Kansas City group works to restore homes for those who can’t afford the repairs

A Kansas City nonprofit is working to relieve the housing crisis here. ReNewKC Neighborhoods started up during the pandemic trying to restore existing homes for those who can’t afford the repairs. It’s changing lives but more funding is needed.A house on Crysler Avenue in Independence has been home to Loraina Leuck and her family for 26 years. But when they couldn’t afford to fix the crumbling roof. They were on the verge of losing it all.”My younger grandkids, they couldn’t even get into the bathroom because we had this big pond of water that was you know 4 feet wide, and we have buckets all over the place trying to collect it all and it was dangerous for them, and the ceiling fell down,” Leuck said.That’s where ReNewKC Neighborhoods comes in. It’s all about keeping people in their homes, working with contractors to help people like Leuck.”Instead of them worrying about, ‘Am I going to pay rent this month? Am I going to get groceries or am I going to fix that hole in my roof?’ For example, our job is to come in and make a difference in these people’s lives,” said Will Block, president of ReNewKC Neighborhoods.ReNewKC fixed the wood rot and other problems, replaced the roof and the gutter system. But there’s a long list of people still waiting for help. The organization has volunteers but still needs money for supplies.