In a quick trip home from Washington, D.C., U.S. Rep. Emanuel Cleaver II spent Saturday at the site of one of Kansas City’s most vexing struggles.

Outside, protesters were demanding protections for vulnerable renters and house-less neighbors. Inside, Kansas City workers and volunteers were helping renters get federal aid for back-due bills — sometimes in the thousands of dollars.

How to apply for rental and utility assistance

• Go to: kcmo.gov/renthelp

• Or call: 816-513-4501

• Jackson County residents outside Kansas City can go to jacksoncountyerap.org.

“Lack of adequate housing,” Cleaver said, “is the No. 1 issue right now in the United States.”

“No question about it,” he said. “This is it.”

The congressman was visiting the Kansas City Emergency Rental Assistance Center — set up on this morning at Kansas City Public Schools’ Manual Career & Technical Center.

The city staffers and community volunteers in the vast room were sitting with renters and their stacks of documents, tapping at computer keyboards, working to get them relief from the bills they owe landlords and utility companies.

The federal government has appropriated $25 billion in pandemic relief funds to help renters with back-due bills earlier this year, but for many months Kansas City was stymied like most U.S. cities in trying to get households connected to the funds.

In the past two months, however, the city has built and streamlined its processes, got help spreading the word and is now a model for other cities, Cleaver said. He wanted to come and see how the city was pulling it off, and to encourage the team.

“This is the grassroots way of doing something that’s critically important to us,” he said.

The city had people ready to upload and process documents including copies of bills and income information to go along with a cumbersome online application process. Utility companies had representatives on hand to help with account information and even put a pause on shutoff notices.

This collaboration under one roof is a model LINC started earlier this year with the Mid-America Assistance Coalition and utility companies at Morning Star’s Youth and Family Life Center to help families access the relief funds.

The city is taking appointments for future assistance clinics. To learn more and to request an appointment, go to kcmo.gov/renthelp, or call 816-513-4501.

The city and several social service agencies including LINC have now combined to distribute more than 80% of the $12 million available so far to the Kansas City area, Cleaver said. As of Sept. 27, LINC and Morning Star had processed more than $850,000 in utility bill assistance.

It’s still not enough, Cleaver acknowledged. He said he understands the frustration of the protesters, activists with KC Tenants, who decried rapidly rising rental rates in Kansas City and issued several demands they want to share the city manager’s office.

There are many issues ahead, but the immediate relief available now in pandemic aid can’t be left on the table.

“Every time we get someone walking in that door,” he said from inside the clinic, “that’s another family whose level of safety and survivability is increased.”

By Joe Robertson/LINC Writer