The City of Kansas City, Missouri is expanding its work to provide affordable housing for residents at the lowest income levels and for those who are currently homeless.
As a part of the vision to generate 10,000 affordable units by 2027, the City has launched a program to convert existing buildings - like vacant schools, nursing homes and even hotels/motels - into homes for Kansas City’s unhoused and housing-insecure residents.
By converting existing properties, the city envisions creating up to 500 new, affordable housing units across the city at a lower cost and faster rate than building new units.
As a first step, City Manager Brian Platt recently issued an RFP to acquire properties.
“We need to think creatively and act quickly to provide housing to those most in need here in Kansas City,” Platt said in a press release. “We are thankful for the council’s support and guidance, but also for their desire to take action.”
Last month, the City Council authorized up to $2.5 million of funds to be appropriated towards this goal. The funds will join the $12.5 million recently allocated to the City’s first affordable housing trust fund and an $8.3 million award from Housing and Urban Development (HUD).
This year, the City provided temporary housing for the unhoused for 98 nights, using hotel rooms across the city while also providing essential social and rehabilitation assistance through its partner social service organizations.
At its peak, nearly 420 people took shelter in hotel rooms while also receiving medical care, benefits such as meals, vital document recovery and job assistance.
Some of the positive results achieved from this initiative include:
344 people completed a housing needs assessment, which revealed that the vast majority had not previously sought help from social services
More than 60 found full-time or part-time employment
Nearly 30 transitioned to more permanent housing programs
There were 14 life-saving or serious medical interventions, including HIV and chronic illness diagnosis
30 acquired vital documents (birth certificates, ID cards, etc.)
and 35 enrolled in benefits (Medicare/Medicaid SSI) and more than 100 were helped with improving benefits and resources.
Platt’s strategic plan to generate housing solutions has been outlined in “A Vision for Housing.” Comments and feedback are welcome now through August 12, 2021.
The plan includes the goal of creating 10,000 affordable homes and apartments in the next five years, using a combination of strategies including:
Tiny home communities
$1 Land Bank homes rehabilitation
Building affordable homes on vacant city lots
Including affordable housing in new private multifamily developments
Social housing developments on city-owned property
and repurposing underutilized/unused facilities and converting them into housing (the focus of this RFP).
The plan was created in partnership with the City Council, the unhoused and housing insecure population and The Greater Kansas City Coalition to End Homelessness.
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Photo caption: One affordable housing idea includes the tiny home community concept, which continues to gain popularity across the nation. Above: Escape Tampa Bay Village includes a neighborhood of 10 eco-friendly tiny homes in north Tampa, Fla. Image courtesy of Escape Tampa Bay Village.