Michael Bushnell
Publisher

This Friday, Healing House will be cutting the ribbon on a new residential living facility in the Lykins neighborhood designed for women and their children who are on the path to healing.

The new facility is named “Erin’s House” for Erin Langhofer, who was tragically shot during a First Fridays event in 2019 in the Crossroads Art District. Langhofer was a social worker who worked with victims of domestic violence in Kansas City. Following her death, her family established the Do Good For Erin Foundation and worked with Healing House to see the Erin’s House project through to completion.

The three-story, Victorian-era home was purchased by Healing House in 2021 after sitting vacant for over a decade. Demolition and construction began in the Spring of 2022. Disaster struck in August of 2023 when vandals broke into the home and caused over $55,000 in damages, stripping copper and stealing anything of value left inside.

“We’ve faced things like that break-in and theft but our community has just lifted us up in an amazing way,” said Garrison Galley, Healing House’s Marketing Coordinator. 

The project budget is just north of $550,000, which includes property acquisition and all the expenses associated with renovating an older 4,000-square-foot home. “This is not only huge for Healing House but it’s really special for the Do Good for Erin Foundation and to honor Erin’s memory by doing something good in the community,” Galley said. “Her memory lives on through these women who are recovering and also get to have their babies with them which is awesome and also unique for us.”  

An official ribbon cutting and open house will be held this Friday, March 22nd at 1 pm. The facility will be home to five women and their children along with an on-site house manager.