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KC puts $1M toward new homelessness strategy

City leaders say the flexible fund will help move people experiencing homelessness indoors faster.

News

Kansas City leaders are launching a $1 million <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Housing Gateway Program" data-vars-click-url="https://www.kcmo.gov/Home/Components/News/News/2898/1746" data-vars-content-id="5360b410-406a-4697-bf7a-1ec7b006171d" data-vars-headline="KC puts $1M toward new homelessness strategy" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.kcmo.gov/Home/Components/News/News/2898/1746" target="_blank">Housing Gateway Program</a> to move people indoors more quickly as homelessness rises.Why it matters: The effort relies on flexible local dollars that aren&#x27;t tied to federal restrictions, giving the city more control over how quickly and where the money is deployed.

Olympic fever packs the ice at KC Curling Club

Nearly 600 people signed up to try curling during the Winter Olympics surge.

<a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="The Kansas City Curling Club" data-vars-click-url="https://kccurling.com/" data-vars-content-id="8651eaec-21c1-41d4-9a2f-e88329246674" data-vars-headline="Olympic fever packs the ice at KC Curling Club" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://kccurling.com/" target="_blank">The Kansas City Curling Club</a> has signed up hundreds of new people to try curling since the Winter Olympics began, flooding its facility with first-timers eager to slide a stone.Why it matters: The club is the only dedicated curling facility within 350 miles of KC, and Olympic buzz is boosting interest in the niche winter sport.

Health coverage hits harder in Kansas than in Missouri

Kansas families spend nearly 10% of income on employer coverage, slightly more than Missouri households.

Health

<a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Employer health coverage" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2026/02/11/charted-health-insurance-coverage-family-income" data-vars-content-id="c429a5f5-7d49-4bd8-aca6-42b912e2a71e" data-vars-headline="Health coverage hits harder in Kansas than in Missouri" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2026/02/11/charted-health-insurance-coverage-family-income" target="_self">Employer health coverage</a> eats up nearly one-tenth of a typical family&#x27;s income in both Kansas and Missouri, with Kansas households facing a slightly heavier burden, a new <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Commonwealth Fund study" data-vars-click-url="https://www.commonwealthfund.org/blog/2026/is-employer-coverage-affordable-how-states-stack-up" data-vars-content-id="c429a5f5-7d49-4bd8-aca6-42b912e2a71e" data-vars-headline="Health coverage hits harder in Kansas than in Missouri" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.commonwealthfund.org/blog/2026/is-employer-coverage-affordable-how-states-stack-up" target="_blank">Commonwealth Fund study</a> shows.

Fed World Cup funding to pay for officers, drone defense in KC

Kansas City is getting more than $79 million from the federal government.

Kansas City is getting more than $79 million from the federal government for public safety ahead of the World Cup, leaders announced Thursday.Why it matters: Organizers and public officials want to be ready for anything ahead of the city&#x27;s massive fan influx this summer, although leaders say there are no specific threats at this time.

Raytown renters win deal as tenant unions strengthen

Organizers say striking tenants withheld $110,000 in rent payments.

Renters at Bowen Tower Apartments in Raytown are ending a four-month rent strike after court battles with their landlord resulted in a signed agreement Wednesday night, tenant union organizers say.Why it matters: <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Tenant unions" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/kansas-city/2025/09/25/kc-tenants-brings-its-housing-fight-to-the-stage" data-vars-content-id="14238da5-5f18-4b41-bcb9-c08cb27cc810" data-vars-headline="Raytown renters win deal as tenant unions strengthen" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/kansas-city/2025/09/25/kc-tenants-brings-its-housing-fight-to-the-stage" target="_self">Tenant unions</a> are growing in strength and number across the U.S. as increased rents and deferred maintenance pit renters against property owners.

Stadiums are becoming more like micro-cities

These complex real estate deals pose high risks for taxpayers and government officials.

Sports

Big stadium projects are becoming less like standalone destinations and more like micro-cities with teams trying to create year-round neighborhoods, not just game-day traffic.Why it matters: That shift turns new stadium projects into complex <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="real estate deals" data-vars-click-url="https://www.cnn.com/2024/02/08/business/sports-stadiums-real-estate-cities" data-vars-content-id="5ccf67d9-574c-4d4a-8a96-8bb1eb18b3ab" data-vars-headline="Stadiums are becoming more like micro-cities" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.cnn.com/2024/02/08/business/sports-stadiums-real-estate-cities" target="_blank">real estate deals</a>, posing high risks for taxpayers and government officials while promising more <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="revenue for teams" data-vars-click-url="https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2023/dec/06/mixed-use-development-sports-teams-owners-stadiums" data-vars-content-id="5ccf67d9-574c-4d4a-8a96-8bb1eb18b3ab" data-vars-headline="Stadiums are becoming more like micro-cities" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2023/dec/06/mixed-use-development-sports-teams-owners-stadiums" target="_blank">revenue for teams</a> and development for cities.

Overland Park is addressing housing affordability with predesigned homes

The city lacks the quantity of middle-ground housing that residents say they want.

Overland Park unveiled a housing program Tuesday offering predesigned dwellings and waived permit fees to encourage more diversified construction.Why it matters: The city has plenty of big houses and apartment buildings, but it lacks the quantity of middle-ground housing that residents say they want.

Housing and population growth in KC outpace the nation

Housing stock is up, but just because housing exists doesn't mean it's affordable.

Real Estate

Housing units in the Kansas City metro continue trending upward, outpacing the area&#x27;s strong <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="population growth" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/kansas-city/2025/06/04/kansas-city-metro-population-growth-2024" data-vars-content-id="8362c9b5-afba-4494-a5df-f1b0a0ae231f" data-vars-headline="Housing and population growth in KC outpace the nation" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/kansas-city/2025/06/04/kansas-city-metro-population-growth-2024" target="_self">population growth</a>. The big picture: More homes than people have been added in the U.S. over the last decade, but affordability remains a huge roadblock for many would-be homebuyers.

Home prices rise in KC, fall in the south and west

In the Midwest, the price of a typical home keeps rising.

Real estate prices are all about &quot;location, location, location,&quot; and right now that&#x27;s particularly true — in half the country <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="home prices" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2025/04/25/housing-home-sales-mortgage-rates" data-vars-content-id="bc6a7306-062b-4fc1-a57e-c6506f5e6cb5" data-vars-headline="Home prices rise in KC, fall in the south and west" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2025/04/25/housing-home-sales-mortgage-rates" target="_self">home prices</a> are still going up, including in Kansas City. In the other half, they&#x27;re falling.Why it matters: The price data shows that the housing story is more complicated than affordability and still-high mortgage rates, which have <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="cratered" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2025/06/27/ice-trump-tariffs-home-sales" data-vars-content-id="bc6a7306-062b-4fc1-a57e-c6506f5e6cb5" data-vars-headline="Home prices rise in KC, fall in the south and west" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2025/06/27/ice-trump-tariffs-home-sales" target="_self">cratered</a> demand nationwide.

Midtown wants more walkable, affordable development

A new survey shows Midtown KC residents want more restaurants, better sidewalks and housing at a range of prices.

Development

Midtown residents are clear on what they want: more neighborhood restaurants, safer sidewalks, a better mix of housing and less blight.Why it matters: The 2025 Midtown KC Now <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Community Survey" data-vars-click-url="https://midtownkcnow.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/2025-Midtown-KC-Community-Survey-Results.pdf" data-vars-content-id="b877ea92-2ec5-4dcc-adab-7953264ae130" data-vars-headline="Midtown wants more walkable, affordable development" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://midtownkcnow.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/2025-Midtown-KC-Community-Survey-Results.pdf" target="_blank">Community Survey</a> offers a snapshot of what neighbors and business owners say is working and what still feels missing.

Investor home buying drops in Kansas and Missouri

New data shows a 13% dip in institutional investor home purchases in Kansas and Missouri — a shift that may finally ease pressure on local buyers.

First-time Kansas City homebuyers may finally catch a small break as institutional investors pull back from the city and Missouri and Kansas.Why it matters: With fewer investor purchases, regular buyers may face less competition, especially in affordable neighborhoods where cash offers often dominate.

Homebuyers gain a slight edge in Kansas City

It's a reversal from just a few years ago, when home buyers outnumbered sellers, sending prices into the stratosphere.

Homebuyers in Kansas City may be seeing some benefits from the nationwide buyer&#x27;s market in real estate.The big picture: There are nearly 500,000 more <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="home sellers" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2025/05/19/mortgage-rate-state" data-vars-content-id="a08b4d26-4463-45d7-b5bc-54280d0e1624" data-vars-headline="Homebuyers gain a slight edge in Kansas City" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2025/05/19/mortgage-rate-state" target="_self">home sellers</a> than buyers across the U.S. housing market, Redfin estimates.

Real Estate 🏠

Raytown renters win deal as tenant unions strengthen

Stadiums are becoming more like micro-cities

Overland Park is addressing housing affordability with predesigned homes

Housing and population growth in KC outpace the nation

The best time to buy a house in KC