KANSAS CITY, MO – Habitat for Humanity of Kansas City tackled “Rock the Block” in the Town Fork Creek Neighborhood on Tuesday, April 23. Volunteers from Kompass Kapital undertook a series of six home repair and beautification projects to preserve safe, decent and affordable housing in the area.
Volunteers completed various projects, including exterior painting, landscaping, minor repairs, and other tasks to contribute to the appearance and maintenance of homes in the area. These projects play a critical role in keeping residents in their homes, increasing occupancy, and improving the lives of current and future residents.
Habitat KC takes a community-based approach to their neighborhood revitalization work to ensure that the work is driven by those with lived experience and aligns with the community’s vision and priorities. For this project, a partnership with the Town Fork Creek Neighborhood Association has been integral.
Darlene Guess from the Town Fork Creek Neighborhood Association describes her community as a “hidden gem” that often gets overlooked because it’s separated from the heart of the city by U.S. Highway 71.
Located in southeastern Kansas City, Town Fork Creek is part of an area that’s been greatly affected by discriminatory lending and investment practices that predominantly targeted neighborhoods with mostly Black residents. As a result, these areas didn’t get the investment they needed and had fewer resources — shaping how the community looks and amplifying inequality over many generations.
“Rock the Block isn’t just about beautification — it’s about social justice, revitalizing communities, and empowering residents to create a better life for themselves and their families” said Lindsay Hicks, CEO of Habitat for Humanity of Kansas City.
In addition to building homes, Habitat KC helped 197 individuals maintain safe and affordable housing through home repair projects, like the ones that were completed during Rock the Block.