All Hands on Deck (AHOD) Announces Community Engagement Process

The multi-sector coalition led by United Way of Kaw Valley and Compassion Strategies will announce listening sessions with community members as a key part of efforts to end chronic homelessness in Topeka and Shawnee County.

Nov. 14, 2024, Topeka, KS—All Hands on Deck will kick off its community engagement phase with a press conference at 11:00am on Tuesday, November 19, 2024, at the Great Overland Station, 701 N Kansas Ave., in Topeka. The public is invited to attend.

All Hands on Deck, the Campaign to End Chronic Homelessness in Topeka and Shawnee County by 2030, is led by United Way of Kaw Valley and Compassion Strategies. “We are pleased to have United Way of Kaw Valley come alongside us in this critical effort,” said Barry Feaker, CEO of Compassion Strategies.

November is National Homelessness Awareness Month and National Homeless Youth Awareness Month and a fitting time to move All Hands on Deck to its community engagement phase.   

“Since 2016, all CoCs (Continuums of Care focused on homeless prevention and services) have seen a rise in their homeless counts. Topeka is no exception. As our numbers go up, so do the costs – the humanitarian, moral, and environmental as well as financial. We have an opportunity to turn the curve on this trend and end chronic homelessness by improving and investing in data-driven strategies that will improve systems of care and ensure more of our neighbors have a home,” said Brett Martin, Chair of All Hands on Deck and Vice President of Community Impact for United Way of Kaw Valley.

The All Hands on Deck Campaign to End Chronic Homelessness by 2030 comprises a multi-sector coalition of teams led by the Campaign’s “quarterbacks and assistant quarterbacks” under the guidance of “coaches.” A strategic development team guides the work of the coalition, vetting interventions and approaches while listening carefully to feedback from the community through the sector teams.  

Deep community engagement and ownership of the eventual solutions are essential to the success of the Campaign. The press conference on Tuesday, November 19 at 11:00am at the Great Overland Station will provide details on how and when community members can engage with All Hands on Deck.

For more information on the state of homelessness in Topeka and Shawnee County and All Hands on Deck, please visit:

All Hands on Deck presentation to a joint work session of Topeka City Council and Shawnee County Board of Commissioners on Oct. 8, 2024 (YouTube Video Recording): https://youtu.be/oSAmMwCsDdk?si=prqsWTBxXHUNcxI7  

“Our Community, Our Mission” Podcast by Topeka Rescue Mission Ministries,
Episode 237: https://bit.ly/TRMPodcasts  (scroll episode list)

“Investing in Good” podcast by Clayton Financial Partners: https://claytonwealthpartners.com/category/podcast/

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About All Hands on Deck

All Hands on Deck is developing and mobilizing a multi-sector community coalition framework to address and end chronic homelessness in Topeka and Shawnee County by 2030. Learn more at https://www.compassionstrategies.org/allhandsondeck.  

About United Way of Kaw Valley

United Way of Kaw Valley (UWKV) serves as a grant maker, community convenor, volunteer organizer and strategic partner for the nonprofit sector in Shawnee, Douglas, Jackson and Jefferson counties in northeast Kansas. Donor dollars are invested locally and support a broad range of initiatives that benefit the whole family in education, financial stability and health, as well as racial equity and family supports/basic needs. Learn more at https://www.uwkawvalley.org.    

About Compassion Strategies

Compassion Strategies believes that everyone has value and deserves a safe and stable place to call home. Its approach is built on collective empathy and understanding, as it prioritizes the needs of our neighbors experiencing homelessness with a compassionate mindset. Compassion Strategies works together with community partners and leaders to address the root causes of homelessness and provide effective, evidence-based solutions. Learn more at https://www.compassionstrategies.org.)