Rebuilding Together Kansas City (RTKC) is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization whose ultimate vision is “a safe and healthy home for every person.” Now in its 16th year, the agency accomplishes its mission of “bringing volunteers and communities together to transform the homes and lives of homeowners in need” through safety modifications and home repairs. In total, the agency and its volunteer crews provide an exceptional value in human service, with a total fair market value of over $2 million in volunteer-driven modifications and repairs completed to date. RTKC crews consistently eliminate unsafe, inaccessible, or deplorable living conditions for Clay and Platte County, MO residents in need. Rebuilding Together Kansas City began in 2001 as Rebuilding Together Liberty and expanded to serve all of Clay County in 2009, changing its name to Rebuilding Together Clay County at that time. 2016 brought our official expansion into Platte County, and by 2017 we were also serving Clinton County. This growth, along with requests to expand further, perpetuated a final name change to Rebuilding Together Kansas City, made official in June, 2017. RTKC pursues four primary goals:
• Helping individuals, particularly seniors, to live in their own homes for as long as possible
• Creating a safer living environment by improving accessibility
• Keeping vulnerable homeowners from facing homelessness
• Eliminating substandard housing
Services are provided to at-risk or underserved individuals and families including veterans, seniors, people with disabilities, and low-income families. Households served are those who cannot financially or physically complete the repairs themselves. The majority of clients live in poverty, with an average 2016 annual household income of $21,000. Many client households struggle to pay monthly bills, rely on food pantries and other providers for basic necessities, and cannot begin to afford the costs of home safety modifications/repairs. Projects are coordinated through a central office in Liberty, MO and completed in multiple communities including Kansas City, Liberty, Kearney, Gladstone, Excelsior Springs, Smithville, and North Kansas City, MO. Projects reduce the risk of falling, improve accessibility, and eliminate deplorable living environments.
