WICHITA, Kan. (KAKE) - The City of Wichita has issued official eviction notices for residents living in the Chapin encampment, otherwise known as Narnia, the largest gathering of homeless individuals in Wichita.
“We’re kinda stuck and you know if we get caught here after the 13th, we’re gonna go to jail,” said Bobby Redgate, who lives in the Chapin encampment.
Bobby and Shannon Redgate live near Chapin Park at an encampment they estimate houses 80 people. Other local advocates estimate 30-50 people live here. The City of Wichita says just 25 people live here now.
“The HOT team brought us out here. They loaded up our belongings five years ago and brought us out here and we’ve been here ever since,” said Bobby.
Redgate says he and his wife have lived in the area peacefully for years, but on Wednesday they got a letter saying all residents needed to leave the area by October 12, as the city would begin cleaning up October 13.
“They just want to come in and devastate our lives by taking everything from us and telling us we have to go,” said Bobby. He says the officer who gave him the letter said the area would be bulldozed over after the residents moved out.
“We’re still on a waiting list for housing,” said Shannon Redgate, who lives in the Chapin encampment.
The Redgates say they’ve been on that wait list for four months. The city says 18 people from the area have been housed so far, and 16 of the estimated remaining 25 have housing vouchers and are awaiting an open rental unit.
“Nobody is offering to come down and help anything out, so I even asked Officer Nate and he said absolutely not. If the state of Kansas finds out that we helped you guys, then we’ll be in trouble,” said Bobby.
In the letter from the city, it says if you need help transporting items, call the contacts listed or ask on-site outreach staff. The city also provided a list of resources- nearly all are temporary shelters that are frequently full. Family Promise of Greater Wichita says its wait list is weeks long right now.
“I ain’t even had one complaint on me the whole time I’ve been here,” said Bobby.
The city says it's been working since March to “engage, connect, and house those camping on State of Kansas-owned property along the Arkansas River near Hydraulic and I-235.”
“But we're not just focused on Chapin, we’re focused on other parts of the area as well but this was an area of concern,” said Megan Lovely, city of Wichita spokesperson.
The city calls the encampment a safety risk for the residents, community and first responders, saying Wichita Police have responded to the area 69 times in the past three years for twelve different reasons ranging from aggravated battery, motor vehicle theft, possession of meth and murder. Wichita Fire has also responded 18 times in the last five years.
“Some of us don’t have families, you know, some of us our moms and dads are gone, are dead. We don’t have anyone to rely on, just ourselves,” said Bobby
The city says people living in the encampment should pack and remove their belongings, and secure shelter or housing using the resource list attached to the letter.
Scroll to see the full statement from the City of Wichita:
“The City of Wichita has made significant investments over the past two years to provide services and housing support for those facing homelessness in our City.
Multiple City Departments have been working since March to engage, connect, and house those camping on State of Kansas-owned property along the Arkansas river near Hydraulic and I-235. These city representatives, along with several non-profit partners, have been onsite making direct contact with residents repeatedly over the last several months.
Eighteen people have been housed so far, and 16 of the estimated remaining 25 have housing vouchers and are awaiting an open rental unit. Many occupants have moved on from the site after hearing about the site closure.
Written notice was provided to everyone remaining at the site on September 23, 2026, informing them of the closure that will occur on October 12. WPD will provide a formal written notice to the encampment residents on October 9, stating they must vacate the property by October 12. Clearing of the site will begin on October 13. City staff will continue to work with the residents to offer housing and other services up to the date of the camp closure and beyond if they choose to move somewhere else.
The City has been working with community partners to identify ways they can assist not only those at the Arkansas River/ Chapin encampment, but all of those facing homelessness.
We continue to ask local landlords to learn about accepting housing vouchers. One of the most pressing needs to help combat homelessness are available housing units that accept housing vouchers.
The encampment has become a safety risk not only for the occupants at the site, but for the surrounding community and first responders (police/fire/EMS). WPD has responded to the area 69 times in the past 3 years for the following reasons:
Aggravated Battery
Aggravated Kidnapping
Arson
Possession/Consume Minor Prohibited
Aggravated Sodomy
Destruction to Auto by Firearm
Forcible Rape
Motor Vehicle Theft
Animal Cruelty
Criminal Discharge of Firearm
Unlawful Possession of Meth
Murder
The Wichita Fire Department has also responded 18 times in the past five years.
The site is also located in a flood plain and there is risk to occupants and public safety personnel if an emergency arises.
The City recognizes the concerns occupants of the encampment may have, and we will continue to work with them with compassion with the goal of getting everyone into housing and provided with the services they need.”