Young Kansans 4 Action: Youth Leadership Driving Change Across Kansas

In April 2023, the Kansas Balance of State Continuum of Care (KS BOS CoC) took a pivotal step forward—launching Young Kansans 4 Action (YK4A), a Youth Action Board created to center the voices of young people with lived experience of housing instability. What began with a single youth from the southeast region has grown into a multi-regional, youth-led movement that’s actively shaping housing policy in Kansas.

From the outset, YK4A has been about more than inclusion—it’s about impact. Recruitment kicked off through school district counselors, McKinney-Vento liaisons, social workers, and TAY Homeless Prevention seminars. Today, YK4A members represent Douglas County and Southcentral Kansas, with growing outreach to ensure statewide representation across the BOS CoC.

This local momentum has sparked broader collaboration. KSHC helped form a Statewide Executive Council (SEC) YAB, bringing together dedicated leaders from YK4A, the Wichita CoC YAB, Youth 4 Change (Johnson/Wyandotte County CoC), and soon, Shawnee County. Together, these young leaders are working toward a unified, statewide plan to end youth and young adult homelessness in Kansas.

YK4A’s work isn’t confined to behind-the-scenes strategy. Members regularly participate in BOS CoC Steering Committee meetings and host monthly YAB sessions—putting youth voices at the heart of decision-making. Their lived experience shaped a powerful session at the 2024 Summit on Homelessness and Housing, challenging agencies to confront and dismantle Adultism.

And when it comes to advocacy, these young leaders walk the walk. From the Kansas State Capitol to the halls of Congress during the NN4Y Capitol Hill Day in D.C., YK4A members are championing the right of every youth in Kansas to have a safe, stable place to live. Their advocacy is shaping policies—and building skills for lifelong civic leadership.

This is what youth power looks like.