Neighbors react to new homeless shelter in old Park Elementary School building [Video]

WICHITA, Kan. (KAKE) – Park Elementary School in Wichita, at 10th & N Main, shut its doors as a school for good a few weeks ago.

However, by the end of the year, the building, which first opened in 1921, could house resources for people battling homelessness.

The school closed due to Wichita Public School’s budget deficit. Yet mayor Lily Wu, along with several other city leaders announced Thursday morning the building will soon be a shelter, and a resource center.

“It will take collaboration, it takes collaboration between the government, between providers, between the faith based community and our business sector,” Wu said. “So having representation from those four entities is actually really signifying to the community that not only is it a community wide problem or challenge, but there are community wide solutions.”

The city was initially planning on spending nearly $80 million for a similar purpose.

Although …