A long-empty Midtown Kansas City hotel is getting a second act this week, trading room keys for stability and support as it reopens as the Family Lodge, a 45-unit transitional apartment building for families experiencing homelessness. Volunteers have been hustling to assemble beds and furnishings so the place is ready for a ribbon-cutting and near-immediate move-ins.
Former Quality Inn Becomes 45 Furnished Apartments
The Family Lodge at 3517 Main Street will offer 45 fully furnished one-, two- and three-bedroom units with private kitchens and bathrooms, along with on-site case management, a food pantry and workforce supports, according to reStart Inc.. The nonprofit says putting families in private apartments with built-in services allows parents to focus on work and long-term housing searches instead of cycling through emergency shelters.
Volunteers Outfit Rooms Before Ribbon Cutting
Local volunteers, including a build crew from the nonprofit Sleep in Heavenly Peace, recently spent a day hauling in and setting up beds and furniture so the units are move-in ready ahead of opening, KCTV5 reported. reStart CEO Stephanie Boyer told the station, "We can't new-construct everything...People need housing today," arguing that conversions move much faster than starting from scratch.
Grand Opening And upStart Homes
The lodge is scheduled to host a ribbon-cutting on Tuesday as reStart opens a facility that will triple its interim family housing capacity, part of a larger affordable housing strategy the nonprofit calls upStart, The Kansas City Star reported. The upStart program focuses on owning and preserving deeply affordable homes, while the Family Lodge serves as a temporary bridge where families can stabilize before moving into permanent housing.
Why Conversions Matter
Project leaders say that turning existing hotels into housing is one of the quickest ways to get families indoors at a time when the city is facing a steep shortage of affordable units. Kansas City is estimated to be about 64,000 units short for residents at the lowest income levels, Axios Kansas City reported. Converting a standing building can shave months or even years off development timelines and keep operating costs lower than many traditional emergency shelters, advocates say.
How To Help And What Comes Next
Jackson County's Legislature recently passed a resolution congratulating reStart on the Family Lodge and on 45 years of service, a symbolic nod that also underscores broad local support, according to the county record. Community members who want to volunteer or donate items to help furnish the apartments can find opportunities through reStart.
