NewsLocal News

Actions

KCMO, homeless advocates search for solution to house fires set by squatters

Posted at 11:52 PM, Dec 01, 2018
and last updated 2018-12-02 00:52:08-05

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Rain soaked the remnants of what used to be a house at 409 Askew Avenue on Saturday afternoon.

The house burned down Wednesday in what fire officials believe was the latest incident of a vacant house set fire by squatters. 

The city of Kansas City, Missouri, said squatting is a year-round problem but it receives the most attention this time of year, because more seek shelter and set fires to stay warm as the weather changes.

“In most of these cases, it’s private property and these are people accessing private property, so technically it's trespassing," KCMO Neighborhoods and Housing Services Public Information Officer John Baccala said. "In certain areas, we have a lot of vacant homes and the ease of access in many of them make it an opportunity for those trying to get out of the elements."

It also creates a risk for those living nearby, like the neighbors of that Askew house whose own home was damaged by Wednesday's fire and left them displaced.

Homelessness is a major issue behind the incidence of squatting.

Several community organizations, like Family Promise of the Northland, aim to prevent or reduce homelessness and help those in need get back on their feet.

"We take all their housing costs away, we take most of their food costs away, and the rest is kind of up to their discretion," Family Promise of the Northland board member Jeffrey Hon said.

Hon doesn't blame people who are homeless trying to find a roof over their head.

"If we were out on the street, we would do the same thing," he said. "If we didn't have enough money to go and get some place to stay, we would look any place we could to find shelter."

As KCMO continues to formulate a five-year housing plan, officials conducted the third of four public meetings Saturday to gather input and address this problem of abandoned houses and homelessness. 

"One of the issues we have is we can’t find lenders to lend money to those to rehab or take an existing land bank lot and build a home on, so these are all things we need to work through," Baccala said.

City leaders also said they need help identifying squatters and locations where squatters have taken up residence. If you see people illegally occupying a homes, call the 311 hotline or local police.