Transitioning to a Multi-Agency Center
As Wichita’s MAC winter homeless shelter prepares to transition into a multi-agency center (MAC), the focus is shifting from providing temporary shelter to offering year-round access to essential services. This change, set to take effect in April, aims to connect individuals experiencing homelessness with critical resources, including healthcare, housing assistance, and mental health support. While some healthcare services are already available at the temporary shelter, they are not sufficient to prevent frequent calls to emergency services. When uninsured individuals require emergency care, the county is left covering the costs, making the expansion of on-site healthcare at the Wichita’s MAC a financial challenge.
Currently, two nonprofit organizations are providing healthcare support at the shelter. Hunter Health offers limited services with a nurse available two mornings a week, while ICT Street Team provides physical and mental healthcare, along with prescription services, through a staff member and paramedic working two days per week. As the Wichita’s MAC becomes fully operational, both organizations are looking to expand their services to offer more consistent and comprehensive medical care. “Our hope is to be able to get more people there to cover most of the hours of the day,” said Jonathan Piper, clinical care coordinator and paramedic with ICT Street Team.
Reducing Emergency Calls with On-Site Care Wichita’s MAC
One of the primary motivations behind expanding healthcare services at the Wichita’s MAC is to reduce unnecessary emergency calls. Many of the cases requiring emergency response involve treatable conditions such as flu and cold symptoms. “A solid majority of the emergency calls could probably have been handled on-site if the necessary resources were available,” Piper noted.
Hunter Health CEO Amy Feimer echoed this sentiment, highlighting that having more consistent healthcare coverage at the MAC could ease the burden on emergency services. However, funding remains a significant obstacle. ICT Street Team estimates it would need approximately $500,000 to support a fully staffed care team operating Monday through Friday. Given the uncertainties surrounding federal and healthcare-related grants, securing the necessary funding is proving to be a challenge. “Healthcare funding, federal funding for grants—there’s a lot of uncertainty around that,” Feimer explained.
Wichita’s MAC Planning and Collaboration for Sustainable Solutions
With the Wichita’s MAC board set to assume control of the winter shelter in April, stakeholders are working on a plan to sustain and expand services. The board released a statement expressing its commitment to working alongside the City of Wichita and service providers to make the MAC a functional, one-stop resource for those experiencing homelessness. They emphasized that transitioning the emergency shelter into a year-round facility is a significant achievement, but additional planning is needed to ensure long-term success.
Discussions are ongoing with healthcare professionals, behavioral health specialists, substance use counselors, and emergency service providers to establish an efficient and effective healthcare delivery model within the MAC. The board remains optimistic about the potential for a collaborative approach, drawing on best practices from similar community initiatives. “The commitment of these partners to find a collaborative solution is exciting for the community,” the board stated. As plans continue to take shape, the MAC aims to provide a model of coordinated care that addresses both immediate and long-term needs of Wichita’s homeless population.
