After 16 weeks of renovations inside the PATH House, the kids in the Pathways Transitional Living Program can finally go back home.

Built in 1910, the three-story historic home is conveniently located in the Midtown neighborhood of Kansas City and provides supervised transitional living arrangements for up to ten 16- to 21-year-olds transitioning out of foster care. The house was donated to Cornerstones of Care in 2014, yet despite over a century of use, it has never undergone a complete renovation – until now.

A $220,000 grant from the Children’s Trust Fund of Missouri got this renovation project off its feet, and significant contributions from the Ann and Gary Dickinson Family Charitable Foundation and the Missouri United Methodist Foundation helped get it to the finish line. Several other funders, including the Hunt Family Foundation/Chiefs Charity Game and the BlueScope Foundation, also contributed to this project.

The investment into the transformation of the property included major structural updates, such as a repaired foundation, new electrical wiring, and an updated HVAC system.

“Most of the changes happened in places you cannot see,” said Karyn Finn, Senior Director of Youth Support Programs and Services. The kitchen was completely gutted and now features a brand-new sink, countertops, and appliances like a new fridge, stove, and dishwasher.

The 100-year-old house also received all-new furnishings, including mattresses, chairs, and wall hangings, to upgrade the look and feel of the home. Almost all the existing furniture was replaced, except the bed frames, dressers, and a few other items that were still in good condition.

One piece of furniture that remained in the house was a large wooden dining table and a matching buffet. Several Build Trybe apprentices in the Building Trades program refurbished the pieces by sanding, deep cleaning, and re-staining the damaged redwood surface.

Many of the students served by both Build Trybe and the Pathways Transitional Living Program are aging out of foster care, have experienced trauma, and are at high risk of becoming homeless. The PATH House provides a 24/7 supervised, at-home living experience where the kids can develop peer relationships and receive support in case of any issues with transportation, challenges at school, or other needs or crises.

“The youth come with different kinds of trauma, different kinds of behaviors, and different experiences, so making sure that our team is informed and educated to manage those is very important,” said Karyn. Cornerstones of Care also helps the residents connect to community-based resources like a doctor, dentist, or mental health therapist.

Each resident has a case worker and is expected to carry a job and go to school. They also are expected to contribute to cooking and cleaning for the house and maintenance of the community space.

“Youth can come and go if they meet certain expectations and communicate where they are going,” said Karyn. “That’s part of learning how to have freedom.”

Within the organization, Destiny Jackson, Director of Pathways Transitional Living, and Lori McDonald, Program Manager of Pathways Transitional Living, played a critical role in advocating for the renovations. The two saw this project as more than just a cosmetic upgrade but an investment into the lives of the children in the program.

“I wanted it to feel like home,” said Destiny. Kids in foster care often live in a wide variety of places – from dorms or residential facilities to foster homes – and are used to being treated differently than their peers.

“They haven’t been afforded the same opportunities as other kids,” said Destiny. “They’re older youth; so, they’re the kids that are forgotten, the kids that aren’t going to get adopted. To give them something like this on their last trip before they meet adulthood; I think that’s an amazing thing to be able to do.”

And providing these teens with a bright, spacious home filled with everything they need sends a significant, lasting message.

“It tells them, ‘I can do better, I can live better, I do have choices,’” said Lori. “I think it will brighten their world.”

The youth living at the PATH House officially moved back in on December 4, and an official ribbon-cutting ceremony will be held on January 31. If you know of a youth aged 16-23 who would be a good fit for the Pathways Transitional Living Program, please fill out an inquiry form on our website.