affordable housing

An anonymous donor provided the initial funding for Pope Leo Village, in honor of the first American Pope. It will be comprised of eight renovated homes in northeast Wichita.

Even in the Midwest, the cost of life’s essentials is going up. Rising everyday expenses, including food, energy and transportation, are straining household budgets. We invite you to share how you are affording life in 2026 in a short survey.

After the Shawnee City Council unanimously passed a first-of-its-kind ordinance that restricts how many unrelated people can live in a single-family home, some community members argued it could worsen the area's housing shortage. Opponents say they will appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court.

The Bryant School has sat vacant since 2009. KCPS wants to convert it into workforce housing — if they get a proposal that neighbors and teachers can support.

Kansas City's spending will remain relatively flat compared to previous years as the city tries to rein in its deficit. Still, some areas, like police spending, have continued to increase.

Fran Sutton is reshaping Wyandotte County’s housing landscape by turning vacant lots — purchased from the land bank — into affordable homes that cater to a variety of needs.

For five years, Kansas City has required developers to set aside affordable housing units if they get a tax break — but Port KC undermined that rule by offering its own incentives. Under a proposal by Mayor Quinton Lucas, Kansas City Council is considering slashing the fee by 95%.

One Kansas bill earned bipartisan support for encouraging easier processes for building “middle housing." But another would ban cities and towns from passing laws that require landlords to accept federal housing vouchers.

The proposal would allow renters to pay their monthly rent in multiple payments so long as all is paid in full and on time.

Kansas City adopted stricter energy conservation codes in 2023, hoping that neighboring cities would follow its lead. Instead, it may have become a competitive disadvantage, as Kansas City saw a drop in building permit applications while its neighbors saw big spikes.

Habitat for Humanity of Kansas City is building entire neighborhoods of affordable housing in Kansas. The nonprofit is using a real estate tool known as a community land trust to ensure the homes remain affordable forever. Plus: The USDA's "Climate Hubs" have helped farmers adapt to a changing climate, but their funding may be in jeopardy.

The projects use community land trusts to sell homes at a reduced price and keep them affordable in the future. Habitat for Humanity of Kansas City is using the real estate tool to build entire neighborhoods that aim to help address the state’s affordable housing shortage.