what home means to me
As a military kid, my family moved constantly. When my dad traded in his uniform for the pulpit, the moving didn’t stop. I’ve lived in shelters. I’ve crashed on couches. I’ve struggled. And I’ve been saved—by community, by grace, by a friend who gave me a roof when I needed it most.
“Home” is more than a place to me. It’s stability. It’s security. It’s the foundation that allows us to thrive.
I visited my dad in Wichita 15 years ago and was blown away by what I found. Friends. Community. And opportunity. I scrapped my college plans, uprooted my life from California, and begin studying at Wichita State University instead.
Wichita is my home now. Not by birth, but by choice—and for the first time in my life, I feel rooted. I want that for everyone. Regardless of income, background, or zip code, everyone deserves a foundation they can build on. And I’ll fight for it—because that’s what home means to me.
For many, “home” is a complicated word. Some are burdened by rising property taxes. Others are dreaming of ownership that feels increasingly out of reach. And too many are haunted by the realities of homelessness or children bouncing through the foster care system. Whatever comes to mind when you hear the word “home,” know this—you're not alone. I think about it too.
Wichita is in the middle of both an affordable housing and a housing affordability crisis. Yes, there’s a difference. One speaks to the availability of reasonably priced housing. The other to whether folks can actually afford to live in the homes that exist.
At the recent Nehemiah Assembly hosted by Justice Together, leaders shared findings from 70 sessions with 500 local residents. When asked, “What keeps you up at night?” the top answer was housing. We heard from a mother of a young child who worked full-time (her husband, too) who ended up homeless for three weeks. Why? Because their rent spiked and there were no safe, affordable options in reach. That’s unacceptable.
Right now in USD 259, nearly 2,000 families are homeless or living in unstable housing. One move can lead to a three-month learning delay for a child. That doesn’t just affect education—it affects our workforce and our economy.
This is a problem we must solve.
The City of Wichita recently committed $1.8 million in ARPA funds to renovate 47 homes that will be available to rent or buy at affordable rates. That’s a great start. But it’s not enough.
As your next District 1 City Council Representative, I will work to:
Expand partnerships with the public and private sectors to support small (minority) developers—folks like Social Impact Fund, Wichita Affordable Housing LLC—who want to build affordable housing and create space for small developers to do so too by offering the capital at low interest rates.
Push for stronger commitments from developers receiving city incentives to include affordable units;
Explore repurposing existing infrastructure—like closed schools—into housing that serves the community.
I know the power of having a place to call “home.” And I’m ready to fight so that all Wichitans can have a home of their own, too.
If you agree, please consider making a donation today to support my campaign for Wichita City Council, District 1. With dedicated supporters like you in my corner, I know we can move the needle on housing and all our most pressing issues in Wichita.
Onward.
- Joseph
