The issue of homelessness is foundational to Catholic Charities Kansas City-Saint Joseph (CCKCSJ). From families with children to seniors needing affordable housing, a happy lifestyle is rooted in making one’s own decisions under a roof to sustain themselves.
In the agency’s Community Housing program, there are four main HUD supported programs: HomePlus, Northwest Permanent Housing, Northeast Metro Permanent Housing, and Saint Joseph Permanent Housing. According to the Catholic Charities financial report database for 2021, “Out of the 331 individuals impacted by those four programs, 42.4% of those served were ages 0-17.”
“There are other programs which address homelessness, however. Each program is different. If someone needs emergency assistance or support, we may be able to cover their rent for a month, if a funding source allows. Sometimes, we can pay more if they’re on the verge of eviction. Our assistance funds go directly to the landlords, so families can continue to maintain their housing,” Sunny Jones, Chief Operating Officer for CCKCSJ, said. These funds come from a variety of sources, including individuals, foundations, grants and public funds.
If individuals are in the eviction process and in need of a place to stay, CCKCSJ has funded hotel stays for people as well. “In Fiscal Year 2021, we paid nearly $100,000 in hotel stays for individuals,” said Jones.
For more information on these services, you can email assistance@ccharities.com, give us a call at 816-221-4377 or email homeless@ccharities.com or call 816.617.2265.
According to Christie Dade, Director of Housing Development, the need for affordable senior living has increased over the past 30 years.
Catholic Charities sponsors senior housing in six different properties in Kansas City, Warrensburg, and Cameron, Missouri.
All of the properties have been around for 15 years and financed through HUD and Section 202 Supportive Housing for the Elderly programs.
Just like with Community Housing, there are eligibility requirements and an application process. “These properties serve people aged 62 and older,” Dade said. “Interested people can contact the property manager to begin the application process.” Dade mentioned the application can take four to six weeks.
All our locations are independent facilities furnished with open showers, washers, and dryers on site, as well as, professional management and maintenance services. Five of the six properties are gated, secured entry and exit, and members’ only parking lots. The properties have community, fitness, social, or sitting rooms to be able to relax in.
“St. Charles Place in St. Joseph, MO is a different kind of structure,” Dade said. “This location is not an apartment building, but a series of one and two-bedroom townhouse-style buildings.”
Monthly costs to residents are manageable, with utility and rent expenses within range of what the resident’s income can bear. There is a set limit, depending on the location.
If you would like more details on each of these properties, email us at seniorhousing@ccharities.com or call 816-659-8216.
The same client-choice model is used with the Veterans’ program: locations fit the needs which client-families are requesting.
Along with this “client choice model”, CCKCSJ not only believes housing for Veterans is foundational, but only the first step in on the path to the dignity of self-reliance. In order to help secure their future, Veterans Services also offers housing case management, emergency assistance, one-on-one counseling, and Social Security benefit assistance.
For more information on these services, you can email veterans@ccharities.com or call 816.659.8263.
I currently live in Richmond and am being evicted and need to move by the 12th. I have a disabled spouse and son in the home. And we have a lot of furnishings that are heavy. And neither are capable of helping me much therefore movers will have to be hired. I’m scared
Thank you for reaching out to us Amy. Do you live in Richmond, MO? If so we can possibly help you out in your situation. Please give our Welcome Center a call at 816.221.4377 so we can try to help best serve you. Have a great day.
I would like help on trying to find a place
Thank you for reaching out to us Kellie. Where are you currently staying at right now? Please give our Welcome Centers a call.
Kansas City: 816.221.4377
Saint Joseph: 816.232.2885
Have a great day.
Hello I need housing assistance I found a place and I’m homeless at the moment. I’m 53 years old I’m trying to get my disability. I’ve had 7 heart attacks and 2 strokes. I have asthma and this heat is killing me. I need help with utilities also I called the utilities and someone has had them in my name. So I have a 400 dollar gas bill, a 799 dollar water bill and I’m not sure about the lights how much yet I still have to call them. The place I found is a 1 bedroom house. The rent is 750.00 a month.plus a deposit. If you can help me get in the house and with the utilities then I could start taking better care of myself. I get food stamps right now. The place where I was staying burnt so I have been staying in my vehicle that one of my son’s gave me but it’s not legal yet either because I haven’t had the money plus I need an address.
Thank you for your time
Diedra Kernes
Diedra, I am sorry to hear! Call (816) 221-4377 to see what we can do. It is best to call on Monday mornings early and just keep calling until someone answers.
I am in serious need of housing assistance. My kids were taken from me March 3rd and the day before CPS was supposed to inspect the house it caught fire and burnt down, it is unliveable. I had been staying with a friend but the situation became really bad so i now have nowhere to go.
Hello there Mrs. Perkins, I am so sorry to hear about this. Please call 816.221.4377 (Kansas City) or 816.232.2885 (St. Joseph) so we can try to help you or at least point you to someone who can. Thank you for reaching out to us.
I really am interested me and my fiance r struggling need hotel voucher for another week or two we have interviews and r staying at the home studios by Red roof on n corrington avenue Kansas City mo 64117 room 309 and I have interview at Wendy’s on 31st but we have to leave the first please help
Hello there,
Thank you for reaching out to us. I am very sorry to hear that. Please call our Welcome Center: 816.221.4377 (Kansas City) or 816.232.2885 (Saint Joseph) to see how we can best help you or at least point you to someone who we know that can.
hello i was just let go from my job may 27. for health issues, lupus attacking my nervous system making me not able to work, just lost my job, lost my health insurance to get better. please help with living (rental cost) and health insurance, my girls and i are now be hide on energy 2 months and rent 1 month.
Hello there,
I am so sorry to hear of this happening to you. Please call our Welcome Center: 816.221.4377 (Kansas City) or 816.232.2885 (Saint Joseph) to see how we can best help you in this situation or lead you to someone that we know can.
Thank you for reaching out to us.
hi im currently 38 weeks pregnant and i have 3 kids im homeless i was hoping i can get help with housing my due date is on august 24 2022
Hello there. Thank you so much for reaching out to us. Please call our Welcome Center, 816.221.4377(Kansas City) or 816.232.2885(St. Joseph) as well as our Mom’s Empowerment Program at 816.659.8285 to see how we can best assist you.
Yes I am in desperate need to find an affordable place to live which is also close to my work in KCMO area, and I am single but currently have no home. Staying with friend but need to get my own place – please help
Thank you for reaching out! Please email us at homeless@ccharities.com or call 816.617.2265
please help my apt where I lived did not renew my lease for situations that I had no control of but held me accountable based on rumors and falsehoods I lived there for 2.4 years post the death of my husband of 50 years. I paid the rent every month and created no problems problems however during that time neither neighbors nor management talked to me about any situations. since then I have been living in my old 25 year old van and I am 76 years old . I worked all my life and my SS income is over the guidelines for assistance. I pay out a substantial amount in debts but they do not consider it regarding assistance.MY CHILDREN OR SIBLINGS ARE UNABLE TO HELP,THEY PRAY FOR ME AS WELL AS MYSELF.ALSO I HAVE A DISABLED DAUGHTER WHO IS DISABLED FROM TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURY AND EPILEPSY WHO IS HOMELESS AND ON THE STREET,SHE IS COGNITIVELY IMPAIRED AND DOES NOT RECOGNIZE OUR FAMILY AS HER FAMILY WHICH CREATES MUCH HARDSHIP FOR HER AND OUR FAMILY.SHE IS UNABLE TO LIVE WITH ME DUE TO HER STATUS,WE BOTH NEED A PLACE TO LIVE. i AM SCHEDULED FOR EYE SURGERY EARLY IN OCTOBER AND NEED A PLACE TO RECUPERATE,WOULD A HOTEL ROOM BE POSSIBLE FOR RECUPERATION AND TO LIVE? THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONDIDERATION AND ASSISTANCE! MY EMAIL IS ZEROHOUR311D@GMAIL.COM PRAY TO HEAR MY PLEA ELIZABETH!
please help my apt where I lived did not renew my lease for situations that I had no control of but held me accountable based on rumors and falsehoods I lived there for 2.4 years post the death of my husband of 50 years. I paid the rent every month and created no problems problems however during that time neither neighbors nor management talked to me about any situations. since then I have been living in my old 25 year old van and I am 76 years old . I worked all my life and my SS income is over the guidelines for assistance. I pay out a substantial amount in debts but they do not consider it regarding assistance.MY CHILDREN OR SIBLINGS ARE UNABLE TO HELP,THEY PRAY FOR ME AS WELL AS MYSELF.ALSO I HAVE A DISABLED DAUGHTER WHO IS DISABLED FROM TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURY AND EPILEPSY WHO IS HOMELESS AND ON THE STREET,SHE IS COGNITIVELY IMPAIRED AND DOES NOT RECOGNIZE OUR FAMILY AS HER FAMILY WHICH CREATES MUCH HARDSHIP FOR HER AND OUR FAMILY.SHE IS UNABLE TO LIVE WITH ME DUE TO HER STATUS,WE BOTH NEED A PLACE TO LIVE. i AM SCHEDULED FOR EYE SURGERY EARLY IN OCTOBER AND NEED A PLACE TO RECUPERATE,WOULD A HOTEL ROOM BE POSSIBLE FOR RECUPERATION AND TO LIVE? THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONDIDERATION AND ASSISTANCE! PRAY TO HEAR MY PLEA ELIZABETH!
please help my apt where I lived did not renew my lease for situations that I had no control of but held me accountable based on rumors and falsehoods I lived there for 2.4 years post the death of my husband of 50 years. I paid the rent every month and created no problems problems however during that time neither neighbors nor management talked to me about any situations. since then I have been living in my old 25 year old van and I am 76 years old . I worked all my life and my SS income is over the guidelines for assistance. I pay out a substantial amount in debts but they do not consider it regarding assistance.MY CHILDREN OR SIBLINGS ARE UNABLE TO HELP,THEY PRAY FOR ME AS WELL AS MYSELF.ALSO I HAVE A DISABLED DAUGHTER WHO IS DISABLED FROM TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURY AND EPILEPSY WHO IS HOMELESS AND ON THE STREET,SHE IS COGNITIVELY IMPAIRED AND DOES NOT RECOGNIZE OUR FAMILY AS HER FAMILY WHICH CREATES MUCH HARDSHIP FOR HER AND OUR FAMILY.SHE IS UNABLE TO LIVE WITH ME DUE TO HER STATUS,WE BOTH NEED A PLACE TO LIVE. i AM SCHEDULED FOR EYE SURGERY EARLY IN OCTOBER AND NEED A PLACE TO RECUPERATE,WOULD A HOTEL ROOM BE POSSIBLE FOR RECUPERATION AND TO LIVE? THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONDIDERATION AND ASSISTANCE! PRAY TO HEAR MY PLEA.
please help my apt where I lived did not renew my lease for situations that I had no control of but held me accountable based on rumors and falsehoods I lived there for 2.4 years post the death of my husband of 50 years. I paid the rent every month and created no problems however during that time neither neighbors nor management talked to me about any situations. since then I have been living in my old 25 year old van and I am 76 years old . I worked all my life and my SS income is over the guidelines for assistance. I pay out a substantial amount in debts but they do not consider it regarding assistance.MY CHILDREN OR SIBLINGS ARE UNABLE TO HELP,THEY PRAY FOR ME AS WELL AS MYSELF.ALSO I HAVE A DISABLED DAUGHTER WHO IS DISABLED FROM TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURY AND EPILEPSY WHO IS HOMELESS AND ON THE STREET,SHE IS COGNITIVELY IMPAIRED AND DOES NOT RECOGNIZE OUR FAMILY AS HER FAMILY WHICH CREATES MUCH HARDSHIP FOR HER AND OUR FAMILY.SHE IS UNABLE TO LIVE WITH ME DUE TO HER STATUS,WE BOTH NEED A PLACE TO LIVE. i AM SCHEDULED FOR EYE SURGERY EARLY IN OCTOBER AND NEED A PLACE TO RECUPERATE,WOULD A HOTEL ROOM BE POSSIBLE FOR RECUPERATION AND TO LIVE? THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONDIDERATION AND ASSISTANCE! PRAY TO HEAR MY PLEA.
Hello there Elizabeth,
Thank you for reaching out to us. Please call our Welcome Center at 816.221.4377 (Kansas City office) or 816.232.2885 (St. Joseph office) or email assistance@ccharities.com to see how we can best assist you in this situation. You can also email homeless@ccharities.com or call them at 816.617.2265. I am so sorry to hear about this.
Have a great day
I’ve been homeless for the past 3 days it’s cold outside I’m going threw a domestic violence situation. I do have a stable job. I have a son he stays with my parents I’m not aloud to stay because my father is sick. COPD nd lung cancer. I don’t know how to obtain a hotel voucher. Someone please help me
Please email us at: assistance@ccharities.com or call 816-221-4377.
Me and my fiance are trying to find housing and we have nobody to help us and we need help can u please help us we have been sleeping outside and it’s cold and the only way we can get our kids back is if we are off the streets
We will contact you. Thank you for reaching out.
I need a home ! I haven’t had a place to live in 3 years after a divorce
Crystal, Thank you for reaching out to us. Call 816-617-2265 or email homeless@ccharities.com to see how a specialist can help.
Yes, I just got evicted and I’m having trouble finding a place I’m 60. I’ll be 63 October and I am by myself. I have to be out of this house by the 25th yes of September.
Hi Peggy, please email our Senior Housing program at: seniorhousing@ccharities.com