10/08/26 Affordable Housing Advisory Board

The Affordable Housing Advisory Board meeting on October 8, 2026, featured presentations from applicants seeking 2027 Affordable Housing Trust Fund support. The board heard proposals spanning rental and utility assistance, transitional housing, accessibility modifications and home repairs, and new affordable housing development. Notable requests included $75,000 from the Lawrence-Douglas County Housing Authority for its New Horizons program; $350,000 from Sენტ Inc. for ownership homes at Holcomb; $500,000 for 94 senior apartments at 711 New Hampshire; and $462,000 for the Locust Street redevelopment. Flint Hills Holdings Group requested $280,000 plus an $80,000 fee waiver for East Heights, and $320,000 plus an $80,000 fee waiver for New Hampshire Lofts II. Other applicants presented, but their requested amounts were not stated clearly in the transcript. No funding awards or related spending votes were made; applicant discussion and questions were deferred to the October 14 meeting, with board members able to send questions to staff in advance.

Staff noted that the Douglas County Housing Stabilization Collaborative application was late but accepted for board consideration, that the Locust Street application had been updated, and that questions had been raised about including market-rate units in Flint Hills’ fee-waiver and per-unit subsidy calculations. The board approved the prior meeting’s minutes. The meeting focused on reviewing funding applications and did not make procurement or contract-award decisions.