Donor Support Drives Strong 2024 Outcomes

February 7, 2025 | By: Doug Cowan, President & CEO

While CSL’s work chugs along day after day, the turn of the calendar from one year to the next is a time to reflect on progress in our program areas. Here is a recap of some notable 2024 program outcomes:

Workforce Development

In our Career Services efforts, which helps adults access tuition-free industry-recognized credentials, we interacted with 423 students, and, of those, 210 enrolled in a credential-bearing class. One hundred ninety-five students, or 92% graduated. This graduation rate significantly exceeds our industry average target of 80%. Of the 195 graduates, 102 have already started a new job within their career field. We attribute our success to the positive coaching CSL provides throughout the process, along with eliminating barriers that might hold participants back.

A group of students supported by CSL graduate as CNAs (Certified Nursing Assistants)

In our Employment Services programming, which helps adults with disabilities find meaningful work, we guided 103 Missourians through the employment process. In our region, we are the only provider that offers Traumatic Brain Injury employment services, and we maintained our CARF (Commission on Accreditation for Rehabilitation Facilities) certification.

Financial Coaching

CSL’s Wealth and Asset Development programming helps families build financial resilience and save for future goals. We operate two programs, and, collectively, more than $1,576,000 has been saved by participants at the end of 2024. More than 67% of participants are People of Color, which helps us stay focused on our goal of addressing racial wealth gaps. Thirty-three participants have graduated and used their savings as a down payment on a home, which can build generational wealth.

Evie used her wealth and asset development account to become a new homeowner

Our Small-Dollar Lending program, which finished its tenth full year in 2024, made its 834th loan in 2024, and has loaned more than $3,181,000 in its lifetime. During that time, more than 26,000 successful payments have been made, increasing credit scores. Our loans have many purposes, but many help people refinance existing toxic, high-interest loans, and settle into manageable repayment schedules at low interest rates.

Of adults engaged in our coaching and case management programs, 76% are working with a CSL Financial Coach, which we think is critical to long-term success. Of those in Financial Coaching, 48% experienced an improvement in a financial outcome in 2024 (net worth, household income, and/or credit score).

Housing

In 2024, CSL acquired an existing HUD contract that allowed us to grow our number of leased properties from 75 to 155. We hold these leases to provide Permanent Supportive Housing to 265 formerly homeless children and adults. Our staff provide ongoing case management and support to help strengthen these households’ stability. We increased our street outreach staff from one to three in 2024 to better reach vulnerable people living unsheltered.

Also in 2024, we launched a roadside litter remediation effort with the Missouri Department of Transportation that hires unhoused person to provide jobs and pathways to permanent housing and employment. This works in conjunction with our Independence TOGETHER program, which launched in 2023. Combined, these crews have removed more than 900,000 pounds of trash from Jackson County roadways since 2023.

Community Development

At CSL’s BlendWell Community Cafe and WorkLife Center in Northwest Independence, great things are happening. We hosted our first entrepreneurship cohort as an expansion to our Career Services offerings. More than half of our participants are Latinx, offering real opportunities for small business creation for immigrant families. Monthly, we distribute food boxes that contain culturally-appropriate food for Latinx families, which helps feed our neighbors and provide a sense of community and belonging.

CSL played a lead role in helping form a Community Improvement District (CID) in Northwest Independence along the 24 Highway and Northern Boulevard corridors. The CID is funded through a 1% sales tax, which can be used for beautification, marketing, security, business retention and attraction, and much more that can strengthen Northwest Independence.

BlendWell, again in 2024, hosted a robust offering of Cultural Connections programming, which allows for community dialogue through thoughtful panel discussions, art exhibits, community meals, storytelling, and more. With lead support from Cornell Roofing & Sheet Metal, BlendWell again hosted a Thanksgiving Day meal for hundreds of neighbors.

Guests enjoyed a Thanksgiving meal at CSL’s BlendWell Community Cafe

Basic Needs

CSL continued its commitment to preventing and mitigating evictions in 2024. Preventing evictions now is more cost effective than attempting to rehouse someone following a bout of homelessness. In 2024, we administered $2 million from the Missouri Housing Development Commission to halt nearly 400 evictions. Since 2021, CSL has administered more than $40 million in eviction mitigation funds, halting nearly 10,000 evictions in Jackson County.

With support from key elected officials, CSL received $500,000 in State of Missouri appropriation funds for our Eastern Jackson County Drop-In Center. The Drop-In Center is located inside Good Shepherd Community of Christ at I-70 and Blue Ridge Boulevard, and is designed to be a welcoming location for persons experiencing homelessness. The services offered are designed to meet the unique needs that come with living on the streets, and, most importantly, the Drop-In Center values relationship and connection with a Housing Case Manager, which is the best tool to moving towards permanent housing.

Donors gave generously to CSL’s dedicated campaigns for Cold Weather Sheltering, and more than $120,000 was raised to help unsheltered individuals and families find refuge on the coldest winter nights. To date, 1,002 nights of emergency shelter have been provided for 177 local persons.

An unsheltered neighbor resides under the bridge at I-70 and Sterling Avenue

Through our food pantries, sack lunch, and hot meal programs in Blue Springs, Buckner, Grain Valley, Independence (Noland Road, Farview, 39th Street, Neighborhood Dinner at Stone Church), and Oak Grove, more than two million pounds of food was distributed to individuals and families facing hunger.

More than 3,000 students in the Blue Springs, Fort Osage, Grain Valley, Independence, and Oak Grove School Districts received new backpacks, school supplies, tennis shoes, and socks through our Back to School events. Your generosity also provided more than 10,000 Christmas gifts to 5,000 local children at CSL’s annual Christmas Stores.

A family receives assistance at our Back to School Fair