Julius’s Story: 45 Years of Home, Family, and Community
Ask Julius how long he’s lived in his home, and he’ll do the math out loud—not by counting years on a mortgage, but by his son’s age.
“My son is 45,” he says. “He got into this house right before he was born.”
For Julius, home isn’t measured in years. It’s measured in generations.
A Block Rooted in Respect
Julius’s neighborhood has the kind of stability that’s becoming increasingly rare. The same families have lived there for decades.
“The parents moved, the kids took the houses,” he explains. “And the kids and my son and them ran together. So, everybody right there has known us for years and years.”
It’s a quiet, peaceful block built on mutual respect. Around the neighborhood, everyone knows him as Mr. Smith.
“There’s some respect there,” he says. “Everybody knows everybody. We get along. We communicate. Not a problem.” That sense of community is something Julius has carried with him since childhood. Growing up, looking out for your neighbors wasn’t optional—it was simply what you did.
“You have to take care of others,” he says. “It shouldn’t be a second choice to help people.”
Julius continues to help people in his retirement. He found a new purpose working as a school crossing guard. He’s walked kids across streets in schools all over the city, building relationships with families along the way.
“People trust their kids with me,” he says. “I don’t play that—not on my watch—and they know it.” Over the years, parents have gradually given their children more independence, and confident Julius would be there every step of the way.
“It’s gratifying,” he says. “It really is.”
A Helping Hand at the Right Time
Between time spent helping those around him, home repairs had been on Julius’s mind. He needed a new roof, electrical work, gutters, and a furnace. After gathering estimates, he realized he would likely have to take on debt just to make his home safe.
Then, right at the start of the year, everything changed.
“Habitat KC called me, got right on it,” Julius recalls. “Next thing you know, they took care of business.”
For Julius, those repairs meant more than fixing a house. They meant being able to stay safely in the home he loves without taking on debt later in life.
Home, By Choice
Recently, Julius’s son offered to move him to Lee’s Summit. Julius isn’t interested.
“I grew up in the inner city. I love the inner city. I know what to expect in the inner city,” he says.
This home—this block, these neighbors, and this history—is exactly where he wants to be. Home isn’t just the house. It’s the neighbors who have become family. It’s the children who still wave as they pass. It’s the community that has grown together for generations.
For more than 45 years, this block has been home. And thanks to the support of Habitat for Humanity of Kansas City, Julius can continue living where his story—and his community—have always been.
Habitat for Humanity of Kansas City partners with homeowners like Julius to preserve homes, strengthen neighborhoods, and support the families who make them home for generations. Support more homeowners like Julius: HabitatKC.org/donate