Director:	Carla Brewer
Address:	520 Garfield Avenue, Kansas City, MO 64124 directions
Information:	816-691-2952
Donations:	816-691-2952
Assistance available:	9:00am - 12:00pm on Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and by appointment

The Don Bosco Family Support Center serves over 12,000 people annually through emergency services including food, clothing, rent and utility assistance, job counseling, and case management. It is a resource for people facing homelessness, child or spousal abuse, job loss and substance addictions. The Center also helps low-income seniors through food and clothing banks. The Family Support Center serves Kansas City with compassion and respect by providing this front-line outreach to foster positive change in people's lives.

Emergency Assistance
Through a database system provided by the Mid-America Assistance Coalition (MAAC), the Center is able to track participants to ensure services are not duplicated or abused. This system is used by more than 200 agencies in the Greater Kansas City metropolitan area.

• To Apply - People requesting assistance must come to the Center in person. The Center address, directions, dates and times, are at the top of this page.
• Primary Service Area - those living in zip codes 64106, 64120, 64123, and 64124 and the surrounding community.
• Eligibility - each participant is interviewed extensively, must provide identification, and must meet income standards according to the Poverty Guidelines provided by United States Health & Human Services. For rental and utility assistance, each participant must also provide documentation proving the threat of housing loss due to non-payment, or the threat of utilities loss due to non-payment.

Programs
In addition to the food pantry, free clothing room, and case management, the Center also provides programs to meet specific needs.

• Work Empowerment (WE) Program - a program that assists individuals with particular obstacles to self-sufficiency (such as mental health issues, past criminal records, a history of substance abuse, etc.) find employment. Services provided include case management, referrals to training programs, and career guidance. In collaboration with United Services, Job Readiness Classes are held at the Senior Center. The Job Readiness classes cover topics including resumes, interview skills, business etiquette, and more. Clients must come to Family Support to enroll in the class.
• HPRP-Kansas City Project Hope - this program provides funds to assist program participants to achieve stable housing arrangements, either through their own means or through public assistance. It is not intended to provide long-term support for program participants. To apply for assistance, clients must go to the United Way for a referral.
• ACT! Project - Access Care Together, ACT, helps eligible individuals and families access Medicaid/Medicare health benefits through outreach, enrollment, and education
• Project Yes - an annual agency-wide school supply drive to provide backpacks, school supplies, and uniforms to low income children
• Holiday Friends - an annual adopt-a-family program for families in need during the holiday season.