City Of KC Converting Vacant Homes To House The Unhoused

From the City of Kansas City:

May 7, 2021

The City has issued a formal Request for Qualifications/Proposals (RFP) for the rehabilitation and renovation of more than 100 Land Bank of Kansas City homes for the sole purpose of providing affordable housing for the unhoused and housing insecure in the City of Kansas City, Missouri. These properties are in the city’s third, fourth and fifth council districts.

All properties will be sold for $1, plus all relevant closing costs and recording fees, and sold ‘as is.’ The RFP and a complete list of homes can be found on the Land Bank website.

“This is another innovative way of providing affordable housing for our most vulnerable residents, to eliminate blight, and to provide vital community services to people and neighborhoods across the city” said City Manager Brian Platt. “We are seeking to partner with community organizations to rehabilitate these properties to quickly create permanent housing options.”

The purpose of the RFP is to sell vacant and abandoned homes and properties for $1, provided that the new owners fully rehabilitate the property, eliminate all blight, and create an affordable housing option to be provided to individuals and families that are at or below 30% AMI or are currently homeless.

“The Land Bank of Kansas City is happy to provide this opportunity to help our unhoused and housing insecure population,” said Tracey Bryant, executive director Land Bank of Kansas City.

Proposers are encouraged to partner with non-profit organizations or other entities with experience providing affordable housing and home renovations and construction, unless the proposer independently has that experience.

Projects must be reviewed by any local neighborhood associations before any land transfer will take place to ensure this new housing best reflects the needs of local residents and communities.

You are invited to an informational meeting to be held on May 13, from 6 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. to discuss the RFP and to answer your questions.

Anyone wishing to participate in the meeting, which is being held at the Robert J. Mohart Multi-Purpose Center, 3200 Wayne Ave., can either join in-person or through the videoconference platform Zoom, using the following link:

Join on your computer or mobile app (Listen mode only – Questions should be entered in the chat only).
Topic: Land Bank RFP Public Meeting
Time: May 13, 2021 06:00 PM Central Time (US and Canada)

Join Zoom Meeting
Meeting ID: 881 0566 1414
Passcode: 301857

The City of Kansas City has also implemented several programs this year to help our residents with housing and homelessness issues:

• The Bartle Hall Warming Center provided a safe, warm place to stay for an average of 307 people nightly during the worst two months of the winter
• Last week the City announced a plan to construct tiny homes to provide emergency transitional housing for the unhoused community
• The City Council has just approved creation of a new, standalone Department of Housing and Community Development with dedicated staffing and resources to support tenant advocacy, homelessness prevention and support, affordable housing preservation and creation and overall community development
• The City is planning to build hundreds of affordable housing units on Barney Allis Plaza as a part of the rehabilitation of the parking garage.
• The City has invested $8.5 million in the past fiscal year to serve those experiencing homelessness, using COVID relief funding (and our normally budgeted funds) to help those thrown into poverty due to the pandemic and loss of jobs. This funding supports community organizations that provide housing, emergency shelter, outreach, counseling, rent and utility assistance and other services to KCMO residents.
• To prevent homelessness, an additional $14.8 million in federal relief is now available to tenants through several community organizations. Go to KCMO.gov/renthelp for more info, an online application and the list of agencies to call for immediate help.

For more information, media can contact John Baccala at (816) 513-3202.

This press release was produced by the City of Kansas City. The views expressed here are the author’s own.