Second Light honored with chairman’s award as county highlights shelter‑plus‑services and housing pipeline

The Sedgwick County Board of County Commissioners presented the 2026 Chairman’s Award to Second Light on Jan. 14 in recognition of the nonprofit’s shelter‑plus‑services work at the repurposed MAC campus. Chairman Ryan Beatty said Second Light’s centralized, collaborative model brings dozens of partner organizations together on one campus and has helped stabilize local services addressing homelessness.

Dan Clifford, speaking for Second Light, told commissioners the United Way’s annual count estimates about 800 people are experiencing homelessness at any given moment in the community. He said Second Light has served nearly 600 individuals through its shelter‑plus‑services program and the emergency winter shelter served almost 400 people so far this season. Clifford credited multiple partners including Lord’s Diner, Comcare, SAC and Mental Health America for on‑site services and noted the building remains under construction while providing shelter beds.

Clifford described a phased operations plan and identified Park Landing, a city‑run, three‑story 75‑unit project set to break ground in March, as an adjacent housing resource that will provide project‑based units and some non‑congregate shelter space on the first floor. Commissioners praised the collaborative approach and acknowledged broader local construction projects intended to expand behavioral health and supportive housing capacity.

The commission recessed briefly to photograph award recipients and partner representatives.