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The U.S. Supreme Court ruled last month that cities can punish people for sleeping in public areas, and while Kansas City does not have a “no camping” ordinance in place, some residents fear the decision could spark local backlash against homeless people.
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The influx of soccer fans to Kansas City is expected to hike prices for short-term rentals, possibly pushing up rents and making permanent housing less affordable. But if Kansas City officials use the opportunity to invest in affordable housing, experts see a chance for long-term benefits.
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A bill in the Kansas Legislature would have provided millions of dollars to build homeless shelters across the state — except lawmakers let it die in committee. Plus: Could manufactured housing like mobile homes help solve the affordability crisis?
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A bill in the Kansas Legislature would have provided millions of dollars to build homeless shelters across the state. But lawmakers let the bill stall in committee and left Topeka for the year without taking any meaningful action to address the growing problem.
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Johnson County is planning to build a homeless shelter and service center in a repurposed Lenexa hotel. Kansas City-based nonprofit reStart, which would run the facility, told commissioners that it would need funding help from the county and cities.
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The decision could have an impact on Missouri, where the GOP-led legislature in 2022 passed a law banning sleeping on public land. Critics said the Missouri law essentially criminalized homelessness, although it was later overturned on a technicality.
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Kansas City’s extreme temperatures have many community members sheltering inside in the air conditioning. But how is the city's unhoused population coping with the heat? Plus: Get the top headlines from around Kansas and Missouri.
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Unhoused residents in Kansas City are at risk due to the extreme heat sweeping across the region. Street outreach teams from local nonprofit reStart are working to provide emergency supplies and shelter from the heat.
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Advocates say that Kansas City won't be able to end chronic homelessness without a low-barrier shelter — a place without religious teachings, that doesn’t require guests first to take job training or get sober. But after pushback from the neighborhood, Kansas City Council is starting from square one.
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Kansas will be the first state to let foster teens pick a family without losing foster care benefitsOlder foster children in Kansas who face aging out of care will soon be able to choose their own families. In the past, they had to sometimes choose between being adopted or keeping important foster care benefits like free college tuition.
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The American Rescue Plan funds for students experiencing homelessness must be budgeted by September — so three legislative interns spent this session helping get the word out.
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Missouri Republicans could play a key role in legalizing abortion later this year. Even though many GOP voters don't agree with their party on abortion rights, they may still support other candidates on the ballot. Plus: Adopted from an orphanage in Russia, Anna McCune is pouring her heart into making sure Kansas City's kids don’t experience what she did growing up.