Days are getting shorter and temps are falling lower. The Kansas City Council recently approved a new budget for an extreme weather plan geared toward unhoused Kansas Citians. We’re delving into the plan + how you can give back this holiday season.
The plan
The new budget of $1.3 million was approved by the Kansas City Council on Thursday, Oct. 26. Through it’s partnerships with 16 local organizations, the city will utilize $500,000 from its 3% marijuana sales tax and another $800,000 from city funds.
Ten shelters will open, depending on weather severity, according to these four levels:
Level one
Three shelters will be open every night from Friday, Dec. 1 to March of next year, regardless of the temperature. The open shelters include Hope Faith, True Light, and Unity Southeast.
Level two
Through April 1, 2024, four more shelters including Shelter KC for men, City Union Mission, and Hope City will open if the temperature is:
- 32 degrees or below
- 25 degrees with windchill
- 32 degrees with windchill and precipitation
Level three
Through April 1, 2024, Heartland, Shelter KC for women, and Cross-lines will open if the temperature is:
- 25 degrees or below
- 15 degrees with windchill
- 25 degrees with windchill and precipitation
Level four
If the temperature is 0 degrees or below, each shelter will do their best to take in any person left out in the cold.
The money will also be allocated to other community nonprofits to provide food, mental health services, medical care, transitional living support, and trafficking support.
How to help
Improve life for all Kansas Citians by donating your time, talent, or money at one of the shelters above or at one of these seven organizations:
- Benilde Hall provides emergency housing + services for treating substance use and mental health issues.
- Care Beyond the Boulevard operates free medical clinics for homeless, uninsured, or otherwise vulnerable members of Kansas City.
- Kansas City Community Kitchen serves meals to anyone at no cost, every Monday through Friday, 11 a.m.–2 p.m., including holidays and during bad weather.
- reStart provides emergency shelter and transitional housing, employment assistance, mental health and substance abuse services, life skills classes, and health clinics.
- Save Inc. offers permanent, transitional, and emergency housing, including Pride Haven, a shelter for transition-aged youth, 18-24, facing homelessness.
- Uplift operates vans delivering food, clothing, and other necessities three time a week. They have volunteer positions for drivers, cooks, and warehouse workers.
- Veterans Community Project’s walk-in services include food and hygiene kits, RideKC passes, and a free commissary. It also operates VCP Village, a community of 49 tiny houses for veterans experiencing homelessness.
Check out other opportunities for action by visiting KCUR’s list of resources, previous Kansas City Council community partnerships or by getting involved with the Greater Kansas City Coalition to End Homelessness.
What are your favorite resources in the metro? How do you plan to give back this holiday season? Let us know.