Project HOPE
Homelessness Education Campaign
PANO is working with Project HOPE, Development Strategies, Home ARP, and the City of Wichita on a multi-part docuseries about homelessness in Sedgwick County.
Project Overview
A 2023 Point-in-Time Count of residents living without safe, stable housing in Sedgwick County is at an all-time high according to United Way of Plains, U.S. Dept. of Housing and Urban Development. Throughout 2022, agencies part of the Coalition to End Homelessness in Wichita/Sedgwick County served 3,082 individuals experiencing homelessness.
The City of Wichita has created Project HOPE as a collaborative effort to address homelessness and other issues within Wichita’s urban center. To secure additional resources for Project HOPE, the City of Wichita looked to the goals and objectives of the Byrne Criminal Justice Innovation grant as a tool to secure grant dollars to fund local efforts for providing shelter and resources for the homeless population.
In 2023, Development Strategies and Project HOPE contracted PANO to develop a video series as part of grant funding awarded for an education campaign about homelessness in Wichita. Pre-Production concluded in early 2024 and Production began in March of 2024.
Emergency Shelter
65%
65% In Emergency Shelters
In 2023, 456 people were living in an emergency shelter during the Point-in-Time count.
Unsheltered
21%
21% Unsheltered
In 2023, 150 people were living without any shelter during the Point-in-Time count.
Transitional Housing
14%
14% In Transitional Housing
In 2023, 96 people were living in transitional housing during the Point-in-Time count.
Adults
75%
70% Adults
In 2023, 529 people counted during the Point-in-Time count were age 24 or older.
Children
18%
18% Children
In 2023, 125 people counted during the Point-in-Time count were under the age of 18.
Youths
7%
7% Youths
In 2023, 48 people counted during the Point-in-Time count were between the age of 18-24.
Males
70%
70% Males
In 2023, 493 people counted during the Point-in-Time count identified as male.
Female
29%
29% Female
In 2023, 216 people counted during the Point-in-Time count identified as female.
Other
1%
7% Youths
In 2023, 493 people counted during the Point-in-Time count identified as nonbinary, transgender, or other.
In 2023, 456 people were living in an emergency shelter during the Point-in-Time count.
In 2023, 150 people were living without any shelter during the Point-in-Time count.
In 2023, 96 people were living in transitional housing during the Point-in-Time count.
In 2023, 529 (75%) people counted during the Point-in-Time count were age 24 or older. 18% were Children under the age of 18 and 7% were youths between the age of 18-24.
In 2023, 493 people counted during the Point-in-Time count identified as male, 216 identified as female, and 5 identified as nonbinary/transgender.
Production Timeline
PANO is working in conjunction with Shocker Studios and the Wichita State University School of Digital Arts on a multi-part docuseries about homelessness in Wichita. Principle filming is currently underway and will wrap in late Summer – early Fall of 2024. The video series will consist of interviews, documentation of current events, and stories of homelessness in the Wichita community.
Parts (or all) of the docuseries are expected to be screened publicly at the 2024 Tallgrass Film Festival (details to come). As well, episodes and additional content will be released via online and streaming channels in 2024 and beyond.
Homelessness is a complicated issue. It is our hope that this project helps shed light on what the city is doing to address it, what it is like to be homeless in Wichita, and how we as a community can work together to make sure every Wichitan has a roof over their head and access to the care they need.
Schedule an Interview a Meeting
PANO is currently in production (filming) what will become a multi-episode docuseries that focuses on lived experiences of homelessness, resources for those experiencing homelessness, and the experiences of people and businesses impacted by homelessness. We are interested in hearing from you if you have a story to share that you feel should be part of this project.
Homelessness is a complicated issue, and thus there are many stories to be documented to provide the scope of the conversation. We want to hear from people who are living, or have lived, in a homelessness situation. We want to hear from subject matter experts who are on the “front lines” providing resources to those in need. We want to hear from those whose businesses and lives have been impacted by homelessness…negatively or positively. We want to hear from YOU!
People We Are Seeking Stories From
We are seeking stories of those who are currently experiencing homelessness. This includes living in a shelter, without shelter, transitional housing, in danger of becoming homeless, or recently left homelessness.
We are seeking stories of those who have experienced homelessness at some point. This includes having lived in a shelter, without shelter, transitional housing, etc.
We are seeking to interview subject matter experts who are working to provide resources to those experiencing homelessness. This includes government officials, outreach organizational members, religious organizations, and others with real-life experience working with homeless populations.
We are seeking to interview business owners, property managers, tenants, and those whose lives and work are impacted by homelessness. While this impact is typically negative, we want to hear any story as it is imperative to finding a path forward.
We are seeking to interview landlords and those working in affordable housing throughout the Wichita area. We want to hear what you feel is working, what isn’t working, and where you feel there is room for improvement.
We want to hear from the general public of Wichita and the surrounding area. How does the city’s homeless population impact how you navigate or perceive our city? What is the city doing right? What could it do better? How does it impact you?
Sign Release Form
If you have an interview scheduled, or have been asked to sign a release by a member of our crew, you can sign a release form online. We require a release from all interviewees and participants granting us (on behalf of our clients) to use your likeness for this project.
Release For Dependents
Release form for parent or legal guardian of person age 17 or younger.
Next Steps
This phase of the project will conclude in Fall of 2024. PANO will be editing the videos collected into a multi-episode series to be released online via City of Wichita channels and through various community partners. As well, all or parts of the series will be screened at this year’s Tallgrass Film Festival, October 24-27, 2024.
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