Winter has finally arrived in Kansas City, ushered in by the season’s first snowstorm on Dec. 1. The storm dropped up to five inches across the metro and broke a 40-year-old snowfall record for the date.
For hundreds of unhoused Kansas Citians living on the street, it marked the beginning of a dangerous and deadly season.
As of 2025, there are at least 2,658 unhoused people across the Kansas City metro. At least 1,013 people, or 38%, are sleeping outside on any given night.
That means hundreds of people are exposed to the cold with no consistent access to warmth, protection, or medical care. For these individuals, surviving even a single freezing night becomes a life-or-death gamble.
That danger is especially great for families. The 2025 Point in Time Count reports at least 174 homeless households with children in the metro. Outreach workers say they have seen a growing number of parents and children sleeping in cars, showing up at shelters, or navigating homelessness for the first time.
Nationally, family homelessness rose by a staggering 39% in the past year, the largest spike of any group.
Jennifer McCartney, founder of Kansas City Heroes — a grassroots group supporting unhoused residents — said her team has seen a sharp rise in families on the street over the past year.
“The influx of families that we’ve seen has been crazy—full-fledged families, mom, dad, kids,” she said. “Dad lost his job a couple months back. They couldn’t pay the mortgage. They didn’t know anybody here. Bam. They’re on the street. That’s how easy it is.”
As temperatures lower, outreach teams see people making impossible tradeoffs: Skipping meals to afford gas, staying in unsafe places because they’re warmer, or avoiding services altogether out of fear of being split up.
These are survival decisions. Without a warm bed, people cannot stabilize their health, protect their belongings, or even begin to rebuild.
As McCartney put it plainly, “Shelter has to come first.
This month, Kansas City activated its Extreme Weather Plan, opening 931 shelter beds across eight partner sites — with 491 funded by the Division of Unhoused Solutions and 440 provided through community partnerships. But these beds are temporary. Once temperatures rise in the spring, many disappear.
For those on the street or anyone newly displaced, knowing where to go is critical. This guide lists shelters, medical providers, food programs, and outreach resources across the Kansas City area: places where people can find warmth, care, and support during the coldest months of the year.
And for anyone looking to help: share this guide. Offer a ride. Make a call. One warm bed or one act of care can make all the difference.
Kansas City Resource Guide: Shelter, Medical Care & Food
Kansas City Extreme Weather Plan Resources:
Kansas City’s Extreme Weather Plan operates in four levels, triggered by falling temperatures. Beds are available on a first-come, first-serve basis. To secure a spot, individuals should arrive at one of the six partner shelters by 5:00 PM for a 6:00 PM intake. Unity Southeast extends its intake until 8:00 PM for late arrivals.
Need a ride?
Open Doors provides free bus rides at 4:30 PM, with pickup in front of Hope Faith to take individuals to the shelter locations.
Level 1 (Open Nightly, Dec 1 – Mar 1 | 790 beds)
Hope Faith Homeless Assistance Center
- Who it’s for: Adults (men & women)
- Address: 705 Virginia Ave., Kansas City, MO
- Phone: (816) 471-4673
- Services: Meals, showers, clothing, case management, day services, warming space
- Access Info: Low-barrier; overnight beds available during extreme cold
Open Doors Foundation (Transportation Site)
- Who it’s for: Adult men
- Address: 3221 Independence Ave., Kansas City, MO
- Email: contact@opendoorskc.org
- Services: Overnight shelter, storage, resource referrals
- Access Info: No sobriety requirement; bus pickup at 4:30 PM in front of Hope Faith
reStart, Inc.
- Who it’s for: Individuals, families, youth, veterans
- Address: 918 E 9th St., Kansas City, MO
- Phone: (816) 472-5664
- Services: Emergency shelter, outreach, housing placement
- Access Info: Program-based with case management
Heartland Center for Behavioral Change
- Who it’s for: Adults, including people with behavioral health needs
- Address: 6021 E 12th St., Kansas City, MO
- Phone: (816) 842-2144
- Services: Cold-weather shelter, behavioral health support
- Access Info: Program-based
True Light Family Resource Center
- Who it’s for: Families experiencing homelessness or housing instability
- Address: 712 E. 31st St., Kansas City, MO 64109
- Phone: (816) 561-1700
- Services: Family shelter, case management, basic needs assistance
- Access Info: Program-based
SAVE, Inc. (Includes Teresa’s Place youth shelter)
- Who it’s for: Individuals and families; LGBTQ+ youth
- Address: 3000 Harrison St., Kansas City, MO 64109
- Phone: (816) 531-8340
- Services: Permanent, transitional, and supportive housing, including youth-specific shelter; case management, referrals to vital resources
- Barrier level: Program-based with low-barrier elements for youth shelter
- Access Info: Youth shelter, Teresa’s Place, is affirming for LGBTQ+ community and low-barrier (ages 18–24)
Unity Southeast Emergency Warming Shelter
- Who it’s for: All genders
- Address: 3421 E. Meyer Blvd., Kansas City, MO 64132
- Phone: Shelter Hotline: (816) 513-3699 | Church/Main Contact: (816) 841-1402
- Services: Overnight shelter, meals, winter gear, warm space
- Access Info: Low-barrier during activation (no ID or documentation required; walk-ins accepted until 8 PM)
Level 2 (32°F and below | 790 beds continue)
- Level 1 shelters remain open and available.
Level 3 (25°F and below | 75+ additional beds added)
Unity Southeast Emergency Warming Shelter
- Who it’s for: All genders
- Address: 3421 E. Meyer Blvd., Kansas City, MO 64132
- Phone: Shelter Hotline: (816) 513-3699 | Church/Main Contact: (816) 841-1402
- Services: Overnight shelter, meals, winter gear, warm space
- Access Info: Low-barrier during activation (no ID or documentation required; walk-ins accepted until 8 PM)
Level 4 (10°F and below | 66+ additional beds added)
A Turning Point (Northland / Clay & Platte Counties)
- Who it’s for: Individuals and families
- Address: 1900 NE Englewood Rd., Gladstone, MO 64118
- Phone: (816) 702-6801
- Services: Food pantry, hygiene items, emergency assistance referrals
- Access Info: Program-based
*Note: Not a shelter, but critical support for Northland residents.
Extreme Weather Plan Community Partner Beds:
City Union Mission
- Who it’s for: Men, Women, & families
- Addresses: Men: 1108 E 10th St., Kansas City, MO | Women & Families: 1310 Wabash Ave., Kansas City, MO
- Phone: (816) 474-4599
- Services: Emergency shelter, meals, long-term programs
- Access Info: Program-based
Shelter KC — Men’s Center
- Who it’s for: Adult men
- Address: 1520 Cherry St., Kansas City, MO
- Phone: (816) 421-7643
- Services: Emergency shelter, meals, case management
- Access Info: Program-based
Wilhelmina “Willa” Gill Multi-Service Center (Wyandotte County Cold-Weather Shelter)
- Who it’s for: Individuals experiencing homelessness
- Address: 645 Nebraska Ave, Kansas City, KS 66101
- Phone: 913-621-4690
- Services: Emergency winter shelter when temps drop below 25°F
- Access Info: Low-barrier during activation
*Note: Operates only during severe cold; hours and intake vary.
Additional Shelter & Housing Resources:
Availability changes daily, especially during extreme weather. Call ahead to confirm space and services.
Salvation Army Programs
- Adult Rehabilitation Center (ARC): Structured shelter & recovery for adult men — (816) 421-5434; 1351 E 10th St., Kansas City, MO
- Crossroads Family Emergency Shelter (East Metro): Emergency shelter & meals for individuals and families — (816) 461-1093; 14700 E Truman Rd., Independence, MO
- Family Lodge (Johnson County, KS): Emergency shelter & support for families with children — (913) 829-0578; 14701 W 106th St., Olathe, KS
- Northland Corps: Referrals & limited shelter assistance for individuals and families — (816) 452-5663; 2100 N Oak Trafficway, Kansas City, MO
Specialized Shelters
- Benilde Hall: Shelter & behavioral health support for men with mental health or substance use needs — (816) 842-5836; 3220 E 23rd St., Kansas City, MO
- Sheffield Place: Shelter and support for women & children — (816) 483-992; 6604 E 12th St., Kansas City, MO
- Newhouse KC: Confidential shelter for survivors of domestic violence — Address confidential
Seasonal / Weather-Triggered Shelters:
- Project 1020 (KS): Winter shelter & meals for adults experiencing homelessness — (913) 219-3347; Lenexa, KS
*Note: Call ahead for nightly location and intake time.
Family & Transitional Housing
- Community Linc: Housing-focused support for families — (816) 531-3727, 4012–14 Troost Ave., Kansas City, MO
- Family Promise of the Northland: Intake-based shelter for families with children — (816) 888-7070; 4406 NE 45th Terrace, Kansas City, MO
- Hillcrest Transitional Housing (Platte County / Northland): Housing & support services for individuals and families. Not a nightly emergency shelter; longer-term housing support — (816) 741-3000; Parkville & Platte City, MO
- Interfaith Hospitality Network of Johnson County: Temporary shelter for families — (913) 345-2121; rotating host sites
Quick Tips:
- Northland & MO side: Call (816) 474-4599 (Hotline for the Homeless)
- Kansas side (Johnson & Wyandotte): Call 2-1-1
- Most cold-weather shelters often require same-day intake
Medical & Health Resources:
- Care Beyond the Boulevard: Street medicine & mobile care — (816) 398-5422
- KC CARE Health Center: Primary care, dental, behavioral health — (816) 753-5144
- Samuel U. Rodgers Health Center: Medical & family services — (816) 474-4920
- Swope Health Services: Full-service clinics & mobile health — (816) 923-5800
- ReDiscover Behavioral Health: Mental health & addiction services — (816) 988-2737 (crisis line)
- University Health (formerly Truman Medical Center): Emergency and specialty care — (816) 404-1000; 2301 Holmes Street, Kansas City, MO
- Operation Breakthrough: Pediatric care, child therapy services, early childhood support — (816) 756-3511; 3039 Troost, Kansas City, MO
Food Access: Meals, Pantries, and Mutual Aid:
- Bishop Sullivan Center — Community Kitchen: Hot meals Mon–Fri — (816) 231-0984; 6435 Truman Rd.
- Blue Hills Church Food Pantry: Fresh produce, pantry staples — (816) 923-3700; 2205 Prospect Ave., Kansas City, MO
- Catholic Charities Food Distribution (Johnson County, KS): Food pantry, hygiene items — (913) 433-2030; 9720 W 87th St., Overland Park, KS
- Catholic Charities – Serve & Lift Center: Groceries, hygiene kits, diapers — (816) 659-8266; 8001 Longview Rd., Kansas City, MO 64134
- Cross-Lines Community Outreach (Kansas City, KS): Hot meals, food pantry, sack lunches — (913) 281-3388; 736 Shawnee Ave., Kansas City, KS
- Grace United Community Ministries (South KC): Food pantry, sack lunches, hygiene items — (816) 761-8300; 11435 James A Reed Rd., Kansas City, MO
- Harvesters Food Bank: Metro-wide food pantry network & mobile sites — (816) 929-3000
- Harvesters Mobile Food Distributions (Metro-Wide): Free groceries via mobile pantries — (816) 929-3000
- Hillcrest Hope Market (Platte County / Northland): Free grocery-style food pantry — (816) 741-3000; 504 Prairie View Rd., Platte City, MO 64079
- KC Heroes: Hot meals, snacks, pantry kits, survival supplies; contact via website
- Metro Lutheran Ministry – Northland: Food pantry, hygiene items, utility assistance — (816) 994-4200; Address: 210 W 10th Ave., North Kansas City, MO 64116
- North Kansas City YMCA Mobile Food Pantry: Monthly food distribution (First Fri., 1:30–3 p.m.) — (816) 300-0531; 1999 Iron St., North Kansas City, MO
- The Prospect KC: Meals & grocery boxes — (816) 299-0181; 2600 E 12th St.
- Reconciliation Services — Thelma’s Kitchen: Pay-what-you-can meals — (816) 931-4751; 3101 Troost Ave.
- Redemptorist Social Services (South KC): Food pantry, community meals — (816) 931-9943; 8023 Wornall Rd., Kansas City, MO
