The Stakes Just Got Real: Why Wichita’s Black Community Must Pay Attention to Housing, Health, and Who Controls the Money (Part 1)

Family, let’s talk plain. Policies are being made right now—at the city, state, and federal level—that will shape whether our neighborhoods grow or get left behind. These decisions may sound technical, but they hit us directly in the pocket, in our homes, and in our health.

This is not just about what an organization like RRCBA can do. It’s about what we can do together if we pull our voices, energy, and people power into one table.

Housing Money Is Drying Up

• Kansas recently cut back a major affordable housing program. Developers who build apartments for working families often use a tool called the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC). The state used to match part of that federal program, but now Kansas is phasing it out.

• Projects that depended on that funding will either race to meet deadlines or get shelved. That means fewer affordable homes being built, and the ones that are built will cost more to make happen.

Why this matters: If housing projects dry up, rents rise. Families get squeezed harder. We could demand that developers who still build in Wichita agree to Community Benefits Agreements—written commitments to provide jobs, affordable units, and opportunities for our neighborhoods.

Environmental Justice Funding Was Pulled

• Wichita State University had a $10 million Environmental Justice Center, funded by the federal government. That center was meant to help neighborhoods like ours deal with air quality, pollution, and access to clean environments. The funding was suddenly cut, and the work has been put on pause.

Why this matters: Without outside help, neighborhoods near highways, railroads, or industrial sites get left with higher asthma rates, hotter summers, and less green space. Together, we could push to rebuild that kind of capacity ourselves—training residents, gathering data, and demanding resources.

Millions in Federal Dollars Are Decided Locally

• Every few years, Wichita writes a plan for how to spend federal housing and community money. These are dollars that go into fixing up neighborhoods, supporting nonprofits, and building housing.

• Meetings are held, and decisions are made about where the money goes. Too often, the communities most affected aren’t in the room.

Why this matters: If we show up organized—with stories, data, and clear asks—we can shift where those millions go. Imagine those funds directed toward Black neighborhoods, Black-owned businesses, and programs that benefit our children.

Developers Already Get Incentives—We Can Demand Benefits in Return

• Wichita and Sedgwick County give out tax breaks and subsidies to attract developers. What most people don’t know is that the rules already allow “community and workforce benefits” to be considered when these deals are approved.

Why this matters: This is our opening. We could push every developer who asks for public money to sign agreements with the community: hiring locally, paying fair wages, reserving space for small Black-owned businesses, or helping to improve neighborhood health.

Approvals Are Moving Faster

• A new Kansas law forces cities and state agencies to approve building permits and environmental reviews on tighter deadlines. Developers like it because it speeds up projects.

Why this matters: If projects are moving faster, then so must we. We need to be organized early, so our voices are heard before deals are already done.

What We Could Do If We Pull Together

• Demand a fair share of housing dollars. Speak up when Wichita decides where federal housing money goes.

• Hold developers accountable. Tie every tax break to community promises.

• Fill the environmental justice gap. If the government won’t fund it, we can train and equip ourselves to gather proof and demand change.

• Show up united. When we bring receipts—rent burdens, asthma rates, vacant lots—leaders can’t ignore us.

This Is Just Part 1

This is the first in a series. Next, we’ll break down how Community Benefits Agreements work in everyday language, and how they can guarantee jobs, training for our kids, cleaner air, and affordable spaces for local businesses.

The point is simple: if we move as one, we win as one.