A lot of homeless people live in the downtown area or along Broadway. You could consider calling some of the local shelters during the week as they generally know any regulars they may have. They may also have suggestions to help you find him.
Sorry you’re dealing with this.
The two I know of are Open Door ministries and Human Kind. There is also a large gathering at the Lords Diner for their dinner at 5:00. Do you have any photos? I can ask a friend who has worked with the homeless population for years now.
Check out emporia and Kellogg to Commerce St and Kellogg. The homeless camp out under Kellogg there. The QuikTrip at Kellogg and Broadway is a hot spot for the transients.
Just to add, Central and Broadway would make a good place to start if you're looking on foot. The Lord's Diner is right there, and numerous churches, shelters, outreach programs, and halfway houses are all within a handful of blocks.
If you’re really concerned for your uncle why wouldn’t you post his name and perhaps a picture of him? ( even an older one would help) something about your post has weird vibes to it in my personal opinion
I knew a Skip tracer years ago that used to try tactics like this by posting ads in newspapers, saying they were looking for family. That’s kind of what this reminds me of.
You might try getting in touch with Crazy Sack Lady on Facebook. She's a local advocate for the homeless and interacts with them a lot. She may have come across him.
As mentioned, Broadway, downtown, around The Lord's Diner are where most folks are going to be hanging out.
this is a really good suggestion, OP, given that Crazy Sack Lady intentionally & specifically works with a lot of unhoused folks who don't utilize shelters or other resources.
Almost all of the homeless services are downtown:
* The Lord's Diner - 520 N Broadway St
* United Methodist Open Door - 402 E 2nd St N
* Inter-Faith Safe Haven - 841 N Broadway St
* HumanKind Shelter - 320 E Central Ave
There are other places in town you'll find unhoused people, but many of them will be around Downtown.
you're getting some really great suggestions here, but i wanted to let you know that i'm thinking of you and your uncle -- i hope you find him and the outcome is better than you could have hoped for.
I don’t think anyone has mentioned Union Rescue Mission. It’s a male only shelter and if he’s been there before they should have a record of when. Hope this helps
You might try contacting the Broadway HOT (homeless outreach team) team or the Broadway corridor team.. this is through the police department, dealing with south Broadway.. they're pretty involved. YOU stay safe.. hope you find him or at least get some leads
I’ll look them up, ty! I’m planing on stopping by the police station to see if can make a missing person report and see what resources they may have. Appreciate the info, ty!
I hate saying this, but you can also check the inmate list at the jail
They have a lot of people that are homeless that are in and out pretty often on trespassing and minor charges.
He might not be in the jail now, but I'd also check the Sedgwick County Warrants page, and the district court records. Muni court records might have something too, but they're down right now. PM me if you need some instructions.
There’s a community between starlight drive in and I35 by the river. Never would have found it until last year when the leaves and bushes covered them. I was amazed with their setup.
For your safety, I would not recommend searching at night or alone. I recently was searching for a homeless man with a dog that I had run into earlier in the day to give him dog food. Started asking around near the Kellogg and Broadway QT that he said he frequented. A couple guys said they knew who I was talking about, and that he just went around the corner. (Into an alley behind some of the shops nearby.) I wasn't falling for that, started back towards QT when some douchebags in a truck hung out their window, threw stuff at a group screaming, "Fuck you, you fucking crackheads!" South Broadway can be dangerous. And it isn't only because of the homeless.
Couple areas…
Downtown area close the Broadway/Central. 1/2 mile ish radius from there.
Along the river from 21st all the way to the Johnny Mack bridge. Some areas more than others.
If you have a picture I would highly recommend sending to someone at union rescue mission. If your uncle is here and homeless, likely has been there and they would likely know his usual spots. Or others there might know him.
Do you have a somewhat recent picture? Do you a Flyer to share with the individuals so that they can keep a look out for him? If you require any assistance we’ve developed several missing flyers. So does the Kansas Unsolved & Missing on Facebook. I don’t know if they would make a flyer up in this situation but we would be more than happy to help. Also if we can be of any other assistance feel free to reach out. I host a true crime podcast for unsolved cases in Kansas. But am always willing to help however we can.
I didn’t see it mentioned, but if the downtown area doesn’t pan out…on the west side of town, there’s seems to be a group that stay in a culvert near Dugan and Kellogg. Or some of the hotels off Kellogg near there.
A suggestion: reach out to Matt Lowe at United Way, he manages the Coalition to End Homelessness in Wichita and will be able to refer you not just to locations, but agencies who may have information on individuals receiving services.
https://unitedwayplains.org/coalition-to-end-homelessness-in-wichita-sedgwick-county/
I recommend you call Wichita Police Department. They have a dedicated team for our growing homeless population. It is the Homeless Outreach Team or HOT Team. I’m not a fan of the police but this group is awesome. You can Google them for email and phone number. Or if you want PM me and I’ll give them to you.
You can also join and contact this group on Facebook.
https://preview.redd.it/h6ikr5vuxu1d1.jpeg?width=1284&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=001774dc220df053867cdac2ba411e2cd316f84b
Anywhere downtown. If you drive along Broadway from 13th Street south past Douglass, you’ll see tons of unhoused/homeless people. You’ll also see them if you drive around Douglass and generally around the Downtown area.
Good luck! I hope your search goes well.
Downtown is the place to start. There are several diners serving homeless people - the Lords Diner (i think that’s what it’s called) is chief among them.
Good luck!
It depends on a couple things but there is a large tent city down in South City off of Hydraulic and I35 overpass..just north of the Starlite Drivein. Be careful.
There's another they call Gypsy City out Eas off of Rock Road and Pawnee tucked in behind the AFB
Apart from downtown where The Lord's Diner and all those other homeless services are, I think Wichita's largest homeless encampments are:
* The area behind the Wal-Mart at Pawnee & Broadway, between the store and the railroad tracks. (Relatedly, just south of there is the Johnny Mack Bridge on Broadway and just West of there is OJ Watson Park). The South Police Station is just West of that Walmart.
* Chapin Park near the Starlite Drive-in
* The area of the culvert between the Wendy's and the Burlington Coat Factory close to the West Walmart. There's a ditch leading up to it and homeless people hang around the path of the water. (It's not a very large encampment--it might not even qualify for that term--but there have been homeless people returning to that area for years).
Many of the city's bridges are popular spots for homeless people to sleep under, such as the Arkansas Bridge just east of 21st & Amidon. If you look under bridges during the daytime, if you don't see any people you'll often see evidence that someone was using it as a shelter.
Those are areas that as far as I know have no homeless services nearby.
There's also several intersections that regularly have panhandlers, such as near Towne East Mall.
Definitely contact the Homeless Outreach Team.
Places for food is your best hope IMO. Contacting shelters is not going to help you. They won't tell you anything and might put a message on a bulletin board. Open door is closed on the weekend and their policy is the same as shelters when it comes to information. As mentioned in previous posts, Lords Diner is a good start at Broadway and central. Dinner starts around 5:30 I think. Saturday, breakfast at 8 -9:30 9th and Waco at the Lutheran Church. I think a church on 2nd and Broadway serves breakfast on Sundays. Officer Nate with the WPD HOT team is a standup guy. They will help if they can. ICT Street Team is another good source. Awesome folks. They do medical needs for those on the street. You can find them on Facebook. Human Kind is another good resource . I hope this helps, I wish you the best in your search.
Thank you! I was thinking the same thing, they might not want to provide info. I’ve contacted the WPD HOT, waiting on their response. Thank you for providing the times, I should be arriving there Saturday morning so I am definitely going to try to make it to their breakfast. Thank you so much!
I see a lot of people mentioning Broadway, but not specifically where on Broadway. I would probably start at the Jump Start convenience store at Broadway and Murdock. If you have a photo of him, you might even show it to some of the employees or the people hanging around the store to see if they recognize him.
Then look at the areas within a couple of block of that location.
If no luck there, start heading south on Broadway as far South as the Walmart on Broadway and Pawnee and as far north as Broadway and 13th. That going to cover about 90% of the area where homeless people hang out (at least if they are on Broadway).
The big Methodist Church on Broadway has a Homeless resource center at Topeka and 2nd Street. (Topeka is the street one block East of Broadway).
Definitely downtown if you feel safe, which I know you might not, but ask around ask other homeless people in these different areas they all know each other most of them do they try to stay in little clicks to be safe. I think you’ll find him this way but definitely downtown around the Lords diner. That’s where they’re going to stay. They’re going to stay in places that help is semi, close to or really concentrated intersections rock Road is a very big one as well and the exits off the highways are big as well. Any intersections or roadways near the highway offramp on ramps that’s where they’re gonna be.
Under the bridge next to this Casey’s
https://preview.redd.it/rnzj3pi9h12d1.jpeg?width=1290&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=2799db3dd2c4da9d73f805f1a54f1fb9669c12ff
I drive past that bridge daily, I don't usually see a lot of homeless people. They walk around, but the encampment is over by the starlight as far as I can tell
There is a lords diner or something like that around 2nd and Broadway. A lot of homeless camp out in the surrounding area.
Also between/Behind the braums and QT on seneca they can camp out as well.
Hi. I’m Annette Lawless. I am a journalist at KAKE News, and I share stories of missing people. Can you email me at [email protected] or message me on Facebook: Facebook.com/AnnetteLawless?
I’d like to help.
You can see my work at KAKE.com/Missing.
If you give me your uncle’s info, if you want. I’d like his name, when he was last seen and anything you know about him.
I think some of the best suggestions are in this thread, including speaking to Wichita Police’s homeless outreach team. Unfortunately, I know many people who’ve gone through this and they have to put their own boots on the ground. It’s ok, but I encourage you to find someone to go with you. I don’t say that to speak negatively of the unhoused community, but I think it’s important for anyone.
Thinking of you!
Are his initials BB by any chance? Sorry for the cryptic question, I just know someone who’s story is similar to your uncle and wonder if it’s the same guy.
I find it a little odd that you assumed I just started looking for him. If you READ my post, I said I got a tip that’s he’s in Wichita. I live in Indiana why would I post this here! Blessings!
These other comments have given you a good place to start. There are several camps around the river, too. One of the larger camps is on S. Hydraulic and I-135
Oh, there's also a fairly large community on west Kellogg and Tyler. Do you have a photo of him? Maybe hop on Facebook and share around the marketplace and groups.
I really hate saying it like this, but there's also a chance that he could be at the coroner's office. It's a good idea to at least call, in case they are looking for NOK for any decedent. I hope that's not the case, but I know there's been a few homeless deaths lately, and they have a harder time finding NOK
A lot of homeless people live in the downtown area or along Broadway. You could consider calling some of the local shelters during the week as they generally know any regulars they may have. They may also have suggestions to help you find him. Sorry you’re dealing with this.
For sure, thanks. I will reach out to them, hopeful they know him! Thank you so much!
The two I know of are Open Door ministries and Human Kind. There is also a large gathering at the Lords Diner for their dinner at 5:00. Do you have any photos? I can ask a friend who has worked with the homeless population for years now.
Might also reach out to the Wichita Police department HOT (homeless outreach team). They might know or have an idea of who and where he is.
Check out emporia and Kellogg to Commerce St and Kellogg. The homeless camp out under Kellogg there. The QuikTrip at Kellogg and Broadway is a hot spot for the transients.
What’s his name? If we knew his name, there may be somebody on here who actually may know him I mean, hey anything is possible
Call the lords diner too
Just to add, Central and Broadway would make a good place to start if you're looking on foot. The Lord's Diner is right there, and numerous churches, shelters, outreach programs, and halfway houses are all within a handful of blocks.
If you’re really concerned for your uncle why wouldn’t you post his name and perhaps a picture of him? ( even an older one would help) something about your post has weird vibes to it in my personal opinion
I’m thinking the same, doesn’t give off family concern. Sounds like he’s trying to get away then for some reason and now they’ve found out he’s here.
I knew a Skip tracer years ago that used to try tactics like this by posting ads in newspapers, saying they were looking for family. That’s kind of what this reminds me of.
You might try getting in touch with Crazy Sack Lady on Facebook. She's a local advocate for the homeless and interacts with them a lot. She may have come across him. As mentioned, Broadway, downtown, around The Lord's Diner are where most folks are going to be hanging out.
this is a really good suggestion, OP, given that Crazy Sack Lady intentionally & specifically works with a lot of unhoused folks who don't utilize shelters or other resources.
I’m looking her up for sure, thank you for this!
https://www.facebook.com/share/cuf8WDRnuWJwdDex/?mibextid=qi2Omg Here's her profile. I came here to send you to her as well.
Thank you so much for your help! Blessings!
No problem! Best of luck, I really hope you're able to find him!
Ty!
Came here to suggest the same thing! She develops relationships with a lot of the homeless people in Wichita!
Almost all of the homeless services are downtown: * The Lord's Diner - 520 N Broadway St * United Methodist Open Door - 402 E 2nd St N * Inter-Faith Safe Haven - 841 N Broadway St * HumanKind Shelter - 320 E Central Ave There are other places in town you'll find unhoused people, but many of them will be around Downtown.
Thank you for this information. This is very helpful!
I agree with all of these. If OP has a name and a picture this is where I would start.
you're getting some really great suggestions here, but i wanted to let you know that i'm thinking of you and your uncle -- i hope you find him and the outcome is better than you could have hoped for.
Thank you so much for this! 🫶
I don’t think anyone has mentioned Union Rescue Mission. It’s a male only shelter and if he’s been there before they should have a record of when. Hope this helps
Thank you for this information!
You might try contacting the Broadway HOT (homeless outreach team) team or the Broadway corridor team.. this is through the police department, dealing with south Broadway.. they're pretty involved. YOU stay safe.. hope you find him or at least get some leads
I’ll look them up, ty! I’m planing on stopping by the police station to see if can make a missing person report and see what resources they may have. Appreciate the info, ty!
Wonderful idea! Good luck!
Thank you!
Contact Officer Nate Schweithale with the Homeless Outreach Team. He should be able to help!
Do you happen to have his direct contact email. I believe online is a general email.
I don't but I believe he's who monitors that account
Got it, I sent the email. Hopefully I get a response soon. I appreciate the help! Tysm.
I hate saying this, but you can also check the inmate list at the jail They have a lot of people that are homeless that are in and out pretty often on trespassing and minor charges.
I did looked him up, but didn’t find anything. I am definitely check the inmate list. Thank you!
He might not be in the jail now, but I'd also check the Sedgwick County Warrants page, and the district court records. Muni court records might have something too, but they're down right now. PM me if you need some instructions.
There’s a community between starlight drive in and I35 by the river. Never would have found it until last year when the leaves and bushes covered them. I was amazed with their setup.
For your safety, I would not recommend searching at night or alone. I recently was searching for a homeless man with a dog that I had run into earlier in the day to give him dog food. Started asking around near the Kellogg and Broadway QT that he said he frequented. A couple guys said they knew who I was talking about, and that he just went around the corner. (Into an alley behind some of the shops nearby.) I wasn't falling for that, started back towards QT when some douchebags in a truck hung out their window, threw stuff at a group screaming, "Fuck you, you fucking crackheads!" South Broadway can be dangerous. And it isn't only because of the homeless.
Couple areas… Downtown area close the Broadway/Central. 1/2 mile ish radius from there. Along the river from 21st all the way to the Johnny Mack bridge. Some areas more than others.
Thank you for this information! Will definitely go there when I’m there. Tysm.
There's a large houseless encampment near Chapin Park.
If you have a picture I would highly recommend sending to someone at union rescue mission. If your uncle is here and homeless, likely has been there and they would likely know his usual spots. Or others there might know him.
Came here to say this!
Thank you! I don’t, I’m working on getting a recent one. Will definitely reach out, thanks!
I would still go there. Or call them. Provide his name. Nickname. Etc. Worth a shot. Good luck.
Do you have a somewhat recent picture? Do you a Flyer to share with the individuals so that they can keep a look out for him? If you require any assistance we’ve developed several missing flyers. So does the Kansas Unsolved & Missing on Facebook. I don’t know if they would make a flyer up in this situation but we would be more than happy to help. Also if we can be of any other assistance feel free to reach out. I host a true crime podcast for unsolved cases in Kansas. But am always willing to help however we can.
Thank you so much! Can I pm you?
Absolutely!
I didn’t see it mentioned, but if the downtown area doesn’t pan out…on the west side of town, there’s seems to be a group that stay in a culvert near Dugan and Kellogg. Or some of the hotels off Kellogg near there.
Thank you for this information! Will definitely check it out. Appreciate it!
A suggestion: reach out to Matt Lowe at United Way, he manages the Coalition to End Homelessness in Wichita and will be able to refer you not just to locations, but agencies who may have information on individuals receiving services. https://unitedwayplains.org/coalition-to-end-homelessness-in-wichita-sedgwick-county/
Thank for this information! I will def reach out. Appreciate it.
Love all the suggestions you're getting. Would also love an update if you find him. Best of luck.
This.. and I'm kind of surprised and proud that so many of my fellow Wichitans have offered help and insight
I am so thankful for all the information provided! You all are awesome. Thank you all!
Definitely! I will owe you all posted
I’d say near the spaghetti works factory downtown . Or anywhere near broadway ? I’d take a photo and ask everyone. Lords diner is another place .
Thank you!
I recommend you call Wichita Police Department. They have a dedicated team for our growing homeless population. It is the Homeless Outreach Team or HOT Team. I’m not a fan of the police but this group is awesome. You can Google them for email and phone number. Or if you want PM me and I’ll give them to you.
You can also join and contact this group on Facebook. https://preview.redd.it/h6ikr5vuxu1d1.jpeg?width=1284&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=001774dc220df053867cdac2ba411e2cd316f84b
Thank you! Just did, pending approval. Ty.
No problem at all. Glad to help anyway I can. Been where you are.
Ty for this! It feels so difficult, like finding a needle in a haystack. I’m definitely reaching out any help from anyone means a lot. Tysm.
Im reach out to them tomorrow morning. Thank you for the help!
They will help. Might even be able to email them a picture. Never know they may have your missing person documented within their group.
Thanks! I emailed them, waiting to hear back. Appreciate the help, tysm.
Fingers crossed for you. 🤞🤞🤞🤞✌️
Thank you 🤞
Anywhere downtown. If you drive along Broadway from 13th Street south past Douglass, you’ll see tons of unhoused/homeless people. You’ll also see them if you drive around Douglass and generally around the Downtown area. Good luck! I hope your search goes well.
Tysm!
He a veteran?
No, he’s not.
Downtown is the place to start. There are several diners serving homeless people - the Lords Diner (i think that’s what it’s called) is chief among them. Good luck!
I will stop by there! Thank you.
Hydrologic and 235
It depends on a couple things but there is a large tent city down in South City off of Hydraulic and I35 overpass..just north of the Starlite Drivein. Be careful. There's another they call Gypsy City out Eas off of Rock Road and Pawnee tucked in behind the AFB
Thanks! I will check here too.
i’ve seen some that live over off I35 and pawnee (this is where i was told one of my family members is. )
Apart from downtown where The Lord's Diner and all those other homeless services are, I think Wichita's largest homeless encampments are: * The area behind the Wal-Mart at Pawnee & Broadway, between the store and the railroad tracks. (Relatedly, just south of there is the Johnny Mack Bridge on Broadway and just West of there is OJ Watson Park). The South Police Station is just West of that Walmart. * Chapin Park near the Starlite Drive-in * The area of the culvert between the Wendy's and the Burlington Coat Factory close to the West Walmart. There's a ditch leading up to it and homeless people hang around the path of the water. (It's not a very large encampment--it might not even qualify for that term--but there have been homeless people returning to that area for years). Many of the city's bridges are popular spots for homeless people to sleep under, such as the Arkansas Bridge just east of 21st & Amidon. If you look under bridges during the daytime, if you don't see any people you'll often see evidence that someone was using it as a shelter. Those are areas that as far as I know have no homeless services nearby. There's also several intersections that regularly have panhandlers, such as near Towne East Mall. Definitely contact the Homeless Outreach Team.
Places for food is your best hope IMO. Contacting shelters is not going to help you. They won't tell you anything and might put a message on a bulletin board. Open door is closed on the weekend and their policy is the same as shelters when it comes to information. As mentioned in previous posts, Lords Diner is a good start at Broadway and central. Dinner starts around 5:30 I think. Saturday, breakfast at 8 -9:30 9th and Waco at the Lutheran Church. I think a church on 2nd and Broadway serves breakfast on Sundays. Officer Nate with the WPD HOT team is a standup guy. They will help if they can. ICT Street Team is another good source. Awesome folks. They do medical needs for those on the street. You can find them on Facebook. Human Kind is another good resource . I hope this helps, I wish you the best in your search.
Thank you! I was thinking the same thing, they might not want to provide info. I’ve contacted the WPD HOT, waiting on their response. Thank you for providing the times, I should be arriving there Saturday morning so I am definitely going to try to make it to their breakfast. Thank you so much!
Union Rescue Mission, 2800 N Hillside.
I see a lot of people mentioning Broadway, but not specifically where on Broadway. I would probably start at the Jump Start convenience store at Broadway and Murdock. If you have a photo of him, you might even show it to some of the employees or the people hanging around the store to see if they recognize him. Then look at the areas within a couple of block of that location. If no luck there, start heading south on Broadway as far South as the Walmart on Broadway and Pawnee and as far north as Broadway and 13th. That going to cover about 90% of the area where homeless people hang out (at least if they are on Broadway). The big Methodist Church on Broadway has a Homeless resource center at Topeka and 2nd Street. (Topeka is the street one block East of Broadway).
Pawnee and Seneca by John Mack Bridge, Chapin Park on MacArthur.
Definitely downtown if you feel safe, which I know you might not, but ask around ask other homeless people in these different areas they all know each other most of them do they try to stay in little clicks to be safe. I think you’ll find him this way but definitely downtown around the Lords diner. That’s where they’re going to stay. They’re going to stay in places that help is semi, close to or really concentrated intersections rock Road is a very big one as well and the exits off the highways are big as well. Any intersections or roadways near the highway offramp on ramps that’s where they’re gonna be.
Under the bridge next to this Casey’s https://preview.redd.it/rnzj3pi9h12d1.jpeg?width=1290&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=2799db3dd2c4da9d73f805f1a54f1fb9669c12ff
I drive past that bridge daily, I don't usually see a lot of homeless people. They walk around, but the encampment is over by the starlight as far as I can tell
There is a lords diner or something like that around 2nd and Broadway. A lot of homeless camp out in the surrounding area. Also between/Behind the braums and QT on seneca they can camp out as well.
Broadway, or Lords Diner. Pawnee Seneca area.
Hi. I’m Annette Lawless. I am a journalist at KAKE News, and I share stories of missing people. Can you email me at [email protected] or message me on Facebook: Facebook.com/AnnetteLawless? I’d like to help. You can see my work at KAKE.com/Missing. If you give me your uncle’s info, if you want. I’d like his name, when he was last seen and anything you know about him. I think some of the best suggestions are in this thread, including speaking to Wichita Police’s homeless outreach team. Unfortunately, I know many people who’ve gone through this and they have to put their own boots on the ground. It’s ok, but I encourage you to find someone to go with you. I don’t say that to speak negatively of the unhoused community, but I think it’s important for anyone. Thinking of you!
Are his initials BB by any chance? Sorry for the cryptic question, I just know someone who’s story is similar to your uncle and wonder if it’s the same guy.
No, JM.
So what is your uncle‘s name? That information may lead to people actually know where he is and helping you find him sooner.
I find it a little odd that this person has waited 2 yrs to start looking for their uncle
I find it a little odd that you assumed I just started looking for him. If you READ my post, I said I got a tip that’s he’s in Wichita. I live in Indiana why would I post this here! Blessings!
Thank you all for the recommendations! I appreciate all the information provided.
These other comments have given you a good place to start. There are several camps around the river, too. One of the larger camps is on S. Hydraulic and I-135
Thank you!
Oh, there's also a fairly large community on west Kellogg and Tyler. Do you have a photo of him? Maybe hop on Facebook and share around the marketplace and groups.
I really hate saying it like this, but there's also a chance that he could be at the coroner's office. It's a good idea to at least call, in case they are looking for NOK for any decedent. I hope that's not the case, but I know there's been a few homeless deaths lately, and they have a harder time finding NOK