Kansas City Nonprofit Radically Tackling Student Homelessness
In the heart of Kansas City, a non-profit organization, Avenue of Life, is focusing diligently on the pressing issue of student homelessness. Offering more than just shelter, the organization provides ‘stability and connection’, a lifeline for struggling families, and a beacon of hope for KC’s future.
Avenue of Life: The Wings of Compassion
Avenue of Life is an active nonprofit working with local schools to reach out and support students facing the harsh realities of homelessness. It provides necessary services like food, clothing, and urgent short-term housing solutions like hotel rooms. The team at Avenue also endeavors to provide long-term housing solutions, ensuring security in the lives of these families. The notion of community, embraced wholeheartedly by Avenue of Life, serves as a sanctuary twice a week, as their space transforms into a hive of activity aimed at helping as many kids off the streets as possible.
The Story of Anna McCune
The plight of homelessness remains deeply understand at Avenue of Life, notably by its Empowerment Director, Anna McCune. Born in Russia and brought up in an orphanage, McCune was adopted by an American family at the age of 5. Her practical experience of transitioning from a state of homelessness to stability now bolsters her purpose at Avenue, helping other families in need. “Homelessness and houselessness can happen to anyone. It’s not just someone who isn’t clean, or hasn’t showered, or someone who’s really angry. The presentation really depends on that person and maybe how long they’ve been fighting this,” says McCune. Her past life is what helps her connect with and support struggling families at a personal level. Providing almost 29,000 hot meals, aiding 109 families with housing, and distributing necessities to nearly 7000 people in 2023 alone, McCune’s work through Avenue is testimony to her conviction.
More than Just Housing
Beyond providing shelter, the organization strongly focuses on developing relationships with the families they serve. It prioritizes connecting with families and understanding their unique circumstances before proceeding with assistance programs. In addition to housing solutions, Avenue of Life also pays heed to the emotional regulation, which often gets disrupted during eviction or homelessness. The rehousing process involves financial assistance and is purposed to set families up on the road to success despite societal barriers, language limitations, and logistical complications.
Anna McCune believes in taking time and patience for every case. The realization that not every case will immediately transpire into success led her to understand the magnitude of responsibility her role holds. Her belief in stable connections and long-term security is the cornerstone of Avenue of Life’s mission.“So just being patient and being there for when the family’s ready.” she conveys.
Building Communities, Building Futures
The fundamental ethos of Avenue of Life is not just about fleeting solutions, but about creating lifelong stability and fostering connections. The avenue’s holistic, people-centered approach encapsulates its mission at the core level. The organization provides the much-needed emotional and material support for struggling families, focusing on creating a sustainable solution to the systemic problem of homelessness. As Kansas City’s families battle instability, Avenue of Life steps forward as a symbol of hope and resilience, forming a bulwark against homelessness.
