Flint Hills
Fair Housing Equity Assessment/
Regional Analysis of Impediments
Sustainable Communities Regional Planning Grants support metropolitan and multijurisdictional planning efforts that integrate housing, land use, economic and workforce development, transportation, and infrastructure investments. The Regional Planning Grant Program places a priority on investing in partnerships that direct long-term regional development and reinvestment, demonstrate a commitment to addressing issues of regional significance, utilize data to set and monitor progress toward performance goals, and engage stakeholders and citizens in meaningful decision-making roles.
Flint Hills Frontiers is an opportunity to come together and explore the future of our homeland. The Flint Hills cross political and social boundaries and is an ecoregion that encompasses 19 counties in Kansas and Oklahoma. Flint Hills Frontiers provides a platform and an opportunity, over the next three years, for the people of this region to establish their vision and choose their path forward. Participation will give you and your organization a voice in the outcomes, a chance to gain an intimate understanding of the region’s strengths and needs, and access to new tools for evaluating investments and measuring progress on regional goals. Involvement may even pave the way towards increased funding opportunities for your community as it becomes a more integrated part of the regional vision for increased health and vibrancy. Please be a part of this important work!
The Fair Housing and Equity Assessment/Regional Assessment of Impediments (FHEA/RAI) is a required deliverable of the Sustainable Communities Planning grant. It provides an opportunity for diverse stakeholders in the Manhattan Kansas area to develop a shared picture of the housing, infrastructure, and economic dynamics that enhance or limit opportunity, and to develop forward-looking strategies and partnerships that can address some of the region’s greatest challenges. A candid and broadly shared assessment of residential opportunity,
municipalities, and regional entities can identify objectives and priorities for future investments to enhance equity and access to opportunity and address the needs of communities facing the greatest challenges.
Conducting a FHEA/RAI brings together regional partnerships to examine such things as how the big picture public investments in infrastructure have shaped the development patterns and the opportunities available to communities in the region; whichcommunities have faced underinvestment of key amenities; or how immigrant communities, low-income communities, communities of color, and people with disabilities can access opportunity. By reviewing how investments (or lack thereof) and land use decisions have contributed to opportunity (or to concentrations of poverty), the FHEA/RAI will provide information for decision makers to plan for equity.
The FHEA/RAI is both regional and local in scope, requires engagement, and considers issues of fair housing in a broader framework. The resulting FHEA/RAI can be used for communities to challenge existing impediments to fair housing at the local level; for developing partnerships across multiple sectors and issue areas to create a shared understanding of equity and opportunity; and to help local policymakers make informed and targeted decisions about policy and investment to advance fair housing opportunity throughout the region.
About
The Flint Hills Regional Council is a voluntary service association of local Kansas governments from Chase, Geary, Lyon, Morris, Riley, Pottawatomie and Wabaunsee counties and/or their respective municipalities and unincorporated areas. These local Flint Hills governments have formed the Flint Hills Regional Council to provide service of mutual benefit to the region best gained from cooperation and partnership.
Through open communications, excellent data resources and professional expertise of the highest standards, the Flint Hills Regional Council provides leadership support and technical assistance across all government and civic sectors of these counties and beyond, as requested.
The Flint Hills Regional Council achieves success through collaboration and partnership, bringing new resources and added value for the benefit of the region as a whole.
Vision
The north-central Flint Hills region of Chase, Geary, Lyon, Morris, Pottawatomie, Riley, and Wabaunsee counties is flourishing with an exceptional Heartland lifestyle, world class knowledge economy, and inspiring Tallgrass Prairie Environment. The accomplishments of the individual and distinct communities of the region have been achieved through an extraordinary level of trust, cooperation and mutual support. The achievements have been gained with the vision, leadership, assistance and expertise of the Flint Hills Regional Council, including the contributions of partners, such as Kansas State University, Emporia State University, Fort Riley, and local chambers of commerce.