Life has often felt overwhelming for Makunda. She’s a single mother of four, with children ranging in ages from 16 to 21. And now, she’s also raising three grandchildren, including a one-year-old she just adopted last year. All eight family members live under one roof.
“I wouldn’t have it any other way,” Makunda shared.
But the family has faced a lot of adversity–from the loss of loved ones, to health challenges, and conditions in their previous home that made living there almost unbearable.
“It was truly a nightmare,” said Makunda. “There were problems with the electricity, leaks in the ceiling, and the bathtub faucets stopped working. It got so bad the water just wouldn’t shut off and the home flooded. The landlord wouldn’t fix things and instead served us an eviction notice.”
Thankfully, when Makunda showed up to housing court, she met Nathan Cho, a tenants’ rights attorney with the Heartland Center for Jobs & Freedom. The organization is one of United Way of Greater Kansas City’s Eviction Prevention Initiative partners.
“We work very closely with United Way,” said Cho. “United Way helps inform tenants facing eviction about Kansas City, Missouri’s Right to Counsel program – which provides attorneys free of charge to represent tenants. When we represent these tenants, we work with United Way to secure rental assistance funds which can help protect the tenant. As attorneys, we often leverage rental assistance to get the best possible deal for the tenants and in the vast majority of cases avoid an eviction on their record.”
“I was very worried that we would be homeless, and I’d be separated from my children,” Makunda said. “It was just too much for my whole spirit to even consider. But Nathan Cho really followed through and fought for me.”
“Tenants facing eviction are not bad people. They are often in that situation because of events outside of their control,” Cho said. “We talk with the tenant, figure out their situation, and discuss next steps. This always involves negotiating a mutually beneficial solution between the tenant and the landlord. Often times, we file defenses and countersuits on behalf of the tenant – usually due to suspect billing or poor maintenance practices. Kansas City’s eviction defense attorneys are very successful at representing our clients and in a majority of cases avoid an eviction on the tenant’s record.”
Cho also connected Makunda to a United Way social worker to help navigate her path forward.
“It wasn’t just a job for that social worker. She was really there to help me through it,” said Makunda. “With United Way and my attorney, they got the housing department involved and they came out to do an inspection on the home. Of course, it failed. United Way came through with financial assistance to get me into a new, safer home.”
Makunda says life today is far from perfect. But she now has one major weight lifted. Her family is still together, all under one roof.
“I love what you guys do,” Makunda said. “I hope other families really understand the value of the work you put into the community and if they need help, that they reach out.”
And the benefits of eviction prevention work extend far beyond each individual household that is helped.
“Eviction defense, and homeless prevention more broadly, is incredibly important. Doing good unto others is an intrinsic good, but even besides that there are so many benefits,” Cho shared. “People with homes are more likely to be employed, get education, pay taxes, etc. The more people we have housed, the stronger our community. And in the long-run there is a cost savings, due to less expense on the social safety net.”