Housing Services Annual Reports
2025 Housing Services Annual Report
Heather McNeive, Housing Services Director
Welcome to the new format of the Housing Services Annual Report for 2025. We are proud to share this year’s accomplishments, milestones, and the stories of the households we serve within our community. Each year brings new challenges and opportunities, and 2025 was a year that called for flexibility, creativity, and an unwavering commitment to our mission.
Throughout the year, Housing Services successfully adapted to a changing federal funding environment while continuing to uphold our responsibility to serve the lowest-income and most vulnerable members of our community. Even as requirements evolved, our focus remained the same: providing safe, stable, and affordable housing opportunities with dignity and respect.
This year was also marked by meaningful growth. Housing Services expanded its impact by launching HOME-ARP Supportive Services funding with new subrecipient partners, allowing us to reach households facing the greatest barriers to housing stability. We also strengthened our direct services by welcoming a new Housing Counselor, enhancing our ability to guide residents toward long-term financial success and housing stability.
As you read this report, we hope you see more than numbers and programs. Behind every accomplishment is a household gaining stability, a family finding a safe place to live, or a resident taking the next step toward independence. These successes are made possible through the dedication of our staff, the collaboration of our partners, and the continued support of the community we serve.
Thank you for your interest in Housing Services and for supporting the work that makes our community stronger.
Housing Choice Voucher Program
The Johnson County Housing Authority manages the Housing Choice Voucher program. This program provides critical rental subsidies to low-income families in our community to promote housing stabilization and self-sufficiency. Having affordable, stable housing in high opportunity areas in Johnson County means children have access to high quality education and job opportunities for working adults. A housing voucher means an elderly or disabled neighbor on a fixed income can live independently with dignity.
2025 Highlights:
- Average total monthly Housing Assistance Payments (HAP) directly to landlords: $1,234,155
- 33% elderly
- 29% disabled
Landlord Incentive Program
Landlord Liaison Jessa Molina alongside Kurtis McNabb, honored as the 2025 Landlord of the Year for his dedication to our community.
The Landlord Incentive Program recruits landlords and property managers to lease affordable rental units to vulnerable families with Housing Choice Vouchers through Johnson County and Olathe Housing Authorities and Permanent Supportive Housing vouchers through Johnson County Mental Health. New in 2025, the incentive was expanded to include homeless Rapid Rehousing households through the Continuum of Care and increased to three times the monthly rent for Foster Youth to Independence households. These updates have allowed more homeless individuals and families to access affordable housing units in our community.
2025 Highlights:
- 24 new landlords recruited
- 64 households benefited
- Over $130,000 of incentive funds distributed to landlords
In November, the Johnson County Housing Authority hosted a Landlord Appreciation Event to honor the valuable contributions of our landlord partners. As part of the celebration, we recognized the Landlord of the Year, awarded to the Westbrooke Glen Community Manager with Axiom Properties, Kurtis McNabb.
This year, tenants were invited to nominate their landlords for the award, providing an opportunity to highlight those who go above and beyond in supporting residents. Staff then reviewed the nominations and voted to select the winner. One tenant shared the following reflection about the award recipient:
“He makes sure all my needs are met. He does a great job regulating apartment chores and handles responsibilities well. Overall, he is an outstanding individual, a team leader, and a great apartment community manager—the best!”
Foster Youth to Independence (FYI) Program
The Foster Youth to Independence (FYI) housing voucher program is for young adults that have aged out of foster care and are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless. Data shows that almost half of the young adults that age out of foster care will experience homelessness early in their lives. The Johnson County Housing Authority has 19 FYI vouchers for young adults in our community exiting foster care. These FYI vouchers will continue to be permanently available for this vulnerable population moving forward. Partner agencies identify eligible young adults and provide case management to pursue their employment, educational, and savings goals. Our partners are Johnson County Mental Health, FosterAdopt Connect, and the Kansas Department for Children and Families.
Client Story
Michelle aged out of foster care, has a young baby, and now an affordable apartment thanks to the FYI program. She experienced homelessness prior stating, “I … have lived in my car before. I didn't have anywhere to go — money for food, money for housing, money for even gas. I would stay in my car in the parking lot of a hotel I worked at… My apartment I live in now is $1,100... If I didn’t have the help I have from the housing authority, I wouldn’t be able to afford it. For youth aging out, it’s scary.” Her family now has stability and place to work toward their goals due to the FYI program and the case management provided by our partner organization, FosterAdopt Connect.
Family Self-Sufficiency Program
The Family Self-Sufficiency (FSS) program assists working HCV families with goals like education, employment, and homeownership. As families increase their earned income from employment, an interest-bearing escrow savings account is set up for them. They receive access to their escrow funds to further their goals, typically for tuition, car repair, and down payments on homes. Homeownership is the goal of most of the families that participate in the FSS program.
2025 Highlights:
- 52 households participating
- $107,773 total funds held in escrow to benefit FSS households when they accomplish their self-sufficiency goals
Tiana enrolled in the Family Self-Sufficiency (FSS) program in June 2024 with the goal of completing a two-year nursing program. She earned her Associate’s degree in nursing from Johnson County Community College in December 2025 and has been accepted to the University of Kansas to pursue her bachelor’s degree. With support from the FSS program and rental assistance, she has been able to focus on her education without the burden of rising housing costs. She is also strengthening her financial skills and is working toward purchasing a home by 2029.
Home Repair Programs
Minor Home Repair
The Minor Home Repair program assists eligible Johnson County homeowners with health and safety focused mechanical system repairs and accessibility modifications. Typical projects include plumbing, water heater replacement, ramp and handrail installation, concrete work, and energy efficiency improvements.
2025 Accomplishments:
- 29 projects completed in 2025
- Total Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds invested in 2025: $147,658
HOME Rehabilitation
The HOME Rehabilitation program assists income eligible Johnson County homeowners with the rehabilitation needs of their homes. Health and safety issues, accessibility needs and correcting local code violations are addressed through the program. The program accomplishes two goals: maintaining the affordable housing stock available in our community and providing opportunities for homeowners on fixed incomes to keep their homes in good condition for them to age-in-place in a safe environment.
2025 Accomplishments:
- 18 projects completed in 2025
- Total HOME funds spent in 2025: $632,913
Home Repair Gallery
Finances
Housing Services manages federal grants from the Department of Housing and Urban Development to directly benefit the citizens of Johnson County. The two largest grants are Housing Choice Voucher and HOME Investment Partnerships Program (HOME). Housing Services also has Emergency Housing Vouchers, Foster Youth to Independence Housing Vouchers, and Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) awards.
- The HCV program is direct rental assistance subsidies for low-income elderly, disabled, and working families in our community. The HCV program invested over $14,733,000 of federal funds into the private sector by paying rent directly to landlords on behalf of low-income HCV participants.
- The HOME Investment Partnerships Program grant (HOME) seeks to improve and expand affordable housing in Johnson County. This is done through single-family, homeowner rehabilitation projects (HOME Rehab) and affordable housing development project support. Housing Services invested over $672,900 of federal HOME funds directly into affordable housing in 2025. The HOME grant is also used to support non-profit Community Housing Development Organizations (CHDOs) with their operating expenses.
- The EHV program is for homeless families and those fleeing domestic violence. It provides rental subsidies similar to HCV directly to landlords. The EHV program invested over $381,500 of federal funds into the private sector by paying rent directly to landlords on behalf of low-income EHV participants.
- Housing Services receives CDBG awards to facilitate the Minor Home Rehab program in Johnson County. Housing Services expended over $147,600 in CDBG funds on 29 home repair projects in 2025.
- The Landlord Incentive Program is funded by the county to support the HCV, EHV, Permanent Supportive Housing, and Rapid Rehousing Programs. Sign on bonuses are paid to landlords that sign a 12-month lease with low-income families. Over $130,000 of local funding was invested to support housing stability in our community in 2025.
Habitat Build Day
Planning, Housing & Community Development staff volunteered for a Habitat Build Day in October 2025 at the Pathway at Heritage Park development in Olathe. It was a great opportunity to support our partner, Habitat for Humanity of Kansas City.
In 2025, Housing Services began paying out the $1 million award of HOME funds to Habitat for Humanity of KC to support the construction of 5 homes at the site.
Habitat Build Day Gallery
Upcoming in 2026
- HOME Rehab Program
- Total investment into the health and safety needs of the homes increased to $50,000
- Updated maximum value of homes assisted as of December 1, 2025: $328,000
- Housing Counselor
- Offering case management and HOME-ARP rent assistance to tenants in the Eviction Mediation Program
- Hosting events for the public on Fair Housing and financial education
- HOME-ARP Supportive Services
- Five subrecipient organizations distributing rent, utility, and transportation assistance
- Funding anticipated to be spent down in 2026
- HOME-ARP Rental Housing project with Metro Lutheran Ministry
- 16 rental housing units for those experiencing homelessness and at-risk populations
- Ribbon cutting on April 10, 2026 for National Community Development Week
- HOME Development
- Investment of HOME funds into rental unit development for income eligible households.
- Two projects for Board approval in 2026.