LEE’S SUMMIT – The Missouri Department of Transportation is pleased to announce a unique partnership with the Downtown Kansas City Community Improvement Districts (DKCCID) on a six-month pilot program working with unsheltered individuals. This partnership, valued at $300,000, connects unsheltered individuals living on state highway right of way with necessary services and housing while also providing litter and camp cleanup focusing in the downtown KC area.
People sheltering on state highway right of way can create safety risks to themselves and to the traveling public. Many times, these shelters are accompanied with large amounts of litter and flammable materials. The unsheltered are also at the mercy of extreme heat and cold as well as the dangers of being alongside high volumes of fast-moving traffic. This life safety risk unfortunately became a reality in January 2022 when an unsheltered camp under an Interstate 70 bridge near 18th Street caught fire. A woman was tragically killed, and the interstate was closed until the bridge damage was repaired. This problem is particularly acute in the downtown area.
The role of DKCCID is to notify unsheltered individuals and connect them with services including medical, psychiatric, dental care, housing, storage of personal belongings, and obtaining identification. The partnership also includes camp and litter clean up in the downtown area on state right of way.
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