COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR ORDINANCE NO. 220067

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Authorizing the City Manager to negotiate and execute a contract with the Kansas City, Missouri Homesteading Authority to utilize $700,000.00 from the Housing Trust Fund to rehab and renovate houses in the Kansas City, Missouri Homesteading Authority's inventory for the purpose of providing permanent housing for houseless residents of the City.

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WHEREAS, there are as many as 1733 people in Kansas City currently experiencing houselessness, according to Project Homeless Connect Kansas City, with 386 under the age of 18; and

WHEREAS, the COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated the public health issue by exponentially increasing job loss and financial struggle, particularly in communities of color and for those living at or near the poverty threshold as established by the United States' Department of Health and Human Services; and

WHEREAS, the intersecting and sometimes competing costs of housing and health create an undue burden on our City's poorest and most vulnerable residents; and

WHEREAS, spending public dollars to mitigate the effects of houselessness on the entire community serves a legitimate public purpose; and

WHEREAS, the Kansas City, Missouri Homesteading Authority currently has houses in its inventory that are available for sale; and

WHEREAS, the City and the Kansas City, Missouri Homesteading Authority wish to partner together to rehab and renovate houses in the Kansas City, Missouri Homesteading Authority's inventory to create permanent housing for houseless residents of the City; and

WHEREAS, upon completion of the rehab and renovation of the homes, the City intends for the homes to be sold to non-profit housing providers who will, in addition to providing case management and support services for occupants, maintain the properties and ensure that the homes remain attainable for houseless residents of the City; NOW, THEREFORE,

BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF KANSAS ...

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