By Joe Jarosz
Northeast News
December 16, 2015

KANSAS CITY, Missouri — This year, two Kansas City families don’t have to worry about where they’ll be for the holidays.

Two formerly homeless mothers and their children recently moved into a duplex that was renovated by Sheffield Place just in time for the holidays. This milestone was celebrated with a ribbon cutting ceremony on Wednesday, Dec. 9. The celebration was part of Sheffield Place’s Holiday Open House, which included a lunch and bazaar of candles and other gifts made by the mothers.

The renovation of the agency’s third and fourth units of permanent housing for homeless mothers and children was funded by a grant by the city of Kansas City. Sheffield Place is a treatment and transitional living program for homeless mothers and their children. Founded in 1991 as a community response to the increasing incidence of family homelessness, Sheffield Place serves 68 families each year at its facility. Families may stay at the shelter for an average of six months where they receive intensive mental health services, case management, and life skills training. Once families complete the program and transition to permanent housing in the community, they continue to receive case management and other supportive services for as long as required through the Aftercare Program, which serves up to 30 families each year.

David Hanzlick, director of program and development at Sheffield Place, said the treatment center closed on the home last May. They’ve been rehabbing the home since then.

“The house had squatters and was an unbelievable mess,” Hanzlick said, adding they had to hire a hazmat team to help clean.

He noted the house had a good foundation, but they had to replace the heating and plumbing. Sheffield Place plans to purchase and renovate six additional units of housing within the next 18 months. Hanzlick said they just closed on their fifth house and will begin the rehabilitation process soon.

“Families can stay as long as they need,” Hanzlick said.

Shauna Patterson, one of the new occupants of the renovated duplex, which is near Sheffield Place, said she was extremely grateful for this opportunity. Her employer, Hampton Inn and Suites, even donated a Christmas tree.

“This is like a dream come true,” Patterson said, adding she was grateful to everyone involved in making this dream come true.

Hanzlick said the process of selecting who would move into the house was dependent on who was ready to leave.

“Just having an apartment with four walls is unimaginable to some people [in the program],” Hanzlick said.

Patterson said she doesn’t know where she’d be without the belief and guidance of everyone from Sheffield Place, especially when at times, she didn’t even believe in herself. Although still in the aftercare programs, she’s now responsible for everything in her home.

“It feels incredible,” Patterson said. “I felt broken but now I feel like I can handle this.”