Press Releases

With severe storms forecasted to impact the Topeka area on Wednesday, the City of Topeka is prepared to respond to potential storm damage and is mobilizing resources to assist with storm debris clean-up.

To report downed city-owned trees, blocked streets or sidewalks from tree debris, or traffic light issues, residents are encouraged to contact the City of Topeka Call Center at 785-368-3111 or report through the SeeClickFix app or webpage. Crews will prioritize moving debris to the side of the road to reopen traffic access as swiftly as possible.

The City of Topeka will focus on clearing city-owned trees and ensuring roadways remain accessible. Should severe storm damage affect large portions of the city, the City Manager will determine if the city will initiate a city-wide storm damage pickup. If city-wide pickup is not implemented, property owners are responsible for removing and disposing of their own tree limbs and other debris. Stay tuned for further updates as the City of Topeka continues to monitor the storm. Please follow the City of Topeka on social media or visit the city’s website for the latest information.

The City of Topeka has officially closed the application process for the position of police chief. A total of 18 applicants applied for the role. The recruiting firm SGR will now begin the process of narrowing the pool down to four or five finalists.

To give residents an opportunity to meet the finalists, the city will host a public meet and greet on Wednesday, November 6, at the Emerald Ballroom in Hotel Topeka, located at 1717 SW Topeka Blvd.
The event will take place from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. and will provide community members the chance to interact with the candidates and ask questions.

“We are excited to meet with the finalists and engage with the community as we select our next police
chief,” said City Manager Dr. Robert Perez. “It’s important that the candidates reflect our values and will work towards the goals outlined in our public input sessions. We invite all members of the community to participate and share their thoughts during this important time.”

Following the public event, there will be a special meeting of the Governing Body at 6 p.m. on Thursday,
November 7, to discuss the police chief candidates, with the goal of selecting the next leader of the Topeka Police Department. They will meet in executive session.

The city will continue to provide updates on the search as the process moves forward.

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) announced the City of Topeka will receive $1.7 million to fund its homeless housing and service program, Shelter Plus Care. The City was awarded an additional $51,737 in planning funds to help the homeless population.

This announcement comes one day after the City reported an increase in the homeless population from its annual Point in Time Homeless Count.

According to the count, 365 people, and 297 households are experiencing homelessness in Topeka and Shawnee County. 40% of the homeless population are unsheltered, meaning they are not living in an emergency shelter or in transitional housing.

“Shelter Plus Care helps around 240 households on a given month. This renewal of funding can help some of those unsheltered individuals in the community, as that number is increasing,” said Corrie Wright, Division Director of Housing Services for the City of Topeka.

Shelter Plus Care is a program designed to provide rental assistance to homeless persons with disabilities, including severe and persistent mental illness, chronic problems with alcohol and/or drugs. Participants may choose their residence from units where the landlord agrees to accept the established housing subsidy, and abide by the Shelter Plus Care program guidelines.

In order to be eligible for Shelter Plus Care, you must meet all of the following criteria:

• You are homeless, living in the streets or shelter
• You suffer from one of the following disabilities; severe mental illness, chronic substance abuse, and/or HIV/AIDS
• You are receiving case management services through one of the designated agencies

For a full list of criteria, and for more information about Shelter Plus Care, visit https://www.topeka.org/housing-services/shelter-plus-care/.

Shelter Plus Care can only accept referrals from the agencies providing case management.

 

The U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) announced the City of Topeka will receive a Raise Grant of $25 million to serve disadvantaged census tracts.

The project will cover 50 miles to construct new or improved sidewalks that will transform the River Road and other locations. The City of Topeka’s project is just one of 148 that were selected by the Biden-Harris Administration for the Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity (RAISE) discretionary grant program. This project will help ensure pedestrians will have safe and equitable access to daily destinations and local bus routes.

“This grant in the amount of $25 Million will allow us to do some transformative projects for the City of Topeka.” said Public Works Director Braxton Copley.

Key Transformative Projects:

• NE River Rd: NE Crane to NE Emmett Shared-Use Path, which will provide safe access between the Oakland neighborhood and Downtown Topeka.
• SE California Ave: 10^th St to 10^th Ave, which will provide a much safer pedestrian connection between NE Topeka to SE Topeka, as well as access to Topeka Cemetery and transit stops.
• Areas of North Topeka, such as NE Norris St (near Topeka Rescue Mission Distribution Center, ICI Manufacturing, and Topeka North Outreach Food Bank).
• The Central Highland Park neighborhood from SE Adams St to SE California Ave, and from SE 21^st St to SE 29^th

To learn more about the Department of Transportation’s announcement, please visit:

RAISE 2024 Fact Sheets (transportation.gov)

The City of Topeka announced today it’s successful bid for funding as part of the city’s participation in the City Inclusive Entrepreneurship (CIE) program, through the National League of Cities (NLC). The City of Topeka recently joined the CIE program, making commitments to anchor procurement as well as Hispanic and Latino businesses.

The city was awarded $30,000 from the NLC, with $15,000 to go towards each commitment. The first commitment is to encourage minority business owners to explore opportunities to contract with anchors, or large institutions like the city, state agencies, hospitals, and universities. The second is to encourage members of the Hispanic and Latin American community to explore entrepreneurship opportunities in Topeka.

The goal of the CIE program is to encourage cities to create the right policies, programs and practices that drive inclusive, entrepreneurship-led economic growth in their respective communities. By making these two public commitments, the City of Topeka is creating a shared vision for local stakeholders to rally around, positioning itself as an active leader in the innovation economy in Topeka, and highlighting the opportunity for partners to connect with us to help everyone reach a shared goal.

The CIE program is a network of over 250 municipalities across the country, which gives city staff access to hands-on assistance from NLC and program experts, peer learning opportunities, recognition of our work and financial support to implement new programs.

As part of the commitment to encourage anchor procurement amongst minority business owners, the city is planning to partner with community organizations which offer educational resources to small and diverse business owners and entrepreneurs about how to do business with the city. In order to encourage more Hispanic community members to explore entrepreneurship opportunities, the city will work towards reducing barriers and promoting opportunities to create a more vibrant and diverse business community in Topeka.

To learn more about the CIE program, visit www.nlc.org/initiative/city-inclusive-entrepreneurship/.

The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) announced the City of Topeka will receive $4,312,000 to enhance traffic and pedestrian safety.

This Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) grant is the largest competitive grant award the City has received. Topeka received the third largest SS4A amount awarded by the USDOT to 99 communities in the country during this first round of announcements. Additionally, the Build Kansas Fund will provide the city with the grant’s 20% match requirement, bringing the total funding to $5,390,000 at no fiscal impact to the city.

This funding will allow for the development of a holistic, community-wide strategic plan called the Comprehensive Safety Action Plan (CSAP). In addition to the CSAP, the funding will also allow the City to carry out demonstration activities in concurrence with the Plan to inform future infrastructure investment.

“By emphasizing safety impact, equity considerations, and collaborating with stakeholders, we are committed to creating a safer and more inclusive environment for all members of our community,” Director of Public Works Braxton Copley said.

Thirteen groups – including local, county and state organizations – provided letters of support for this application, demonstrating a strong endorsement from the community.

The SS4A discretionary program was established by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) with $5 billion in appropriated funds over five years, 2022-2026. This is the first BIL grant the City has been awarded. The SS4A program funds regional, local, and Tribal initiatives through grants to prevent roadway deaths and serious injuries.

For a full list of Round 1 grant recipients, visit Safe Streets and Roads for All Fiscal Year 2024 Planning and Demonstration Grant Awards by State (transportation.gov).

The City of Topeka has been awarded a $750,000 grant from Federal Home Loan Bank for the Property Maintenance Violation Rehabilitation program. The program will work with low-income homeowners with housing violations with the Property Maintenance Division and use the funding from the grant to help them restore their properties. The funds for the Property Maintenance Rehabilitation program will be available approximately January 1st, 2019.
“The Department of Neighborhood Relations is very excited to be helping more low-income families in Topeka. Many of the people we serve are not only low-income but elderly and sometimes disabled. This grant will allow us to help over 50 families with property maintenance rehabilitation on their homes in the upcoming year,” said Corrie Wright, Division Director of Housing Services for the Neighborhood Relations Department.
The Property Maintenance Rehabilitation Program will help enable residents to maintain a safe environment in their home. Qualifying repairs will include; collapsed or badly deteriorated sewer line, roof replacement, guttering, replacement of windows, weatherization, siding and other items as determined on a case by case basis by the Department of Neighborhood Relations. The rehabilitation completed is a grant to the homeowner with a maximum benefit of $20,000 and a minimum of assistance of $2,500. Capitol Federal® is the sponsor for this award and will be assisting the City of Topeka with the program.
“Capitol Federal® is proud to be the member Bank partnering with the FHLBank of Topeka and the City of Topeka in the Property Maintenance Rehabilitation Affordable Housing Program. As a leading Kansas residential real estate lender, CapFed® recognizes many low-income families live in homes which require costly repairs that can be difficult to make given budget constraints. Our goal is for this partnership to provide safe and healthy living spaces for area residents and have a positive impact on Topeka housing,” said Lloyd Rainge, Community Development Director for Capitol Federal.
Eligibility for the Property Maintenance Rehabilitation Program will require residents to:
 Have a Property Maintenance code violation

 Applicant household income must not exceed 50% of the current median household income as determined by HUD.
 The applicant must have resided in the property for more than one year.
 All Federal, State and local regulations must be met by the owner of the property to receive assistance.
 The program will not assist for home fire repair or rehabilitation nor flood repair or rehabilitation.
 The program will not assist homeowners that received Topeka Opportunity to Own (TOTO) assistance.
 The program will not assist to clean up properties, cut grass or other items not related to the home itself.
 The program will not assist a house with 30% or more replacement cost new.
 All repairs, as determined by the department to be necessary for the occupants, must be repaired. If the cost of the repairs exceeds the program limits, the owner shall be responsible for the payment of the additional funds.

The City of Topeka’s Property Maintenance Rehabilitation Program received a $750,000 grant from Federal Home Loan Bank of Topeka. Capitol Federal® Savings Bank is the sponsor for the grant, and will be assisting the City with the program.

The City’s Housing Services Division administers the Property Maintenance Rehabilitation Program, which assists low-income homeowners who need repairs to bring their homes up to code.

“We are very excited to be helping more low-income families in Topeka. Many of the people we serve are not only low-income, but elderly, and sometimes disabled. This grant will allow us to help over 50 families with property maintenance rehabilitation on their homes this year,” said Corrie Wright, Division Director of Housing Services.

The Property Maintenance Rehabilitation Program helps residents to maintain a safe environment in their home. Qualifying repairs include; collapsed or badly deteriorated sewer line, roof replacement, guttering, replacement of windows, weatherization, siding and other items as determined on a case by case basis the City’s Housing Services Division.

The rehabilitation is a grant to the homeowner with a maximum benefit of $20,000 and a minimum of assistance of $2,500. The homeowner does not have to pay the grant back.

Eligible households must have an active property maintenance code violation, and be on the deed of the property. Housing code violations must be for the home the person is residing in. Violations for detached garages, weeds, trees and trash removal are not eligible.

The City’s Housing Services Division determines eligibility for the Property Maintenance Rehabilitation Program. To request an application, call 785-368-3711.

 

Topeka is proud to share it has been recognized for achieving 2020 What Works Cities Certification at the silver level. What Works Cities (WWC) Certification evaluates how effectively cities are managed by measuring the extent to which city leaders incorporate data and evidence in their decision-making – whether they have the right people, processes, and policies in place to put data and evidence at the center of decision-making – against a national standard of excellence. WWC is a national initiative launched by Bloomberg Philanthropies in 2015.
Topeka is one of 16 cities to achieve Certification at the silver level. Over the past year, the city has demonstrated measurable progress on foundational data practices, representing Topeka’s commitment to advancing how data is used to better serve residents.
“The City of Topeka is data driven when establishing our strategic goals and priorities,” said by Mayor De La Isla. “By identifying the key issues our community is facing as a result of the coronavirus pandemic and comparing them to our strategic goals and priorities, we can begin to formulate tailor-made community recovery decisions that provides actionable, long-lasting solutions.”
Through improved data-driven management, Topeka has:
● Improved transparency efforts.
● Improved reporting to the Governing Body.
● Improved tracking of responsiveness to constituents.
What Works Cities Certification is inspiring a movement of cities that are doubling down on their commitment to building a more effective, more efficient, and more equitable local government that works for its residents, and using Certification as a roadmap for doing so. Nearly 200 U.S. cities have completed a What Works Cities Assessment; to date, only 24 cities have met the What Works Cities national standard in achieving Certification.

About What Works Cities: What Work Cities, launched by Bloomberg Philanthropies in April 2015, is a national initiative that helps cities use data and evidence more effectively to tackle their most pressing challenges and improve residents’ lives. It is one of the largest-ever philanthropic efforts to enhance cities’ use of data and evidence. Through the initiative’s expert partners, cities around the country are receiving technical assistance, guidance and resources to succeed in making more informed decisions, tackling local challenges, and delivering more effective services and programs for their residents. Cities in the What Works Cities network also gain access to a collaborative network of peers in cities across the country. For more information, visit whatworkscities.org.

Over the last year, Topeka and Shawnee County saw its homeless population grow, according to the annual Point in Time Homeless Count.

The count took place on Wednesday, January 26, 2022. The one-day event provides a snapshot of the individuals in our community who are experiencing homelessness, as defined by the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). Nearly 50 people helped with this year’s count.

According to the count, 365 people, and 297 households are experiencing homelessness in Topeka and Shawnee County. 64% of those who are homeless are male, while 36% are female. 40% of the homeless population are unsheltered, meaning they are not living in an emergency shelter or in transitional housing.

“The increase in the number of unsheltered homeless is no surprise to the Topeka/Shawnee County Homeless Task Force,” said Corrie Wright, Division Director of Housing Services for the City of Topeka. “The pandemic has made it more challenging to house people and we are desperately working on the solution. The count helps us recognize this disparity and fix it as quickly as possible.”

Below is a chart that breaks down the numbers from 2020, 2021 and 2022. For a more detailed look at the 2022 numbers, visit https://cot-wp-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/HousingSvcs/Point+in+Time+Count+-+2022.pdf.

 

	2020	2021	2022
People	401	298	365
Households	306	123	297
% of Veteran Households	10	16	10
% in an Emergency Shelter	63	52	45
% in Transitional Housing	13	13	15
% Unsheltered	24	35	40

 

To receive funding for programs, HUD requires communities complete a count each year. The count ensures the City can obtain the appropriate level of funding to be able to provide needed services to those experiencing homelessness and those at risk for homelessness.