Compassion Impact Center opens to help unsheltered population in Topeka

By Bryan Grabauskas Apr. 7, 2026 WIBW

TOPEKA, Kan. (WIBW) - One of Topeka’s newest efforts to assist people experiencing homelessness in the Capital City is up and running.

The Compassion Impact Center is designed as a one-stop center for people to access services ranging from housing support to health services.

“Everyone wishes there were just one fix, but there’s not,” Compassion Strategies CEO Barry Feaker said.

“So many different needs, there’s mental health, physical health, housing, job training, good mentoring, friendships, and sustainable housing for people. And pet care, with something called Street Dog Coalition, that we work with. Everybody’s got their own piece of this, but they want to bring all the pieces together.“

Compassion Strategies heads the operation, but over 60 agencies are collaborating to bring the idea to life. Feaker says the center, in its pilot period at other sites, saw upwards of 60 to 100 people a day.
“Today’s the first day, April 7, to have our one-stop homeless resource center here, in combination with a growing effort over the next year to grow these 60 agencies to be able to have a place to engage with our unsheltered homeless, identify barriers, break those barriers, and hopefully, in some way, shape or form, one person at a time, end their chronic homelessness.

The Compassion Impact Center is located inside the Topeka Rescue Mission’s former Children’s Palace, at 601 NW Harrison.

compassion center