GKCCEH Proudly Supports Black History Month

As the Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) Continuum of Care Lead Agency and Homeless Management Information System (HMIS) Lead Agency for the MO-604 Continuum of Care, our mission is to end homelessness in Kansas City for ALL people. 

Acknowledging the disparities among the homeless population is one way we as a community can work to close equity, equality and inclusion gaps and promote the economic empowerment and permanent housing solutions. 

Despite making up only 14% of the American population, 45% of people experiencing sheltered homelessness in 2021 were Black or African American according to The 2021 Annual Homeless Assessment Report (AHAR) to Congress.

Black History Month is the perfect time to acknowledge that these disparities are the result of the inexcusable racial oppression Black people have faced in this country. As an organization, we are proud to be advocates for change in the Kansas City community. We will continue to allocate resources to serve homeless individuals and families and push forward toward our goal of ending homelessness in Kansas City for all. 

Let’s Talk Black Excellence in the KC Community

We want to take a moment to recognize Black Excellence in Kansas City and the specific efforts of three specific difference-makers who call/called this community their home. 

Alvin Brooks

Lifelong Kansas City activist Alvin Brooks is a former mayor pro tem, councilman, police detective and assistant city manager. We are ever-thankful for his decades in public service to the Kansas City community at large — and the Black community in particular. 

Learn more about Brooks and his incredible life by reading his autobiography.

Lucile H. Bluford

An accomplished writer and speaker, Bluford worked for over five decades, beginning as a reporter and eventually as managing editor of The Kansas City Call. She was known for garnering public support for the election of Alan Wheat, Kansas City’s first African-American congressman, enacting social action during the Civil Rights Movement, speaking out on local economic, civic and development issues of concern to KC’s African-American community and seeking improvements and increased access to high quality education for area youth.

A true pioneer and stateswoman, The Lucile H. Bluford Branch of The Kansas City Public Library stands in her honor.

Desiree Blake

As a rising Black leader in the Kansas City community, our very own Desiree Blake is leading the charge for racial equity in the city. Currently serving as GKCCEH’s HMIS data quality and capacity administrator, she is paving the way for Black women in technology. Blake has a bachelor of arts degree in political science and criminal justice. She does all of this while being an incredible mother to her one beautiful son. 

Blake plays a crucial part in GKCCEH’s mission to end homelessness in Kansas City for all.