Residents concerned as behavioral health, shelter projects move onward [Video]

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Kansas City Council advanced two big projects Thursday that will separately address people battling mental health challenges and homelessness one block away from each other.

Council approved Ordinance 240690, which allows City Manager Brian Platt to start negotiating with Hope Faith Homeless Assistance Campus and Care Beyond the Boulevard to see how those organizations will split roughly $7.1 million in HUD grant money to help the homeless population.

Ordinance 240691 authorizes Platt to start acquiring land near Belvidere Park for a 300,000-square-foot behavioral health facility that would employ about 600 people and have beds for about 200 people who need treatment.

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Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas says the facility is long overdue but a public announcement on Monday, followed by Finance Committee advancement on Tuesday and full Council advancement on Thursday leaves neighbors like Sarah Lift feeling like she’s in the dark.

“They’re not considering how …