Episodes
Part 4 | "Foreclosed, Evicted, Homeless…"
In the past twenty-four months, thousands of families in Greater Kansas City have been evicted from their homes and apartments. Some got caught up in the sub-prime mortgage crisis. Others fell behind in their mortgage or rent payments after suddenly losing a job.
But what has happened to them since? Where did they go?
KCPT takes an intimate look at the lives of local families made homeless by the economic downturn. KCPT goes beyond traditional storytelling techniques by providing parents and children with flip video cameras to chronicle their own experiences.
Step inside homeless shelters in Kansas City and in Johnson County where social service agencies are seeing an explosion of new clients. Meet with local school district officials who are tackling a rising number of “sofa surfers,” children who double up with relatives or rely on classmates to provide a temporary roof.
The number of homeless students in the Kansas City, KS school district increased 45 percent this school year. In the Shawnee Mission district in Johnson County, apartment evictions and home foreclosures pushed the number of student homeless to 300.
Then, later in the broadcast KCPT’s Nick Haines convenes community leaders to explore the full scope and scale of homelessness in Kansas City, searches for solutions and invites viewers to participate in the conversation live in the studio. Panelist on the show include:
Brian O'Malley, Executive Director
Homeless Services Coalition of Greater Kansas City
Evelyn Craig, Executive Director
reStart Inc.
Valorie Carson, Community Planning Director
United Community Services of Johnson County
Cindy Circo, Councilwoman
Kansas City, Mo.
Elma Warrick, Executive Director
HomeFree-USA
In addition, KCPT powers up its helpline phonebank to connect viewers on the brink of foreclosure, behind on their rent payments or simply in need of a job with immediate assistance.
Web Resources
City Union Mission | http://www.cumission.org/
Since 1924, City Union Mission has provided warm beds, nutritious food and a place of safety for thousands of poverty stricken and homeless men, women and children.
Johnson County Interfaith Hospitality Network | www.jocoihn.org
A nonprofit organization serving homeless families in Johnson County, Kansas with emergency shelter and meals, as well as compassionate assistance with social services, and relationships with caring people in the faith community.
Homeless Services Coalition of Greater Kansas City | www.hscgkc.org
Service providers, consumers, community leaders, government agencies and others in the Greater Kansas City metro area have come together, under the central umbrella of the Homeless Services Coalition, to help eradicate homelessness in our community.
If you need direct services assistance, please contact United Way’s Help Line Referral Specialists by dialing 211 in the KC Metro Area. For Emergency Shelter needs call the Homeless Hotline at 816-474-4599.
Episode Guide
Part 4 "Foreclosed, Evicted, Homeless..."
Thousands of families evicted from their homes, where did they go? more
Part 1 "Falling Behind"
Mortgages, credit card debt, evictions and foreclosure. more
Part 2 "Worried Sick"
Finding health care to resources for the unemployed. more
Part 3 "Starting Over"
How to save and cut expenses when times are tough. more