Phoenix Family Housing

Posted on January 15, 2010

Local news media often portrays the tension between neighborhood associations and low-income housing developments, but we don’t often hear the stories of neighbors reaching out to neighbors.

In the summer of 2009, Phoenix Family Housing placed a service coordinator and an AmeriCorps*VISTA worker at the Bainbridge apartments located in the historic Old Hyde Park neighborhood. It’s one of many buildings along Armour Boulevard recently renovated to preserve their beautiful and historical architecture, but only a few of them are low-income housing.

Advocating for the residents of the Bainbridge, Phoenix Family issued a request for volunteers at the neighborhood association monthly meetings as well as through their membership email list. While some people expressed skepticism that the request would fall on deaf ears, Phoenix Family persevered and received seven responses from neighborhood association members committed to getting to know and helping out their fellow neighbors.

“As a resident of Hyde Park and of Armour Boulevard, I don’t feel like an outsider coming in to the Bainbridge. It’s rewarding to be able to connect with my neighbors.” said Nikki, a Phoenix Family Housing volunteer. Nikki works part-time for the Kansas City Public Library and has her own pet-sitting business. She spends two hours a week volunteering at the Bainbridge computer lab. “Having a library background, it’s important for me that people have access to technology. That’s why I want the computer lab to continue to be open and would encourage others to volunteer. It’s a valuable resource in helping families improve their lives.”

Nikki has also volunteered in the capacity of her library outreach, giving out free books to all the children at a recent Halloween party, one of the many activities provided by the Phoenix Family service coordinator.