photo by: Journal-World

The west side of the Douglas County Courthouse, 1100 Massachusetts St.

Douglas County commissioners will consider an agreement for the county’s flexible housing pool program that includes a new partner in place of Bert Nash Community Mental Health Center amid the organization’s staffing shortages.

On Wednesday, county commissioners will review a proposed agreement covering the rest of 2025 and all of 2026 with a new partner, Mental Health America of the Heartland — a nonprofit that offers mental health resources, advocacy, and education throughout the Kansas City metro area. If approved, the organization would join the county’s “flexible housing pool” program, taking the place of Bert Nash. The program provides financial assistance for rent, utilities and other expenses to help individuals move toward stable, long-term housing.

As the Journal-World reported, county commissioners originally approved an agreement in March outlining the roles and responsibilities each organization – the county, the Lawrence-Douglas County Housing Authority and Bert Nash – will play in the program.

The county’s role is to provide the funding for the program. In the 2025 and 2026 budgets, commissioners set aside about $600,000 generated by the behavioral health sales tax, which will help up to 22 households transition into more stable housing. Not all of that money goes directly to tenants in the form of rental and utility assistance, though; some of it will be used for the program’s overhead, and some will be used to provide case management and other supportive services for the tenants.

The supportive services were designated to be Bert Nash’s responsibility, and it was to evaluate each participant in the program and create a “housing self-sufficiency plan” for them. That could include referring them to mental health services or employment assistance; helping them apply for other benefits; and anything else that might help them maintain their housing. Meanwhile, LDCHA would administer the financial assistance.

In a memo to commissioners, county staff is proposing that Mental Health America of the Heartland replace Bert Nash as the supportive housing services provider due to staffing shortages at Bert Nash. This change would become effective Nov. 21 and continue into 2026. For the rest of 2025, the agreement would provide Mental Health America of the Heartland $22,958, and in 2026 it would provide $164,274.

Bert Nash has been struggling financially for several months now. In May, Bert Nash cut around 30 employees, and other select employees had taken pay cuts. This means the organization stands today around the same size as it was last year. Patrick Schmitz, the former CEO, also resigned in June and board members chose Kirsten Watkins as interim CEO the same day.

“Since the program launched seven months ago the program learned that a key component for success is sufficient supportive housing staff capacity,” the memo said. “In light of staffing capacity challenges at the Bert Nash Community Mental Health Center, County Administration explored alternative approaches with a new community partner, (Mental Health America of the Heartland). Shifting supportive housing service providers for the (flexible housing pool) was discussed in close consultation with Bert Nash, LDCHA, and (flexible housing pool) Referral Committee members.”

Mental Health America of the Heartland’s Heartland Housing Initiative currently owns and operates two permanent housing sites for homeless individuals with a mental health diagnosis in Leavenworth and Kansas City, Missouri. The organization partners with private landlords throughout Kansas to provide permanent supportive housing for chronically homeless individuals with a mental health diagnosis.

In other business, county commissioners will:

• Consider the county’s participation in a 15-year, 95% tax rebate for the redevelopment of the Reuter Organ building at 612 New Hampshire St. and nearby properties at 614-616 New Hampshire St. in downtown Lawrence. City commissioners have already approved a 22-year incentive package that includes the rebate on new construction and a new sales tax district adding a 2% sales tax within the building, with a total value of up to $2.95 million. The Lawrence school board will also be asked to participate.

The project’s goal is to create 10 new residential units in the larger Reuter building, with seven two-bedroom units, two studio/one-bedroom units and one three-bedroom unit. Four commercial units would be developed as well, distributed among the first floor, second floor, rooftop and basement. The smaller building on the south side would be redeveloped to house three commercial units.

• Consider authorizing the county administrator to proceed with a framework for a proposed Youth Apprenticeship Challenge Grant, which is intended to provide area youth access to pre-apprenticeship and technical career development opportunities. As the Journal-World reported, county commissioners approved $62,500 in funding for the grant, but they wanted further clarification on how school districts and industry partners will be engaged in the grant.

In June, Peaslee Tech launched its $10 million endowment campaign to provide scholarships for low-income high school students and other eligible Douglas County residents for its courses and its long-term financial stability. The commissioners will use the grant money to encourage new investments by local businesses, civic organizations, foundations and private donors toward the fundraising goal established by Peaslee Tech. A memo in the agenda said Douglas County will match contributions of $5,000 or greater dollar-for-dollar up to the $62,500 cap.

• Hear a presentation about the findings and recommendations from a Heritage Partners Needs Assessment — a project initiated and funded by the Heritage Conservation Office to identify the strengths and challenges of local heritage organizations. A memo in the agenda said the next steps following the assessment include creating a mini strategic plan for the Douglas County heritage partners that defines its mission, vision and values and sets one or two key goals for the coming year — such as collective fundraising, shared resources, collaborative programming or advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion.

The county’s heritage partner organizations include the Douglas County Heritage Conservation Council, Douglas County Historical Society, Clinton Lake Historical Society, Eudora Historical Society, Freedom’s Frontier National Heritage Area, Lecompton Historical Society and the Santa Fe Trail Historical Society.

Once the plan is in place, it’s recommended that the partners formalize the partnership through a memorandum of understanding that outlines the benefits, responsibilities and expectations of partners. Then, partners should establish a regular meeting schedule to share updates and coordinate upcoming activities.

• Hold a work session for an update on the collaboration between Lawrence-Douglas County Public Health, Mobile Integrated Health and Project Lively/Jayhawk Area Agency on Aging to meet the needs of vulnerable seniors in the county. The session will discuss the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and challenges in meeting those needs, according to a memo in the agenda. No action will be taken during the session, as it is for informational purposes only.

The County Commission’s work session will begin at 4 p.m. Wednesday in the Douglas County Commission meeting room at 1100 Massachusetts St. The business meeting will follow at 5:30 p.m. The meeting will also be available via Zoom.