Johnson County planning staff on Tuesday presented the proposed 2026 action plan that guides expenditure of federal Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) and HOME Investment Partnership funds, saying the plan will serve a range of needs across the county and is the second year of a five-year consolidated plan.

Leslie Davis, community development coordinator in Planning, Housing and Community Development, said the 2026 action plan followed a public development process that included citizen input and an online survey added in 2023. The draft plan was recommended by the housing and community development advisory committee by a 7–0 vote with two abstentions.

Davis outlined focus areas identified as critical needs: services for special populations and mental health, public facilities such as ADA‑accessible sidewalks and childcare centers, public services including emergency rental and utility assistance, and housing‑related activities such as home repair and production of new affordable units. She said the estimated projects in the plan would serve more than 8,000 Johnson County residents.

Heather McNeeve, housing services director, explained the Johnson County Home Consortium structure: the county receives HOME funds and partners with four cities — Olathe, Lenexa, Overland Park and Shawnee — guaranteeing a percentage of benefits for residents of each partner city while those cities provide a cash match. McNeeve said HOME funds are used for major home rehabilitation and to develop affordable housing projects such as Habitat for Humanity work in Olathe and rental projects identified in the plan.

Commissioners asked about coordination among faith groups, nonprofits and municipal programs that deliver home repair and modification work. Davis and McNeeve said the county participates in a regional Home Modification Group and coordinates with subrecipients including Habitat for Humanity and Metro Lutheran Ministry; a single intake application for multiple programs is a long‑term goal. Davis said cities' HOME dollars are committed to residents of those cities and the county tracks and guarantees that allocation via consortium agreements.

The board did not take a final vote at the agenda review; staff indicated the action plan will be considered at the business session.