City and county leaders are taking on the fight to end chronic homelessness. A new committee will meet Monday to discuss how the community will tackle the issue.

"The homeless have been a part of our community for a long, long time," says Sedgwick County Commissioner Tom Winters.

In 2006, the task force was put together to come up with a plan on how to handle the issue.

"I think the strategies have been received very well by Sedgwick County," Winters says.

The task force decided on a five step strategy:

Provide a one-stop resource center
Provide supportive housing
Providing emergency housing
Funding
Develop and oversight committee

The committee, made up of 7 people from around the county, is now in place and ready to get the ball rolling.

"I'm very pleased that the community has a number of very qualified agencies on the governmental sides as well as the faith community," explains Ben Grisamore, a member of the Oversight Committee.

The committee's job is to help the task force, the city and Sedgwick County governments, as well as the community, to work together.

"It's going to take some time and a lot of cooperation," says Grisamore.

It's an issue committee members say is crucial to tackle for everyone’s sake. They say homelessness costs the community $10,000,000 a year.

This new plan would cost between $2,000,000 and $4,000,000 to start up and $1,000,000 a year to run. While the funding is still being worked out, officials say down the road, the cost of prevention will be much cheaper for the community.

"This task force to end chronic homelessness is hopefully going to put us in a way we can find some solutions," said Winters.

It's a plan officials hope will begin to make a difference in the community and for those in need.

"These are some folks that just need some help," said Grisamore.

The committee will meet Monday, July 7th at 1p.m. at the Sedgwick County Human Services Administration Building.