Congressman Cleaver Returns to Urban Neighborhood Initiative’s Community Project Funding Site to Celebrate Progress on Transformative Housing Project
(Kansas City, MO) – Yesterday, U.S. Representative Emanuel Cleaver (D-MO) returned to the site of the Urban Neighborhood Initiative’s (UNI) major redevelopment project in the heart of Kansas City, marking a powerful moment of progress since helping secure $4 million in Community Project Funding for the project. The visit is the Congressman’s first since the ceremonial groundbreaking last fall and comes as UNI moves forward with the development of 100 new single-family homes – part of a broader strategy to strengthen neighborhoods, create generational opportunity, and reverse decades of divestment.
“Today is a reminder that real progress takes vision, partnership, and persistence,” said Congressman Cleaver. “When UNI broke ground last fall, they laid more than concrete – they laid the foundation for hope, stability, and opportunity. Now, as these homes begin to rise, so does the promise of a stronger, more connected community where deserving families can plant roots and build a future with dignity. This moment affirms what can be accomplished when we invest in housing as a foundation for opportunity, equity, and long-term community well-being.”
“This initiative reflects UNI’s deep commitment to restoring neighborhoods through intentional investment and opportunity,” said Dr. Jamee Rodgers, President and CEO of the Urban Neighborhood Initiative. “The return of Congressman Cleaver underscores the power of collaborative leadership. These new homes are more than structures; they are symbols of stability, hope, and long overdue progress for families in our urban core. We are honored to lead this work on behalf of the community we serve.”
UNI’s pilot program, in partnership with Driven Development, will provide 100 affordable homes to families in underserved communities under a financing structure that promotes resident wealth accumulation through ultimate homeownership. The $4 million in Community Project Funding was one of fifteen projects Congressman Cleaver championed in Congress in 2022, securing nearly $39,250,000 in federal funding for Fiscal Year 2023 that directly benefits constituents in Missouri’s Fifth Congressional District.
Photos from yesterday’s visit can be found here.
Emanuel Cleaver, II is the U.S. Representative for Missouri's Fifth Congressional District, which includes Kansas City, Independence, Lee's Summit, Raytown, Grandview, Sugar Creek, Greenwood, Blue Springs, North Kansas City, Gladstone, and Claycomo. He is a member of the exclusive House Financial Services Committee and Ranking Member of the House Subcommittee on Housing and Insurance.