Hillcrest Transitional Housing, a United Way Impact 100 partner, is committed to solving homelessness one family at a time—helping families become self-supportive, self-reliant contributors to society. At any given time, there are approximately 100 households in its care. It works through three primary initiatives:
- A transitional housing program focused on moving clients to self-sufficiency within 90 days
- A two-year youth housing program for homeless youth, ages 16 to 24
- A rapid re-housing program for those in need of immediate shelter/housing
This Homelessness Awareness Month, Hillcrest Transitional Housing is sharing the following impact story about its work, and the vital difference you make when investing in and partnering with United Way to uplift their efforts:
K.H. was fleeing a domestic violence situation and living in her care with her toddler. Hillcrest Transitional Housing welcomed her into its program in spring 2024. Within a month, she and her daughter moved into their first apartment, independent from her abuser.
In the year that’s followed, K.H. transferred college credits to UMKC, where she continues to work toward her degree and maintains a 3.0 grade point average, while also working as a delivery driver and caring for her young child with autism.
With support from Hillcrest, she was able to get connected to resources through another United Way Impact 100 partner, Children’s Mercy Hospital. North Kansas City Schools also provided support to help address her child’s speech delays and self-harm tendencies.
K.H. and her daughter are learning to communicate through sign language, but the young girl is also starting to communicate more verbally. K.H. says the two of them have both enjoyed working with the speech therapist and have seen great improvement since receiving that support.
K.H. has often shared how grateful she is for the assistance provided through Hillcrest Transitional Housing and has said without it, she would never have been able to establish her savings account (current balance of $3500), improve her credit score (now in the fair range), return to college, and pay off old debts.
She’s excited for her daughter, who just started an early education program through Fresh Steps this fall. Although her rental assistance will soon end, she’s vowed to continue working on her credit score and increasing the cushion in her savings account, as well as utilizing support services offered through Hillcrest’s program.
When you invest in and partner with United Way, you help make life change like this possible for our neighbors. Hillcrest Transitional Housing recently received additional support from United Way, with the donation of 1200 meals through our SNAP Into Action campaign, assisting vulnerable households impacted by the federal government shutdown, delayed/reduced SNAP benefit payments, and ongoing economic pressures.
To learn more about Hillcrest Transitional Housing and volunteer opportunities, visit here.