Kansas City Struggles with Rising Unsheltered Homelessness Crisis

Kansas City Faces Crisis With Unsheltered Homelessness

Kansas City is currently grappling with a serious issue of unsheltered homelessness that is raising eyebrows across the nation. With nearly 95.7% of its chronically homeless population living outdoors, Kansas City has the highest rate of people experiencing chronic homelessness without shelter among all major U.S. cities, according to the latest report from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). This startling statistic has grown by almost 6% between 2022 and 2023, highlighting an ongoing challenge for the city.

Meet Bill: A Survivor in Crisis

In a small encampment just outside Kessler Park, a 67-year-old man named Bill has spent the last dozen years living outside. “It’s a long time to be out here, but I’m a survivor,” he expresses with a brave smile, although he notes that the experience has tested him in ways others might not understand. A well-worn copy of The Little Book of Heartbreak rests beside him while his gray and white dog checks in for some belly rubs.

While Kansas City struggles with these alarming numbers, it’s crucial to understand that it doesn’t mean more people are homeless here compared to bigger cities like Los Angeles, where over 30,000 individuals are recorded as chronically homeless. Instead, it shows that among those who are homeless, a much higher proportion in Kansas City find themselves living outside, rather than in shelters. For context, Los Angeles reports 86.6% of its chronically homeless population living unsheltered.

Challenges of Living Outdoors

The reality is tough for people like Bill. He recounts a feeling of constant unease in a location grimly nicknamed “Killer’s Alley,” known for its history of violence. “It’s been an experience. It’s a whole different society,” he says, clearly aware of the dangers surrounding him. Yet, he’s optimistic that outreach workers might help him find a mailing address and the paperwork he needs to escape life on the streets.

Bill’s story is unfortunately not unique. Just down south in another part of the city, Linda, also 67, shares her struggles as well. After the death of her landlord forced her to find a new place to live quickly, she ended up purchasing a tent and taking her chances outside. “It’s tough because I’m filthy all the time,” she admits, explaining her routine of washing up in a nearby creek. With raccoons raiding her food supply and rumors swirling about possible police intervention to clear her encampment, Linda is anxious and uncertain about the future.

A Slow Response to a Growing Crisis

The city’s initiative, called Zero KC, aims to tackle homelessness over a five-year period, but progress on permanent shelters has been frustratingly slow. Following a tragic incident in which a man froze to death in 2021, Kansas City opened a temporary low-barrier shelter during the winter months. However, residents are still waiting for concrete plans for a permanent solution.

Back in January, a proposal for funding a new low-barrier shelter was accepted, and city officials appeared optimistic. “Of course, we’d like to move quickly,” stated Assistant City Manager Melissa Kozakiewicz. After some pushback from neighbors in the Historic Northeast, negotiations are now being re-evaluated, with some hope on the horizon.

Hope for the Future

Outreach worker Nick Allen recently explained the low-barrier shelter concept to individuals living outdoors: “Come as you are.” For many, it’s a glimmer of hope in what feels like a never-ending struggle. “Well they should do it,” Linda exclaimed when she learned about the idea.

As winter approaches, the pressure to find immediate solutions intensifies. Josh Henges, Kansas City’s homeless prevention coordinator, confirmed that a cold weather shelter is set to open in December with 300 low-barrier beds available. Another 100 beds may remain open until the permanent shelter is ready. These developments offer some hope, but for many like Bill and Linda, the clock is ticking as they strive to find a warm place to call home once cold temperatures set in.