Celebrating the First Anniversary of the Eastern Jackson County Drop-In Center

March 6, 2026 | Doug Cowan, President & CEO

Next month, I will start my 17th year at CSL, and the rise of the number of people living on the streets is certainly the top social services conversation of the last decade. A variety of complex factors has contributed to a rise in the number of people living unsheltered. The problem is simply too great to overlook.

I’m proud of our community for coming together to create the Eastern Jackson County Drop-In Center, which first opened its doors in February 2025. The catalyst for this opportunity was the great legacy of work being done by committed volunteers at Good Shepherd Community of Christ. For many years, the congregation has offered warming and cooling center services, along with a welcoming spirit for those living outdoors.

The creation of the Drop-In Center aimed to expand the existing work and create more funding and partnership opportunities. Thanks to a successful Mardi Gras event by the Rotary Club of Independence, with lead support from Speaks Chapels, enough money was raised to launch the Drop-In Center. We also received $500,000 in appropriation funds from the State of Missouri (2024-2025 budget cycle) that helped to outfit our space, and provide direct aid to neighbors.

CSL hired two staff members to operate the Drop-In Center, in alignment with our philosophy that relationship is the key factor in determining if a person can successfully exit homelessness. Our staff works alongside volunteers from Good Shepherd Community of Christ and the community at large, and our people work together to create a warm and welcoming environment.

In our early days, we had a few visitors trickle in, but word of mouth helped news of the Drop-In Center spread quickly. We were also inundated with a major winter storm right after opening, and we were able to shelter hundreds of neighbors in local motels.

After a few months of getting up and running, we expanded our hours to where they remain today: 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., Monday through Thursday.

What do our services look like? We offer two meals a day, and many guests find rest and respite at the Drop-In Center. It’s exhausting to live on the streets, and many people will lay their head down and rest. Vital documents are our most requested service, as people need driver licenses and birth certificates to do just about anything in the world. People living on the streets can often have these things lost or stolen.

CSL helps neighbors begin or continue their progress towards permanent housing. A connection can begin at the Drop-In Center, and other CSL housing staff assist with applications for HUD Permanent Supportive Housing, local Housing Authority properties, family/friend reunification, sobriety housing, transitional housing programs, and other steps towards permanent housing. Research shows that one commonality among all persons exiting homelessness is the need for a mentor/coach to help. Relationship is critical to the process, and our staff and volunteers step boldly into that role.

Guests are welcome to use the restrooms at the Drop-In Center, which is very important for their personal dignity and for overall public health. We are working on plans and seeking funding to add washers and dryers, along with showers, to provide additional services to guests. Most days, case managers from Centerstone (formerly Comprehensive Mental Health Services) are on site at the Drop-In Center, meeting with guests, and we are grateful for their partnership.

As the number of unsheltered people has increased, especially in the I-70 and 40 Highway area, it has put a strain on local businesses and neighborhoods to help individuals meet their basic needs. One year in, we believe the Drop-In Center has decreased the number of people loitering at businesses, or needing to use private restrooms. Having a strong business presence is important to maintaining the strength of a neighborhood.

Our work intensifies during periods of extreme cold temperatures. Helping people escape dangerous weather is a complex operation. We work with our neighbors on strategies to find shelter long before extreme weather hits. Our primary strategy is to connect guests with Kansas City’s network of long-term winter shelters. For some, that option doesn’t work well for them, and we discuss the opportunity to shelter with friends or family. In the most complicated situations, we offer motel vouchers.

CSL negotiates a block of motel rooms, and, as you might imagine, they fill up quickly. In today’s world, mentions of motel vouchers fly across social media and we get inundated with requests through Kansas and Missouri. We simply don’t have access to enough rooms to accomodate everyone in this region. Nevertheless, our modest resources provide for nearly 1,000 motel nights.

As we start our second year, I’m optimistic about our opportunities. As I mentioned above, we are hopeful to build out laundry services and showers at the Drop-In Center, which will be a major undertaking.

We have talked with community partners and government leaders about an emergency shelter in Eastern Jackson County. A shelter running 24 hours a day can have costs of up to $3,000 per day in order to have round-the-clock case management and security. An effective shelter would require several committed partners and funders to be successful.

For now, the Drop-In Center is making a huge difference. We have a safe and welcoming space for those experiencing homelessness. People are treated with dignity and they are making progress towards permanent housing. Thanks to your support, we’ll continue to help the most vulnerable people in our community. If you feel moved to assist, consider making a gift online at www.cslcares.org.