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At-risk youth in KCK build houses for the homeless while learning life skills

Posted at 4:16 PM, Sep 27, 2016
and last updated 2016-09-27 17:42:06-04
Fitting two people inside of a duplex that's just 160 square feet may seem impossible, but for some people it's an upgrade.
 
Two homeless people in Pittsburg, Kansas will have a temporary home for 90 days thanks to Kim Wilson Housing and YouthBuild KCK. 
 
Jana Loflin with Kim Wilson Housing helps to find the homeless housing regularly.
 
For the past two weeks, at risk 16-24 year olds with YouthBuild have been building the duplex from the ground up.
 
"Kids who did not know anything about hand tools or anything of that nature, showing them how to use hand tools. I showed them how to measure and cut, that was the biggest benefit," said Mike Richardson, construction director for YouthBuild KCK.
 
The youth crew is wrapping up the tiny house project Tuesday.
 
"We like to use projects like this as a metaphor for our trainee's lives. You can come from something, from nothing in a very short period of time if you put energy and effort into it. So that's what has happened here," said Spark Bookhart, YouthBuild KCK executive director.

A driver has donated the time and resources to get the duplex to Pittsburg.

Loflin said after the 90 days the two people will be moved into permanent housing and the cycle can be repeated. 

She also said they picked Pittsburg because homes with wheels do not meet housing regulations in Kansas City, Kansas or Kansas City, Missouri. She said a pastor in Pittsburg got the city to make a special permit for this project.

The tiny house ended up costing $14,000 to make. However, those involved say it'll make a much larger impact for the homeless who will now have a door to walk through.
 
This was all made possible by the Kansas Houses Resources Corporation that sponsored the project. 

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Belinda Post can be reached at belinda.post@kshb.com.

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