— Menachem Mendel Schneerson
Mission Statement
Working to transform the Kansas City urban core one house at a time by acquiring abandoned single-family homes and renovating them to create affordable housing for low income families, providing construction workforce job training, vacant lot repurposing and neighborhood revitalization through community partnerships.
Use well the time you have. Be a part of something good. Leave something good behind.
Glenn Frey
The 5400 block of East 27th Terrace in Kansas City, Missouri was considered among the worst in its neighborhood located just east of Van Brunt. Few of the houses were occupied. Most bore the city’s stamp that identified them as dangerous properties awaiting demolition. Lots where houses once stood were filled with rodents and tons of trash that attracted additional dumping.
That block became the first to be transformed by Tikkun-KC, a 501c3 nonprofit that is transforming blighted neighborhoods by cost-effectively renovating dangerous houses slated for demolition, providing deserving low-income individuals with an opportunity to become homeowners, and saving taxpayers thousands of dollars.
Kansas City preserved precious demolition funds by not having to tear down the four homes we acquired.
The average demolition bill for each home demolished is $12,000.
In addition to the savings each home would have added several tons of debris taken to the landfill.
New first time (very low income) homeowners all coming from a disturbing rental environment.
New properties on the Jackson County Tax Roll.
Vacant lots acquired in addition to the homes that were cleaned up and turned into green spaces.
The number of homes and residents on the this block effected by our redevelopment efforts.
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
Working closely with Legal Aid of Western Missouri and our neighborhood partners, we acquire abandoned and distressed single family homes in the central core of Kansas City Missouri. Most of these homes have been on the city dangerous building demolition list for some time. As the months and years go by they continue to deteriorate and become a home for vagrants, crime, rodents and a growing blight on the neighborhood.
Tikkun-KC, with it’s experienced construction crews will turn these blighted run down homes into a modern, totally renovated, energy efficient dwelling that will be a model for the neighborhood and a new home for a vetted low income family.
MAJOR HOME REPAIR
In our partner neighborhoods, Tikkun-KC can assist the older residents with roof replacement, gutters, major tree and yard clean up and exterior painting that they cannot afford to have done. Our contractors and tradesmen make the exterior of their home look like new again
HOME OWNERSHIP FOR VERY LOW INCOME FAMILIES
Home ownership for very low income families may be out of reach in the post real estate bubble world. Although they may have steady employment and a good rental history their income level may not qualify them for the size home they need. We take a deserving low income family and sell them one of our homes with a seller financed low or no interest note structured to fit their budget.
MENTORING FOR CONSTRUCTION TRADES
We need a steady influx of new construction workers to keep our renovation crews at full strength. The neighborhoods we work in have people hungry for employment and a chance to learn a trade or skill that will serve them for a lifetime. We take those that are serious about learning a trade and matching them up with one of our experienced carpenters, electricians, plumbers and painters and give them real world on the job training while earning a paycheck at the same time.
