rental housing

The project will build new housing on what was once one of the oldest Black-owned housing cooperatives in the country.

Kansas City is seeing an influx of short-term rental applications from residents interested in hosting their property during the FIFA World Cup. The city opened up special permitting in December that allows people to host short-term rentals from May 3 to July 31.

Tenants at Bowen Tower Apartments began withholding rent last October. An agreement with the California-based landlord now includes lower rent and utility rates, and commitments to fix longstanding problems in the building.

Residents describe fires, floods, infestation, and deterioration while living in Olive Park Village apartments controlled by a Cleveland-based housing management company. With the city citing unsafe conditions, remaining families now have to scramble for new homes.

The Kansas City Council created a Housing Trust Fund seven years ago to support the development of more affordable units. In 2025, the city saw some of its first projects come to life — but the money is running out next year.

More than 650,000 people could attend the World Cup in Kansas City next summer, and all of them will need a place to stay. That's why the Kansas City Council is changing its rules around short-term rentals to make it easier for residents to host visitors.

Parade Park Homes was once one of the oldest Black-owned housing cooperatives in the country. The redevelopment there includes plans for about 1,100 new housing units, with some reserved as affordable or for senior housing.

The Bowen Tower Tenant Union began withholding rent at the beginning of October in response to repeated flooding, pest infestations and plumbing issues that tenants say go ignored by management.

Latinos are expected to be 70% of net new homeowners in the U.S. by 2040. Several local programs — mostly in Spanish, but some in English — are designed to help Latinos jump the hurdles that can stand between them and homeownership.

Tenants at two apartment complexes in east Kansas City and another in Lee’s Summit unionized for better living conditions. Their landlord is a real estate company in New York, and a big player in federally subsidized affordable housing.

Sherri Foster missed several months of rent in 2020, but the lease on her Prairie Village house included a late fee of $20 per day. The court ruled she owed fees for all 1,062 days between her first missed payment and the judgment date.

In several states, a renter has to make $20 or more an hour to afford apartments being leased at Fair Market Value. Nearly half of Americans don’t make enough money to afford a one-bedroom rental.