A Stronger Kansas: Advancing Housing, Health, and Economic Opportunity

/ Organization Update / By

SENT is proud to contribute to Kansas’ progress through initiatives that prioritize economic opportunity, community safety, and family well-being—core values that resonate across our state. I am reaching out to share SENT’s accomplishments and invite you to discuss how we can partner to further advance these priorities.

SENT’s Contributions to Kansas’ Progress

Kansas has made tremendous strides in recent years, including a remarkable improvement in mental health services rankings, moving from 51st to 22nd in the nation. SENT has played a role in this progress by:

  • Providing 1,565 counseling sessions over two years, including 370 offered free of charge and 215 at reduced rates, donating over $68,000 in mental health services.
  • Expanding access to mental health support to clients from 19 Kansas cities and towns, demonstrating SENT’s regional influence.
  • Hosting group therapy sessions that served 638 individuals, fostering trauma recovery and community healing.
  • Providing a fee-adjusted scale for counseling services, with session costs as low as $5 and free treatment available for individuals making below 50% of the Area Median Income (AMI).
  • Launching a low-barrier, client-choice food pantry, which served 1,671 families from 38 zip codes in 2024 alone, distributing nearly 80,000 pounds of food in just 16 weeks.

Advancing Housing, Economic Stability, and Healthcare Access

Affordable housing and economic stability are essential to fostering thriving communities:

  • According to the ALICE report, 39% of Kansas households—including 50.7% in Senate District 19—struggle to afford basic necessities. SENT has taken bold steps to address these challenges:
    • Rehabilitated over 25 homes since our inception, including the completion of Topeka’s first Net Zero house and building the first new home in the Hi-Crest neighborhood in over 60 years in 2019, providing sustainable and dignified living conditions for low-income families.
    • Laid the groundwork for a 60-home subdivision and a 180-unit affordable apartment complex, with construction scheduled to break ground by 2026.
    • Distributed hundreds of air conditioning units to families in need, ensuring safe and comfortable living environments.
    • Utilized the Aspen Institute’s 2Gen Approach to provide educational and workforce development opportunities for both children and adults.

Healthcare access is another pressing issue:

  • Southeast Topeka faces some of the highest uninsured rates in Kansas.
  • SENT’s Comprehensive Healthcare Coverage Approach includes:
    • Medicaid enrollment support for eligible families.
    • Affordable telehealth options through Aimee Health, the same service used by NASA astronauts on the space station, offering urgent and primary care services at low cost for just $5/month.
    • The Southside Wellness Clinic, which provides walk-in care, well women’s care, substance use disorder treatment, routine lab tests, vaccinations, physical exams, telemedicine consultations, and medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD), ensuring comprehensive health services for the community.

Substance Use Disorder Program

SENT’s Substance Use Disorder (SUD) program is a critical part of our commitment to improving community health. Over the next year, we are investing $500,000 into the community to expand resources for both treatment and prevention. Of this funding, $200,000 will be specifically allocated to prevention programs in local schools, addressing the root causes of substance use through education and early intervention. This initiative ensures that families and young people in Southeast Topeka have access to the tools they need to lead healthy, substance-free lives. SENT’s approach combines evidence-based treatments with community education to reduce stigma and improve outcomes for those affected by substance use disorders.

Aligning with Kansas Values

SENT’s mission aligns with principles of personal responsibility, community empowerment, and fiscal stewardship. By addressing the root causes of economic and social challenges, SENT reduces dependency on public programs while strengthening families and neighborhoods. Our initiatives are designed to maximize efficiency and leverage public-private partnerships to amplify impact.

Opportunities for Collaboration

We believe that government, nonprofits, and private sector partners can work together to achieve lasting progress for Kansans. Key areas where collaboration can make a difference include:

  1. Affordable Housing Development: Streamlining regulations and incentivizing private investment to meet the demand for 9,000 additional affordable housing units in Topeka over the next 20 years, with a focus on increasing workforce housing, housing diversity, and senior housing options to address the needs of a growing and aging population.
  2. Mental Health Support: Expanding access to community-based mental health services to ensure Kansans have the resources they need to thrive.
  3. Economic Opportunity: Enhancing workforce development programs and supporting ALICE families with targeted interventions that promote upward mobility.
  4. Healthcare Access: Advocating for innovative, market-based solutions to reduce the uninsured rate and improve health outcomes.

 

SENT Impact Videos

Here are the links to videos that showcase SENT’s work and impact in a logical order for donors who want to learn more about SENT as a whole:

Mission Vision Values
https://vimeo.com/889954495

Longer Presentation About SENT and our Why and How (18 min)
https://vimeo.com/676002264?share=copy

Impact Videos:

Personal Stories:

Program/Event Specific:

2025 SUD Campaign Videos:

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