MoDOT Helping the Unsheltered while Cleaning Roadsides

JACKSON COUNTY - A new partnership between the Missouri Department of Transportation and the Community Services League out of Jackson County promises to help area unsheltered people improve their safety, get needed assistance and clean highway roadsides.

"We've recognized for some time we needed new ideas on how to help unsheltered people in our area because it's so dangerous to live around highways, and we need to protect the taxpayer transportation investment as well," said MoDOT Kansas City District Engineer Chris Redline. MoDOT has a contract beginning this week with CSL to locate and clean up unsheltered camps on state highway roadsides in Jackson County.

CSL starts by working to reach out to the people residing in area camps. After contact has been made, crews of 10-12 members work a location until it is cleaned. This can vary from 90-130 bags of trash picked up each day until complete.

"First we go in and help and assess the needs of everyone we connect with," said CSL Chief Operating Officer Mark Graber. According to Graber, some might need a bus ticket, transitional housing, work, career path options, medical care, food, or addiction assistance. Something unique about the CSL program is they hire unsheltered individuals to help remove litter and pay them daily.

"Our goal is to eventually have as many folks as possible get to work and graduate to other long-term jobs," Graber said.

With more than a century of service, Community Services League provides integrated, life-changing services to nearly 20,000 individuals, and connects thousands more to temporary assistance to get through tough economic times. https://www.cslcares.org/

This is the second contract MoDOT initiated to help the unsheltered in the KC Region. In April 2023, MoDOT partnered with the Downtown KC Community Improvement District. The contract provides payment for outreach efforts to the homeless on state right of way, homeless camp cleanup, general trash removal from roadsides, and graffiti removal. In the year the partnership has been in place, outreach has been provided to more than 450 individuals, 5,213 bags of trash removed, and 1,252 graffiti tags erased. By moving unhoused individuals from under state bridges, and off roadsides, MoDOT is keeping unhoused people safer, protecting the infrastructure, and protecting neighboring properties.

"Ultimately, we hope we are making a positive longer-term difference for people in the KC area and for our transportation system," Redline said.

For more information about MoDOT news, projects or events, please visit our website at www.modot.org/kansascity. For instant updates, follow MoDOT_KC on X, or share posts and comments on our Facebook at www.facebook.com/MoDOT.KansasCity/. MoDOT Kansas City maintains more than 7,000 miles of state roadway in nine counties. Sign up online for work zone updates or call 888-ASK-MODOT (275-6636).