The Data: Kansas City Crisis Statistics
The Data Behind Our 8 Domains
Housing is just one piece of the puzzle. True community transformation requires addressing interconnected challenges across every domain of life.
Housing Stability
Extremely low-income renters face an enduring shortage of affordable homes.
Extremely low-income renter households in the Kansas City metro spending more than half of income on rent and utilities
Source: NLIHC, The Gap (March 2026), Kansas City MO-KS metro, 2024 ACS data
Health & Wellness
Life expectancy varies dramatically by neighborhood and race.
Between the Kansas City census tracts with the shortest and longest life expectancy
Source: Kansas City, Missouri Health Department, Community Health Assessment (December 2023)
Economic Mobility
Wealth gap widens as financial literacy remains limited.
Median White family wealth $285,000 vs median Black family wealth $44,900 nationally (2022)
Source: Federal Reserve, FEDS Notes (Oct. 18, 2023), 2022 Survey of Consumer Finances
Education
Achievement gaps persist as students fall behind grade level.
Kansas City Public Schools (Kansas City 33) students in grades 3 to 8 scored 3.08 grade levels below the 2019 national average in math and reading combined, 2022 to 2025. Missouri: 0.62 below.
Source: Educational Opportunity Project at Stanford University, Trends in Academic Performance in Kansas City 33 (version 2025.1)
Technology & AI
Digital divide limits access to opportunity for low-income families.
Kansans in households earning under $20,000 without broadband (statewide)
Source: Kansas Health Institute, Digital Divide in Kansas (2019-2023 ACS data)
Civic Engagement
Young adults vote at far lower rates than older adults.
Missouri citizens ages 18 to 24 who voted in November 2024, vs. 78.7% of those 65 and over
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Current Population Survey, Voting and Registration, Table 4c (November 2024)
Environment
Environmental racism concentrates pollution in BIPOC communities.
Armourdale vs. other parts of Wyandotte County (2016 study)
Source: Union of Concerned Scientists, Environmental Racism in the Heartland (November 2021)
Purpose & Community
Kansas ranks 31st of 51 for access to mental health care in the 2025 Mental Health America ranking.
Mental Health America overall ranking of states, where 1 is best
Source: Mental Health America, The State of Mental Health in America 2025
Food Insecurity
Food access is part of the Academy's Environment domain. The national figures below show the gap by race.
Source: USDA Economic Research Service, food security in U.S. households, 2024
These Challenges Are Interconnected
You cannot solve housing without addressing economic security. You cannot improve health without tackling environmental justice. You cannot build opportunity without education and technology access. True transformation requires a holistic approach.
8 Domains Data Sources
Housing:
National Low Income Housing Coalition, The Gap: A Shortage of Affordable Homes (March 2026)
Health:
Kansas City, Missouri Health Department, Community Health Assessment (December 2023)
Economic:
Federal Reserve Board, FEDS Notes (October 18, 2023), 2022 Survey of Consumer Finances
Education:
Educational Opportunity Project at Stanford University, Trends in Academic Performance in Kansas City 33 (version 2025.1)
Technology:
Kansas Health Institute, Digital Divide in Kansas (2019-2023 ACS data)
Environment:
Union of Concerned Scientists, Environmental Racism in the Heartland (November 2021)
Mental Health:
Mental Health America, The State of Mental Health in America 2025
Food Security:
USDA Economic Research Service, food security in U.S. households (2024)
Civic:
U.S. Census Bureau, Voting and Registration in the Election of November 2024, Table 4c
Projected 2030 Outcomes
These are our projected 2030 outcomes. The Foundation has not yet launched its first cohort.
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