Kansas City’s Housing and Community Development Department recently awarded $800,000 total in grants to three local nonprofits that serve youth experiencing homelessness.
The grants are part of Zero KC, a city initiative to make homelessness rare, brief and non-recurring.
The recipients were Synergy Services Inc., reStart Inc. and Artists Helping the Homeless.
According to Synergy executive director Robin Winner, that $300,000 will help it expand support services for homeless youth, including a 30-day crisis housing and 18-month transitional housing programs and physical and mental health support services.
Without this intervention, “homeless kids become homeless adults,” according to Kansas City houseless prevention coordinator Josh Henges. “You're investing in the citizens that are going to be incredible and valuable to your city.”
In 2024, Winner says, Kansas City’s homeless services rejected over 1,200 young people who requested housing due to limited resources. At particular risk of experiencing homelessness, she noted, are LGBTQ+ youth and those experiencing community or domestic violence.
Under an executive order from the Trump administration, federal grant proposals must be free of words that may suggest “equity initiatives,” such as “women” or “victims” — common language in grant requests for homelessness support services. Henges said that the local grants are a way for the city to support nonprofits while they adjust to the federal restrictions.
After youth voluntarily enter the program, Synergy Services provides support and communicates with their families to return them to a safe environment.
“We can help them change their lives, and that the return on investment is major,” said Winner.
- Robin Winner, executive director, Synergy Services Inc.
- Josh Henges, houseless prevention coordinator, Kansas City Housing and Community Development Department
