Vacant Buildings, Homelessness and Neighborhood Policy Review

On May 12, 2026, I submitted research and recommendations to Independence City Manager Troy Anderson regarding homelessness, encampments, repeat emergency-service calls, and their impacts on neighborhoods, businesses, and taxpayers. After studying coordinated-response models used in other communities, particularly Houston, I proposed exploring a smaller Independence pilot that would bring existing agencies, nonprofits, behavioral-health professionals, and public safety personnel together to improve coordination, reduce repeated emergency-service utilization, and measure results. The recommendation emphasized helping individuals achieve greater stability while maintaining accountability for criminal conduct. No new large-scale program was proposed without first evaluating local resources, costs, and measurable outcomes.