Kansas City Tries Innovative Plan to Address Growing Homeless Problem

State of Missouri, Kansas City — Several people in Kansas City, Missouri, believe that the most dangerous part of the city is a section of road that is located close to train tracks and the Missouri River. However, Smoke and Serena, a couple, have been residing there for a number of years.

“Violence, oh yeah, I guess it just, it brings out the worst in you, man,” Smoke said in an interview with a news programming station. “Down here, it pushes you to a whole other limit.”

The location of their tent is close to the central business district of Kansas City, and it is tucked away in a dense forest of trees and shrubbery. Encampments may be found all across the region, and they are spread out on both sides of the railroad tracks. The vast majority of tents are encircled by trash, some of which has been accumulating for years. A significant portion of it is comprised of discarded goods that were used to prepare meals or keep warm, or it incorporates heaps of scrap metal that are gathered and sold for money.

According to a report from the Department of Housing and Urban Development, the number of homeless people in the United States increased by around 18% in 2024, with more than 771,000 people experiencing homelessness at some point in the year 2024. This is a little rise from less than 653,000 people in 2023.

A report published by the Department of Housing and Urban Development in 2023 found that 95.7% of people who were experiencing chronic homelessness in the Kansas metropolis metropolitan region were without housing. This was the highest proportion of any major metropolis in the United States. In his capacity as the coordinator for the prevention of homelessness in the city of Kansas City, Josh Henges is working to find a solution to this problem.

An attempt is being made to construct something here… And the objective is to rescue people from this predicament,” Henges stated.

Kevin Morgan and Nick Allen, who are currently serving as Henges’ street outreach coordinators, are by his side. Allen serves as the “point man,” and he attempts to establish trust, which is an essential first step in the process of taking individuals off the streets.

According to Henges, who is working to alter the trajectory of the situation, “We are set to double our homeless population in less than four years because we are not doing this right.” “…Homelessness is the most solvable problem America has chosen not to solve.”

Building “a system that delivers people out of homelessness, regardless of where they fall in, that is what you have to do,” is what Henges advocates for as a solution to the problem of homelessness. “Functional zero” is the name he gives to the goal of ensuring that anyone who becomes homeless is able to get back on their feet within a month.

“There’s enough money currently in this system to solve this problem, but it is not coordinated,” Henges explained to reporters.

In an effort to provide people with a place to stay while also meeting their requirements, he intends to direct churches, humanitarian organizations, and shelters to coordinate their resources. It would be comparable to the services that are offered by Shelter KC, which is a humanitarian organization in the area.

“If you just put in affordable housing and you don’t deal with the core issues of addiction and mental health, then that’s not going to end homelessness,” said Eric Burger, executive director of Shelter KC. “Homelessness is a problem that needs to be addressed.”

Prior to assisting individuals in achieving success, Burger wants to make sure that they are first made to feel comfortable and seen.

“Many of our people have never had healthy relationships,” Burger stated in an interview. “So you’re connected into a good workplace, good housing, a support system of a church, a recovery group.”

He believes that it is not only a holistic approach, but it is also related to the question of how we may establish relationships with other people.

Sooner rather than later, Smoke and Serena will be moving into a new house in a different area thanks to a federal voucher program. This is not the least bit premature. The fire that destroyed their last tent.

“It’s just gonna be nice, opening and closing the door,” Smoke stated in response. “Hey, we’re back at home ” Yes, I think we should just keep doing it, do you agree? “Hey, we’ve arrived at our destination.”