Comprehensive Support for Those Experiencing Homelessness

reStart, Inc. provides a wide range of vital services for individuals and families experiencing homelessness or at risk of becoming homeless in Kansas City, Missouri. Operating from its main shelter at 918 9th Street, reStart serves a diverse population, including individuals, families, and unaccompanied youth. The organization’s programs span emergency shelter, youth network services, street outreach, transitional housing, Veteran supportive services, rapid rehousing, and homeless prevention initiatives. Central to reStart’s mission is the Substance Use Prevention Program, which delivers prevention activities across its various programs to support clients of all ages.

Homelessness: A Growing Crisis With Complex Causes

Homelessness is a deeply destabilizing experience that affects the health, safety, and well-being of adults, youth, and children. According to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), homelessness nationwide has been rising steadily since 2017, with a 6% overall increase. In 2023, an estimated 653,100 people were experiencing homelessness on any given night—a 12% rise from the previous year. Kansas City alone counts more than 2,200 individuals without shelter each night, and public schools report over 1,200 youth without stable housing.

Multiple factors contribute to youth homelessness, including family conflict, abuse or neglect, pregnancy-related family rejection, substance use, LGBTQ+ identity, chronic health conditions, and mental health challenges. In reStart’s shelter programs, 42% of youth report mental health issues. Substance use often intertwines with homelessness—either as a cause or a coping mechanism. National data shows that 38% of people experiencing homelessness are alcohol dependent, and 26% struggle with other substances.

Substance Use & Street Culture

For many youth living on the streets, substance use becomes normalized within street culture, serving as a way to manage the daily hardships and trauma they face. Drugs and alcohol are often used to numb pain, alleviate hunger, stay warm, or remain awake at night when risk of victimization is highest. Unfortunately, homelessness creates significant barriers to accessing effective treatment for substance use disorders.

Additionally, Kansas City’s location as a major transportation hub increases vulnerability to human trafficking, especially among homeless youth. Interstate highways intersecting in the metro area make the region a focal point for trafficking activities. Youth experiencing homelessness face heightened risk factors such as poverty, lack of family support, and gender or sexual identity challenges, which increase their vulnerability to exploitation.

Barriers To Access & Support

Kansas City’s sprawling metropolitan area covers 318 square miles across two states, creating logistical challenges for youth and families seeking help. Isolated neighborhoods with limited transportation options hinder access to health care, education, and social services, making it difficult to escape cycles of poverty and homelessness.

Youth experiencing homelessness often must navigate between different jurisdictions and programs across the state line, sometimes leaving behind support systems. Shelters and programs are often at capacity, leading to long wait times. According to a 2020 needs assessment, homeless youth in the area typically experience over 10 months of homelessness before entering coordinated service systems and face the slowest progression to stable housing.

Holistic Services At reStart

reStart stands out by providing a full continuum of services designed to meet clients where they are. The agency’s approach includes emergency shelter, street outreach, transitional and rapid rehousing, and dedicated support for Veterans. The Substance Use Prevention Program is integrated throughout, offering individual support, educational groups, and healthy, positive activities aimed at reducing substance use and promoting recovery.

The program emphasizes increasing awareness about substance use, equipping participants with coping skills, and connecting them to community resources that foster long-term recovery. By addressing both immediate needs and underlying challenges, reStart helps clients move toward stability and self-sufficiency.

Supporting Youth Through Employment & Life Skills

Youth experiencing homelessness often face disconnection from school and the labor market, which has lasting negative effects on their economic independence and health. Many become reliant on government assistance and are at higher risk for involvement with the criminal justice system.

To combat this, reStart offers the reTreats employment training program, designed to equip youth with the skills needed for competitive, living-wage employment. This holistic program focuses on building transferable job skills such as marketing, sales, customer service, accounting, and budgeting. It also includes career exploration and planning to help participants identify education or workforce development paths that match their interests.

The objectives of reTreats are to:

1. Increase Income: Youth gain full-time employment and access to healthcare benefits, improving their overall health and financial stability.
2. Increase Knowledge: Participants develop job skills and an understanding of workplace expectations through pre- and post-internship assessments.
3. Career Planning: Youth identify future education or training opportunities that align with their skills and goals.

Building Protective Factors For Long-Term Success

By providing safe shelter, stable housing, positive adult role models, and connection to education and employment, reStart helps youth build resilience against the risks of street life and trafficking. The agency works to replace the vulnerabilities associated with homelessness with protective factors such as community support, safety, and access to resources.

These efforts support youth in developing healthier coping mechanisms and better decision-making skills, ultimately helping them break free from cycles of poverty, trauma, and violence.

A Lifeline For Kansas City’s Vulnerable Populations

reStart, Inc. plays a crucial role in addressing the multifaceted challenges faced by individuals and families experiencing homelessness in Kansas City. Through comprehensive shelter services, substance use prevention, employment training, and targeted outreach, reStart works tirelessly to help clients achieve stability, safety, and hope for the future.

By meeting people where they are, offering holistic support, and fostering connections to community resources, reStart empowers its clients to rebuild their lives with dignity and resilience. This integrated approach not only improves individual outcomes but also strengthens the broader community by reducing homelessness and its associated risks.

Locations

Click on the window icon (upper right corner) of the map below to expand. List of all program locations is included with expanded view of map. Locations are also listed on this page below the map.