KC libraries collect hygiene kits for MLK Day of Service

Beginning Thursday, every branch of the Kansas City, Missouri, Public Library will be collecting hygiene products for people experiencing homelessness.

HELP FOR THE HOMELESSIN KANSAS CITY.STARTING TODAY - EVERYKANSAS CITY PUBLICLIBRARY BRANCH WILLCOLLECT HYGIENEPRODUCTS FORHOMELESS CHILDREN ANDFAMILIES.41 ACTION NEWSREPORTER EMMA JAMESLOOKS INTO THE CURRENTSTATE OF HOMELESSNESSIN KANSAS CITY.BECCAH RENDALL, LIBRARYAMERICORPS VISTA SPECIALIST"Soap and moisturizer, andshampoo and conditioner."SIMPLE PRODUCTS LIKETHESE CAN MAKE ALL THEDIFFERENCE.FOR THE SECOND YEAR -KCMO PUBLIC LIBRARY ISTEAMING UP WITHAMERICORPS VISTAVOLUNTEERS.THE GOAL - PUTTOGETHER AS MANYHYGIENE KITS ASPOSSIBLE BY JANUARY 20 -M-L-K DAY OF SERVICE.BECCAH RENDALL, LIBRARYAMERICORPS VISTA SPECIALIST"We have a lot of patronsexperiencing life challenges,that this might be where theyhang out all day and this iswhere we can connect themwith other organizations."LAST YEAR THE LIBRARYPUT TOGETHER MORETHAN 270 KITS.THIS YEAR IT HOPES TOSURPASS 300.VOLUNTEERS WILL THENHAND THEM OUT TO THOSEIN NEED ALONG WITH APACKET FULL OFRESOURCEBECCAH RENDALL, LIBRARYAMERICORPS VISTA SPECIALIST"It's just really a circle ofreallytaking care of our communityhere in Kansas City."ACCORDING TO THE 2019POINT IN TIME SURVEY -YOUTH AND VETERANHOMELESSNESSDECREASED BETWEEN2018 AND 2019.BUT OVERALL - THENUMBERS ARE RISING.STEPHANIE BOYER, CEO,RESTART INC."I would say overall, we're atan alarming state.RESTART CEO STEPHANIEBOYER SAYS KANSASCITY'S INCREASINGHOMELESS POPULATIONSTEMS FROM LACK OFAFFORDABLE HOUSING."If we don't get serious aboutit and do something, there aregoing to be so many morepeople falling into this."BOYER SAYS EVENMISSOURI'S RECENT BUMPIN MINIMUM WAGE TO 9DOLLARS AND 45 CENTS -WON'T MAKE MUCH OF ADIFFERENCE.THE NATIONAL LOWINCOME HOUSINGCOALITION RELEASED ASTUDY IN JUNE CALLED'OUT OF REACH.'IT DETAILS HOW MUCHMONEY A PERSON WOULDNEED TO MAKE TO AFFORDA MODEST, TWO-BEDROOMRENTAL HOME.IN MISSOURI - IT'S 16DOLLARS AN HOUR..AND IN KANSAS CITY - ITJUMPS TO NEARLY 18.IT'S A COMPLEX ISSUEWITHOUT A SIMPLE FIX -BUT RENDALL SAYS IT CANSTART WITH SOMETHINGSMALL.BECCAH RENLL, LIBRARYAMERICORPS VISTA SPECIALIST"Really just adding one thingto your shopping list can bereally impactful if we all dothat together."IN KANSAS CITY, EMMAJAMES, 41 ACTION NEWS.