Wells Fargo and Mayor Sly James today announced $500,000 in grants to nonprofits to help strengthen neighborhoods and reduce homelessness.
The event was at the National World War I Museum at the Liberty Memorial, James said, because so many veterans are homeless.
They are 11 percent of the population but 30 percent of the national homeless population, James said. “That is obscene.”
The company provided the grant money and city officials helped select the non-profits.
The largest grant – $250,000 – went to ReStart as part of the financing for the Rose Hill Townhouses that are being built at Admiral and Troost.
The 33 townhouses with support services will be for formerly homeless people.
Evelyn Craig, ReStart president and CEO, said Kansas City rates among the top 10 communities in number of evictions – 19 families a day.
We can change that, she said, and “this project is an important step in making that happen.”
Kirk Kellner, Wells Fargo regional president for Missouri, Kansas and Nebraska, said the company grants are the second phase in its Neighborhood Lift funding program.
The company previously spent $6.5 million to provide $15,000 down payment housing grants for about 300 families or individuals, he said.
Other non-profits who got grants today included Catholic Charities, Guadalupe Centers, Sheffield Place and Greater Kansas City Housing Information Center.
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