Tallgrass Film Fest 2024

Hope in the Heartland: Wichita's Quest to End Homelessness Presented by the City of Wichita Housing & Community Services Department

Available in 33d 19h 37m 30s
Available October 28, 2024 3:00 AM UTC
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Presented by the City of Wichita Housing & Community Services Department

As homelessness increases each year in America, Wichita, Kansas is determined to find a way to address this challenge in their community. City leaders, outreach organizations, and community members have worked independently in the past. Now, in 2024, collaboration increases and a realistic roadmap to ending chronic homelessness in Wichita is revealed.


A documentary film crew follows this quest as Wichita seeks to become the next city in America to end chronic homelessness through an innovative approach to collaboration, a housing-first model, and a sense of community. Unhoused and housed members of the community share their stories, prompting discussions of misconceptions, challenges, and possible solutions.


Through the City’s “Project HOPE” (Homeless Outreach Proactive Engagement) initiative and the Wichita Police Department’s Homeless Outreach Team (HOT), we meet 22-year-old Caitlin living in “Narnia,” the city’s largest tent encampment. As Caitlin attempts to leave homelessness through city and nonprofit resources, major changes in local policy and federal laws directly influence her journey. Meanwhile, the City encounters numerous hurdles in its attempt to develop a Multi-Agency Center (MAC) to serve as a one-stop-shop for homeless outreach resources as they receive feedback from the community and face budget challenges.


Will the MAC get built? Will the City have funding for resources? Will Caitlin get housing? Will Wichita end chronic homelessness? Decide for yourself if Wichita will fall short of its goal or become a national model for other communities.


This film is a venture by Project HOPE and the City of Wichita. To learn more, visit https://www.wichita.gov/415/Project-HOPE.

  • Year
    2024
  • Runtime
    110 minutes
  • Language
    English
  • Country
    USA
  • Premiere
    World
  • Rating
    13+
  • Content Warning
    Images of homelessness and occasional strong language.
  • Social Media
  • Director
    Robert Thomas
  • Producer
    Calvin Shadle
  • Executive Producer
    Ryan W. Gates