and 4,000 landlords.

Kansas in need of assistance following the closure of the KERA program may qualify for additional housing resources (file attached below), some of which are administered by KHRC. KHRC’s ongoing housing programs will continue to serve Kansans beyond the closure of the KERA program.

Kansas Housing Resources Corporation (KHRC) is a self-supporting, nonprofit, public corporation committed to helping Kansans access the safe, affordable housing they need and the dignity they deserve. KHRC serves as the state’s housing finance agency, administering essential housing and community programs to serve Kansans.

Kansas Housing Resources Corporation
611 S Kansas Ave., Suite 300 | Topeka, KS 66603
[email protected]

Kansas Housing Resources Corporation | 611 S. Kansas, Suite 300, Topeka, KS 66603
??????????
Contact:?Cassie Nichols, [email protected]

Governor Kelly Announces 9-8-8 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline Has Helped Nearly 27% More Callers in First 6 Months
~~Kansas Outperforms Peer States in Connecting People to Mental Health Resources~~

TOPEKA – Governor Laura Kelly today announced that since its launch in July 2022, the 9-8-8 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline has handled a nearly 27% increase in call volume compared to the six months before its launch. Based on national projections, Kansas is estimated to reach 120,000 Kansans in the hotline’s first full year of operation.

In June 2022, Governor Kelly signed Senate Bill 19, bipartisan legislation that created the state’s three-digit dialing code for the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (NSPL). The hotline is backed by federal funding, with the idea that – like 9-1-1 – 9-8-8 is easier to remember in a crisis.

“The successes we are seeing with the implementation of 9-8-8 are a reflection that when Kansas leaders come together to invest in mental health, more Kansans can access essential care,” Governor Laura Kelly said. “I continue to encourage Kansans to tell their families, friends, and neighbors that this resource is here for them whenever they need it.”

Now, calls, texts, or chats to 9-8-8 involving thoughts of suicide, mental health or substance use crises, or other kinds of emotional distress are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Callers can also receive the immediate support of mobile crisis teams in cases of extreme risk, referral to local mental health services, and resources for follow-up care.

“One of the key things we’re trying to do through 9-8-8 is increase access to mental health services and resources,” Kansas Department for Aging and Disability Services (KDADS) Secretary Laura Howard said. “Youth experiencing mental health crises are acclimated to communicating with peers and adults through text or chat rather than by phone, so these formats go a long way to help meet these young people where they are, using a method they feel comfortable with.”

According to data from Vibrant, the current administrator of the 9-8-8 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, 9-8-8 centers in Kansas have maintained an in-state call-answer rate of 85% to 91% month-over-month amid increased call volume. Other states have struggled with call volume, causing higher rates of sending calls to an out-of-state center. Just a few years ago, Kansas answered about 60% of NSPL calls in-state, with many calls rolling over to national backup centers.

Kansas has also fared better than its regional peers on its “abandon” rate, or the number of received calls that disconnect before engagement with an in-state counselor. That rate has consistently remained below 10%.

In Kansas, 9-8-8 contact centers are independently operated. They receive additional state funding and oversight from KDADS and the 9-8-8 Coordinating Council appointed last fall by Governor Kelly.

Kansas Suicide Prevention HQ (KSPHQ) reports that 9-8-8 funding has allowed them to hire positions for both chat/text and calls, increasing the capacity to receive calls from Kansans and plan for expanded chat access.

“Overall, we’ve been able to hire more support in the call center to help take calls, manage resources and work on mobile response across the state,” Sarah Robertson, Communications and Development at KSPHQ, said.

The Kelly Administration has also worked to ensure every Kansan knows that this new resource is available.

KDADS commissioned a Kansas-based marketing firm, Mammoth Creative Company, to support the launch of a social media campaign to build awareness. According to the most recent data, the campaign has reached 1.6 million Kansans. In addition, Mammoth and KDADS are conducting research to better understand the messaging most likely to generate engagement with Kansans in crisis and among several different demographic and at-risk groups.

“Our team is very proud to partner with KDADS to create and place messaging that supports the mental health of all Kansans,” Ronnie Murphy, Mammoth Creative Company Vice President of Client Strategy, said.

“Since 9-8-8 launched six months ago, this new mental health tool has proven to be an invaluable resource for people in crisis,” KDADS Behavioral Health Services Commissioner Andy Brown said. “The continued commitment by Governor Kelly, the state legislature, and our agency, with help from our state call centers and strategic marketing partners, ensures Kansans have easy-to-use access to the help they need all day, every day.”

Note that Kansas was one of the states receiving he National Expansion of Employment Opportunities Network (NEON) grants. Way to go Kansas!!

Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP) Disability News
Driving Change | Creating Opportunity

Increasing Employment Outcomes for People with Disabilities

DOL recently announced that ODEP’s National Expansion of Employment Opportunities Network (NEON) initiative has selected 10 states (California, Colorado, Delaware, Hawaii, Kansas, Kentucky, Missouri, New York, Rhode Island, and Tennessee) and the District of Columbia to receive consulting and technical assistance to help them increase Competitive Integrated Employment. NEON provides national provider organizations and states with assistance from nationally recognized experts in aligning policy and funding and implementing promising practices.

• Read the press release

US Conference of Mayors Hosts Mental Health and Employment Working Group Meeting

Through its partnership with the ODEP’s State Exchange on Employment & Disability’s Mental Health Initiative, the U.S. Conference of Mayors hosted a Special Session on Mental Health for a Strong Workforce on Tuesday, January 17 during USCM’s Annual Winter Meeting. The special session, which marked the second convening of the SEED and USCM Mental Health and Employment Working Group, included welcoming remarks from ODEP Assistant Secretary Taryn Williams, a video introduction from Labor Secretary Marty Walsh and three panels of mayors who discussed efforts to address cities’ mental health needs and expanding the mental health care workforce.

• Read more about the USCM Annual Winter Meeting

Learn How Automated Surveillance Can Create Barriers for Workers with Disabilities

Employers are adopting new surveillance technologies to monitor and rank how employees move and behave on the job. However, these surveillance technologies can result in negative workplace cultures and even potentially cause legal issues for the employers who use them. The Partnership on Employment & Accessible Technology (PEAT)created a new resource that explains this growing concern.

• Read the PEAT resource to learn more

SEED Hosts Mental Health Matters National Task Force Meeting

Last week, ODEP’s State Exchange on Employment and Disability (SEED) Mental Health Initiative hosted its first Mental Health Matters National Task Force in Charleston, SC. The meeting, co-hosted by the Council of State Governments and National Conference of State Legislators, included participation from more than 35 state policymakers, along with subject matter experts, SEED partners and ODEP representatives. This two-day session featured presentations on a range of topics related to workforce mental health, including enhancing nondiscrimination, targeting underserved communities and addressing the behavioral health care workforce gap. The task force, which includes four subcommittees, will develop a series of policy briefs to help state and local policymakers better support workers and job seekers with mental health conditions.

• Learn more about SEED

New LEAD On Newsletter: Creating Inclusive Career Pathways

The Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act focuses on creating career pathways for job seekers so they can achieve their desired employment goals. Inclusive career pathways comprise programs and approaches designed to support people whose career options have been limited for a variety of reasons. Check out the new issue of the LEAD On Newsletter “Creating Inclusive Career Pathways: Strategies for Success” and explore online tools that provide workforce professionals with resources to help people with disabilities achieve employment and economic self-sufficiency.

• Read the newsletter here

Exploring Networks of Financial Support for Provider Transformation

Join the Employment First Community of Practice on Wednesday, February 15 from 3:00 – 4:00 PM ET for the webinar “Exploring Networks of Financial Support for Provider Transformation: An Update from California.” The webinar will revisit Bakersfield ARC (last featured in November 2021) and their transformative efforts to end practices involving subminimum wage and closing their sheltered workshop. In addition, learn how Bakersfield ARC took advantage of state funding and grant opportunities to advance their transformation, and hear from California state officials about how those grants were distributed and how such efforts can be replicated with success in other states.

• Register for the webinar here

U.S. Department of Labor
Office of Disability Employment Policy
DRIVING CHANGE • CREATING OPPORTUNITY

View this newsletter on our website

• Additional-Housing-Resources (1).pdf