Below you will find our HandUp Success Stories. In order to protect the identities of the families, only general information can be provided, however each of these stories involves actual families that we worked with to either help improve their living situation or to avoid getting evicted. The stories are provided in reverse chronological order of our interaction with the families. Please note that while we have listed these as "HandUp Success Stories" that simply means that we were privileged to have the opportunity to play a role in successfully helping a family or person improve their lives. Quite often other organizations also provided significant assistance.
November 2023
We met a family of 4 at our May 2023 Groceries Event. They were able to secure a rental on their own. We provided them with furniture and home furnishings through Flourish Furniture Bank.
November 2023
We met a family of 3 at our November 2023 Coats and Groceries Event. They were able to get approved for a rental but did not have enough for the deposit and first month's rent. We provided assistance so they could secure the rental. We also provided them with furniture and home furnishings through Flourish Furniture Bank.
October 2023
We had been working with a couple whom we met at our November 2022 Groceries Event. After 11 months they were able to secure a rental. We paid a utility deposit and provided them with furniture and home furnishings through Flourish Furniture Bank.
September 2023
A family of 3 called our church. They were behind on their rent due to a transition and also a recent job change and they were at risk of eviction. After they made two payments to bring the balance down, we paid the remainder of the balance to bring the balance due to zero by the end of September to avoid eviction proceedings.
September 2023
We had been working with a single woman whom we met at our May 2023 Groceries Event. After several months she was able to secure a rental on her own. We provided her with furniture and home furnishings through Flourish Furniture Bank.
August 2023
A family contacted us after hearing about our program from someone in the hotel where they were staying. They were approved for a rental but the landlord was requiring a double deposit in addition to the first month's rent and they were having difficulty coming up with that and were at risk of losing the rental. After verifying their income and situation we provided financial assistance and they were able to secure the rental. We also provided them with furniture and furnishings through Flourish Furniture Bank.
July 2023
A single woman contacted us after learning about our program from Hillcrest Ministries. She was behind on her rent on an apartment in Independence and in eviction proceedings due to a job change and also due to an unusual and unexpected reversal of a previous month's payment that she had made. We helped her to figure out how to reconcile the payment reversal and after she made a significant payment to the landlord towards her outstanding balance, HandUp paid the remainder of her balance to bring her balance due to zero by the end of July so that she could avoid being evicted.
July 2023
A senior couple called our Church asking for assistance. They had been living in a hotel for the past few years. We recommended that they apply for Catholic Charities Senior Housing. We helped them to secure the proper ID's needed so that they were able to get approved at St. Joseph Place Apartments in Kansas City. We provided the funds so that they could secure the rental. We also provided them with furniture and home furnishings through Flourish Furniture Bank.
July 2023
A family of 5 contacted us after learning about our program from the St. Vincent DePaul Society of St. John Lalande Catholic Church. They were living in a hotel in Blue Springs for several months and we met and stayed in contact with them for about 2-3 months. They were able to get approved for a rental in Independence and HandUp provided the funds so that they could secure the rental. We also provided them with furniture from our Church.
June 2023
A family of 4 contacted us after learning about our program from a family we had previously helped. They had been to court for eviction proceedings and had been given an extension until the end of June to pay their outstanding bill in full or receive an eviction judgement. They were able to pay part of their balance and HandUp paid the remainder and their landlord dismissed the eviction.
June 2023
A family of 3 adults contacted our church. They had been homeless and unable to get approved for a rental even though they collectively had a reasonable amount of income. They were finally able to get approved for a rental in Kansas City and also came up with a workable solution to equally share the rental payment out of their monthly fixed income payments however they could not come up with the rental deposit. After confirming all of their information, we provided financial assistance to satisfy the landlord's need for a deposit. They have been able make their monthly payment at the start of each month for the past 3 months and we believe they will continue to do so to keep their rental.
June 2023
We initially came into contact with a family of 5 from someone who attended the November 2022 Coats and Groceries event at the Welcome Inn hosted by Catholic Charities. 5 months later the family got approved for a rental in Independence and contacted the St. Vincent DePaul Society of St. John Lalande Catholic Church in Blue Springs who directed the family to us. We were able to provide financial assistance with the Deposit and pro-rated rent and the family so the family could secure the rental. We also provided them with furniture and home furnishings through Flourish Furniture Bank.
June 2023
A family of 4 contacted our church. They were behind on their rent on an apartment in Blue Springs and on the verge of being evicted. After verifying their situation and working out a joint payment plan with them, they were able to get fully caught up on their rent and avoid eviction.
May 2023
A family of 4 contacted our church. They were homeless but were able to get approved for a rental in Kansas City. They needed help with the security deposit and part of the first month's rent. We provided them financial assistance and they were able to secure the rental. We also provided them with furniture and home furnishings through Flourish Furniture Bank.
March 2023
A family of 2 found out about our program from the web and contacted us. They were behind on their rent due to a hospitalization the previous month and were given a 48 hour notice of court filing by their landlord. After confirming both their employment and the situation with their landlord we were able to provide assistance with a rental payment to clear the balance to avoid eviction proceedings.
March 2023
We met a family of 2 who attended the November 2022 Coats and Groceries event at the Welcome Inn hosted by Catholic Charities. They had been living at the Welcome Inn for about 6 months. They were able to gain approval for a rental in the Blue Springs area and we provided financial assistance with their first month's rent. We also provided them with furniture and furnishings through Flourish Furniture Bank.
March 2023
A family of 6 contacted us after learning about our program from a family we had previously helped. They had been living in a hotel for about 6 months. They were able to gain approval for a rental in the Blue Springs area and we provided financial assistance with their first month's rent. We also provided them with furniture and home furnishings through Flourish Furniture Bank.
January 2023
The St. Vincent DePaul Society of St. John Lalande Catholic Church in Blue Springs connected us with a family of 3. They had not renewed a rental in the fall of 2022 due to the property being in the process of being sold. As they feared, the new management did raise the rent significantly. The family was able to get approved for a rental in the Kansas City area but was unable to pay both the security deposit and the first month's rent and were going to lose the rental and have to move into a hotel. The family was able to pay the security deposit and we paid the first month's rent so they could secure the rental.
October 2022
We were contacted through our website by someone living in a hotel. She was able to secure a rental in the Kansas City area but was unable to pay the first month's rent on her own. We provided financial assistance with her rent.
September 2022
Through collaboration with the St. Vincent DePaul Society of St. John Lalande Catholic Church in Blue Springs, we were contacted by someone living in a hotel in Blue Springs. He had been approved for a rental in the Kansas City area but was unable to complete the security deposit and pay the first month's rent on his own and was at risk of losing the rental. After verifying his income and the rental specifics we were able to provide financial assistance with the security deposit and first month rent and he was able to secure the rental.
August 2022
A family 3 contacted us. They were given our number by River of Refuge. They were approved for a rental in the Raytown area and we provided financial assistance with their first month rent payment.
July 2022
A family of 5 contacted our church. They had lost both housing and most of their belongings due to a fire and had difficulty finding a new rental. After living in hotels for a few months they were able to sign a lease and we provided financial assistance with a rental payment.
February 2022
A family of 4 contacted us. They were given our number by a Blue Springs School Counselor. They had fallen behind on their rent due to helping a relative that had an unexpected health problem and received a final demand of payment notice from their landlord. After verifying their situation and information we were able to work with them to jointly pay off their rental bill so that they were no longer at risk of eviction.
January 2022
A family of 3 contacted us. They were given our number by River of Refuge. They were approved for a rental in the Kansas City area and we provided financial assistance with their first month rent payment.
January 2022
A family of 8 contacted us. They were given our number by River of Refuge. We interacted with them over a period of a few months. Upon being approved for a rental we provided financial assistance and the family secured the rental in the Kansas City area.
January 2022
A family of 6 contacted us in October of 2021. They were given our number by Catholic Charities and we interacted with them over a period of several months. They actually spent over a year living in a local hotel. Upon being approved for a rental we provided financial assistance to help the family to secure the rental in the Kansas City area.
January 2022
A family of 6 from the Blue Springs area called our church and were on the brink of eviction due to some missed work and family illness the previous month. After verifying their situation and information we were able to provide financial assistance so they could avoid eviction.
December 2021
A family of 2 contacted us in June. They were given our number from a local church and we interacted with them over a period of several months. Upon being approved for a new rental we provided financial assistance to help the family to secure a rental in the Belton area.
December 2021
A family of 2 contacted us. They were given our number from River of Refuge. We provided job counseling and were successful in helping them obtain a higher paying job. Upon being approved for a new rental we provided financial assistance to help the family to secure a rental in the Independence area.
July 2021
A family of 4 contacted us. They were given our number from River of Refuge. We provided job counseling and upon being approved for a new rental we provided financial assistance with a rental deposit and a rental payment to help them secure a rental in the Independence area.
April 2021
A family of 4 contacted us. They were given our number by River of Refuge. We provided job counseling and upon being approved for a new rental we provided financial assistance with a rental payment to help them secure a rental in the Kansas City area.
December 2020
We learned of a family of 7 that was behind on their rent and was at risk of eviction. They had gotten behind on their bills due to the pandemic causing higher expenses from schooling their children at home and also a loss of overtime hours. We provided them financial assistance with a rental payment to clear an outstanding previous month's rent so that they were able to avoid eviction.
December 2019
A family of 7 in the Kansas City area called us. They found out about our program from a web search. During the previous several months they had found temporary housing via hotels, family and friends. We provided them financial assistance with a rental security deposit and a utility deposit so that they could secure a rental in the Kansas City area. We also helped supply them with furniture and furnishings from parishioner donations.
November 2019
A family of 4 in the Blue Springs area called us. They were given our number by a social worker in the Blue Springs School district. The family, which includes a Veteran, was on the verge of being evicted due to a temporary decrease in income. We provided them with financial assistance and they were able to avoid eviction.
January 2019
A family of 3 in the Blue Springs area called us. They were given our number by a social worker in the Blue Springs School district. The family was in a transition due to health related problems and we provided financial assistance with a rental security deposit to help them secure a new rental in the Blue Springs area. We were also able to supply them with a bed from a parishioner donation.
January 2019
A family of 3 in the Blue Springs area called us. They were given our number by a social worker in the Blue Springs School district. The family had been able to secure a rental in the Blue Springs area after a period of homelessness but were unable to get the gas bill in their name due to an old unpaid obligation. We provided financial assistance with the gas bill to fullfill the landlord's requirement to get the utility in their name.
January 2019
A family of 5 in the South Kansas City area called us. They were given our number by R.U.B.I.E.S. The key wage-earner in the family was transitioning to a new better paying job but couldn't make their rent until the first full paycheck. We provided financial assistance with their rent to avoid eviction.
December 2018
A family of 6 in the Blue Springs area called us. They were given our number by a social worker in the Blue Springs School district. The family was transitioning and was behind in their rent. We provided financial assistance with their rent to avoid eviction.
November 2018
We came in contact with a family of 2 that was referred to us by the Community Services League. The had been able to keep their residence in the Blue Springs area during a period where they lacked income but they had an outstanding water bill that prevented them from getting their water turned back on. After corresponding with them a few times and confirming new employment we provided financial assistance to pay the outstanding bill and get their water turned back on.
August 2018
We met a husband and wife at the April 2018 (Easter) Dinner hosted by the Knights of Columbus at the Welcome Inn. They were able to secure a rental in the Raytown area. From a parishoner donation, we were able to provide them with kitchen furniture.
January 2018
Via an existing contact from Restart KC, we were notified of a woman in the Lees Summit area who was within a few days of being evicted. Restart had helped her 3 years ago to obtain the rental and she had been able to maintain her rental since then. She was not actually behind in her rent, however she was unable to make her current rent payment because she had missed some work due to health reasons and her landlord had changed their policy to a zero grace period on rent. We provided financial assistance to pay her rent payment, she returned to work and was able to avoid eviction.
December 2017
We met a family of 6 at the December 2017 (Christmas) Dinner hosted by the Knights of Columbus at the Welcome Inn. They had secured a rental house in the Independence area but were unable to get the utilities put in their name and turned on due to an old unpaid utility bill. While most landlords will not let a tenant take possession until they have secured the utilities, the landlord was an individual who had let them actually move into house but then they were in a major bind due to having no water or electricity. We provided financial assistance to pay the utility bill and the family was able to get the utilities turned on and retain the rental.
December 2017
We met a family of 3 at the September 2017 Dinner hosted by the Knights of Columbus at the Welcome Inn. They were able to get approved for a rental in the Kansas City area but was unable to get the utilities in their name due to an unexpected 7 year old utility bill that was beyond their means. We provided financial assistance to pay the utility bill and the family was able to secure the rental in December of 2017.
November 2017
We met a family of 3 at the April 2017 (Easter) Dinner hosted by the Knights of Columbus at the Welcome Inn. They had been living in the hotel for 3 years. After meeting with them regularly for several months, they were able to find a rental in the Independence area. We provided financial assistance with their first month's rent and two security deposits and through donations from families in the parish and the community we provided them with most of their furniture, including a TV.
October 2017
We met a family of 5 at the September 2017 Dinner hosted by the Knights of Columbus at the Welcome Inn. The family had a 3 year old and twin 2 year olds. The mother had been on a waiting list for over 3 years to obtain a section 8 voucher which she had had for over 60 days but was unable to secure an apartment due to the cost of the deposit. She was at risk of losing the voucher or at a minimum she might have to go through an additional process to retain it. Once we promised to cover the deposit she was able to find and secure a rental in the Independence area within a few weeks. We provided financial assistance to pay the deposit and the family was able to take possession of the rental in October of 2017.
September 2017
We met a husband and wife at the September 2017 Dinner hosted by the Knights of Columbus at the Welcome Inn. They had already secured an apartment rental in the Kansas City area and were planning on moving later in September but had no furniture except for a couch and a TV. Through donations from families in the parish and in the community, we were able to essentially fully furnish their 3 room apartment.
December 2016
We met a family of 4 at the December 2016 (Christmas) holiday dinner hosted by the Knights of Columbus at the Welcome Inn. After meeting with them, they were able to find a rental in the Buckner area. We provided financial assistance with an outstanding utility bill which allowed them to secure the rental in December of 2017.
June 2016
We met a family of 3 at the 2016 Easter holiday dinner hosted by the Knights of Columbus at the Welcome Inn. After meeting with them, they were able to find a rental in the Belton area and we provided financial assistance with their first months rent to secure the rental. Through the donations from the parish and from the community, we were able to provide them with most of their vital furniture including some furniture items for their 2 year old son.
May 2016
We met a family of 4 at the December 2015 (Christmas) holiday dinner hosted by the Knights of Columbus at the Welcome Inn. After meeting with them a few times over a period of a few months, they were able to secure a rental in Dearborn, MO. We provided financial assistance with a security deposit and through parishioner donations, we were able to provide them with beds and some furniture.
September 2015
We received a phone call in the summer of 2015 from a single mother who was living with her child at the Welcome Inn in Blue Springs. The mother got our phone number from another Welcome Inn resident who had attended the 2015 Easter holiday dinner hosted by the Knights of Columbus. Our HandUp consultants met with her and were able to determine what monthly rent she could afford based on her income. In September of 2015 she was able to find a one-bedroom rental unit in the Independence area that fit her budget and was able to qualify for the rental. We provided financial assistance with her first month's rent, security deposit and paid an outstanding utility bill so that she could secure the rental. Through parishioner donations, we were also able to provide her with a bed and nearly all of the furniture and furnishings she needed.
July 2015
We met a family of 4 at the 2015 Easter holiday dinner hosted by the Knights of Columbus at the American Inn (now called the Welcome Inn). In July of 2015 they were able to secure a rental house in the Independence area. Through parishioner donations, we were able to provide them with beds, some furnishings and a much needed washer and dryer.
March, 2015
We met a family of 6 that had been living in the American Inn (now called the Welcome Inn) for about 2 years. This family was introduced to us from a lead from a 2014 Holiday dinner hosted by the Knights of Columbus. In March of 2015 HandUp helped the move into a 3 bedroom condominium rental in the Blue Springs area. Through the generous donations of St. Robert Bellarmine's parishioners, HandUp was able to fully furnish the condominum.
The following quote is from a Handup team member who helped the family move in:
"The little boy was so dear. I remember the children bolting into the door of their rental. They ran upstairs, ran downstairs, so happy and excited about having their own rooms. The beds in their rooms were all made beautifully. The girls were so joyous. Then downstairs they came and found bananas in a bowl and asked politely if they may have one. I take bananas in a bowl for granted. Then the little boy spun in circles with his arms outstretched and said " I finally have room"!!! Mind you not "a" room but "room" as in space to move after being trapped in a hotel room for far too long".