KANSAS CITY, MO. -
From a shelter, to a home of their own. In the surprise of a lifetime, Monday a Kansas City mother found out she and her daughter are getting a house.
It's a program called "Constructing Futures." Ex-cons from Jackson County drug court learned construction job skills while they re-habbed a house.
When the house is ready, it helps the Ivanhoe Neighborhood which is dealing with 40 percent vacancies. And, of course, there's the family who now has a home.
"We had told her she was one of the finalists, so she knew that, and they were all being interviewed, she thought that was going on," said Evie Craig, Exec. Dir. of ReStart.
A shocked, grateful and thrilled single, working mom, Barbara Nelson, became the owner of a new home on Monday.
"We can think of no one better person to give this home to," said Jackson County Exec. Mike Sanders. "So, you're the person we selected, the Housing Resource Commission has selected."
Nelson got the keys to help turn her family's life around. While the shock was still only hours old, Nelson signed the paperwork and dried her eyes.
"It's a dream I always wanted and it finally came true."
With help from offenders from Jackson County's drug court, there's one less vacant home on the block. The offenders helped rehab the donated home inside and out.
"We're going to tackle this problem one house at a time within the central City and Jackson County," said James Tindall, Jackson County Legislature.
An abusive relationship left the Nelsons living at a ReStart shelter. ReStart's Exec. Dir. said families are the fastest growing segment of the homeless population.
"At ReStart in 1997, we gave shelter to seven children. In 2008, we provided shelter and services to 2,209," said Evie Craig.
But, now the agreement is that Nelson will pay taxes and insurance and stay in the home for seven years. Then, the house is officially hers.
"I'm thinking I'm ready to go home and get in my house," Nelson said.
The house was also possible because of donations. In March, someone broke in and stole all the appliances. A donor stepped in and bought more. The county is now looking for someone to help with landscaping.
It's a program called "Constructing Futures." Ex-cons from Jackson County drug court learned construction job skills while they re-habbed a house.
When the house is ready, it helps the Ivanhoe Neighborhood which is dealing with 40 percent vacancies. And, of course, there's the family who now has a home.
"We had told her she was one of the finalists, so she knew that, and they were all being interviewed, she thought that was going on," said Evie Craig, Exec. Dir. of ReStart.
A shocked, grateful and thrilled single, working mom, Barbara Nelson, became the owner of a new home on Monday.
"We can think of no one better person to give this home to," said Jackson County Exec. Mike Sanders. "So, you're the person we selected, the Housing Resource Commission has selected."
Nelson got the keys to help turn her family's life around. While the shock was still only hours old, Nelson signed the paperwork and dried her eyes.
"It's a dream I always wanted and it finally came true."
With help from offenders from Jackson County's drug court, there's one less vacant home on the block. The offenders helped rehab the donated home inside and out.
"We're going to tackle this problem one house at a time within the central City and Jackson County," said James Tindall, Jackson County Legislature.
An abusive relationship left the Nelsons living at a ReStart shelter. ReStart's Exec. Dir. said families are the fastest growing segment of the homeless population.
"At ReStart in 1997, we gave shelter to seven children. In 2008, we provided shelter and services to 2,209," said Evie Craig.
But, now the agreement is that Nelson will pay taxes and insurance and stay in the home for seven years. Then, the house is officially hers.
"I'm thinking I'm ready to go home and get in my house," Nelson said.
The house was also possible because of donations. In March, someone broke in and stole all the appliances. A donor stepped in and bought more. The county is now looking for someone to help with landscaping.
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