KSHB 41 reporter Olivia Acree covers parts of Johnson County, Kansas. Share your story idea with Olivia.

There’s no denying that winter is here, and cold weather shelters across Kansas City have opened their doors.

Hope Faith shelters in Kansas City and Project 10 20 in Lenexa opened for the season Sunday. As the only cold weather shelter in Johnson County, Project 10 expects 20 to reach capacity quickly.

The city of Lenexa only allows the shelter to have 30 beds. President Barb McEver says she can’t imagine turning anyone away, so they fill the beds here and then they try to find someone else who comes through their doors a hotel room for a few nights or another shelter that isn’t full.

She worries about what they will do when their beds fill up.

Brian Luton/KSHB 41

“I’m worried about this year, worried about how this is going to go. There’s no place for people to go when we get to 30, I don’t know what I’m going to do with number 31 and beyond, and I know it will to happen,” said Barbara McEver, Project 10 20 president.

Project 10 20 was one of five nonprofits to receive Johnson County’s COVID-19 funds to be used at the now-defunct homeless service center. They were awarded $137,654 of the county’s $6.35 million.

McEver is happy to get some help from the county.

“It’s going to help us a lot. It’s going to help with our nightly shelter operations. It’s going to help with motel rooms, because I’m sure that’s something that we’re going to need,” McEver said.

McEver said the homelessness center would have been a step in addressing the growing homelessness problem in Johnson County. The shelter will continue to operate as usual and as the only low-barrier shelter available to adults.

“I don’t think we’re going to operate any differently, but the people it affects are the people who are homeless. I mean, that’s the real tragedy,” McEver said.