By Scott Lauck
Missouri Lawyers Media
The Kansas City Police Department wants to end homelessness in the Kansas City region. The department will host a conference from 9:30 a.m. to noon on June 26 to explore ways to create systemic change in the current methods of dealing with the problem. The conference, “From This Day Forward: Ending Homelessness in Kansas City,” will take place at the Kansas City Police Academy, 6885 NE Pleasant Valley Road.
A video now on the Kansas City Police Department’s Web site, www.kcpd.org, called “What is the Cost of Doing Nothing?” explores the financial impact of letting the problem of homelessness continue as it has been - handled largely by public safety agencies and the judicial system.
“Our mental illness policy in this country has made homelessness a law enforcement problem,” said Evelyn Craig, executive director of reStart Inc. and co-chair of the Homelessness Summit Task Force.
Police Chief James Corwin and other leaders from law enforcement, the judiciary, hospitals, shelters and others have been meeting for more than a year and a half to create a blue-ribbon commission that would sway public policy toward creating solutions that compassionately eliminate homelessness in the greater Kansas City metropolitan area.
The conference will feature a panel discussion with Municipal Court Judge Joe Locascio, Downtown Council CEO Bill Dietrich, Mayor Mark Funkhouser, Chief James Corwin and former city council member Alvin Brooks.
Copyright 2009 Dolan Media Newswires