KMUW reporters and producers highlight the stories that made an impact on them in 2024.

Lois and Homer Smuck spent their lives working as pastors. Now retired and living on a fixed income, they cannot afford a place of their own.

At the United Methodist Open Door Homeless Resource and Referral Center those in need of laundry services can sign up once a day to get a load of laundry washed. Each person is given a pillowcase to put their laundry in. This helps keep their items together and limit the load size.

The local ordinance currently prohibiting law enforcement from removing a camp when shelter beds are not available may soon be changed.

The Wichita City Council voted 7-0 Tuesday to approve HumanKind Ministries as its winter shelter operator through March 31. The shelter’s reopening comes at a time of increased housing instability in Wichita, as evidenced by a housing voucher waitlist 10,000 households long.

While the library system has suffered cuts and consolidations in years past, city officials are routing $2 million to complete long-term building plans that will revitalize most of Wichita’s seven libraries.

The city produced, funded and provided edits on a documentary with a local marketing firm to show the ecosystem of homelessness care.

A statewide public opinion survey conducted by the Docking Institute of Public Affairs at Fort Hays State University found support for high-density, mixed-use housing development despite local controversies.

The Midwest Newsroom and its partners found that homeless students eligible for enrollment, transportation and academic support in most rural school districts are not getting these services because the districts are undercounting students without stable housing and not applying for available funds.

More than 4,800 students are considered homeless in Nebraska, and school districts can do only so much to help. Many rely on partnerships with local organizations to support student needs outside of school.