Kansas City Council approved the second round of the Housing Trust Fund Advisory Board’s recommendations to allocate $11.2 million to 12 applicants supporting 542 affordable housing units. This decision will continue the City’s efforts to increase affordable housing across Kansas City.
The city’s current housing crisis has become a major concern for residents in recent years, with many struggling to find affordable housing. In 2018, City Council established the Housing Trust Fund to promote, preserve, and create long-term affordable housing as a central piece in the city’s efforts to address the shortage of affordable housing. Since its creation, $75 million has been dedicated to improving the lives of Kansas Citians struggling with the cost of housing, facing housing insecurity, or homelessness.
During its first publicly available funding round, the Housing Trust Fund awarded $7.9 million to 14 applicants, with 456 affordable units being created or preserved across those projects. The second round has awarded $11.2 million to 12 applicants, supporting 542 affordable housing units, which will continue the City’s efforts to increase affordable housing.
Mayor Quinton Lucas commented on the decision, stating, “Since becoming mayor, I have been proud to commit $75 million to Kansas City’s Housing Trust Fund, which already has created hundreds of affordable housing units—ensuring stable and dignified housing available to Kansas Citians in all zip codes. Today, we moved forward with an additional 542 affordable units, which brings our total number of homes created and preserved through Kansas City’s Housing Trust Fund to more than 1,000. As someone who grew up knowing homelessness, I know how important our work is. As we celebrate things like a Super Bowl, a new terminal, and an expanded streetcar line, I will keep focusing on housing until no child and no family in our community is without a safe and affordable place to live.”
Councilwoman Melissa Robinson expressed her gratitude to the voters who have recognized the city’s current housing crisis and committed to helping solve the need to build and preserve affordable options by financing a $50 million GO Bond. She stated, “Our theory of change for the Third District is economic mobility for residents and economic development for our spaces and places. These recommendations are key and critical to achieving our urgent vision for meaningful change.”
The latest round of Housing Trust Fund awardees includes Allenwood Properties, LLC; Amethyst Place; Community LINC Housing; Hispanic Economic Development Corporation; Jerusalem Farm; Lykins Neighborhood Trust; Oak Park Neighborhood Association; Our Spot KC; Overland Property Group; St. Michael’s Veterans Center Inc.; UNI Crescendo, LLC; and Vecino Group, LLC. These allocations will support many catalytic projects, including housing with wraparound services for veterans (55 homes), for women in recovery from substance use (37 homes), and for people experiencing homelessness.
Jane Pansing Brown, Housing Director, commented on the decision, stating, “The twelve awards recommended by our Affordable Housing Trust Fund Board to Council today will continue Kansas City’s transformative march toward providing affordable housing for our residents.”
The Housing Trust Fund has made significant progress in addressing the city’s affordable housing crisis. The Trust Fund provides financing for affordable housing, with the goal of ensuring that all residents of Kansas City have access to safe and affordable housing. By providing affordable housing options, the Trust Fund helps to improve the lives of Kansas Citians, creating stable and dignified housing for those in need.
The city’s efforts to increase affordable housing are critical, as the shortage of affordable housing has a significant impact on the quality of life for many residents. The shortage of affordable housing affects low-income families, seniors, veterans, and people with disabilities
