Congressman Cleaver Announces $15.5 Million in Federal Grant Funding to Support the Rehabilitation of Parade Park Homes

(Washington, D.C.) - Today, U.S. Representative Emanuel Cleaver, II (D-MO) announced the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has awarded $15,514,225 in federal grant funding to support the rehabilitation of Parade Park Homes in Kansas City. The funding for capital grants and rental assistance, which Congressman Cleaver strongly advocated for, was awarded through HUD's Section 202 Supportive Housing for the Elderly Program, which supports the development, rehabilitation, and acquisition of housing for low-income elderly persons.

"I am so happy that my staff and I were successful in convincing HUD that Parade Park is a viable and valuable place to invest in the future of Kansas City's Jazz District," said Congressman Cleaver. "With this funding, our community has taken another major step in expanding access to affordable housing while maintaining local control of this historic property, which is the foundation to vibrant and prosperous communities."

Parade Park Homes existed as the oldest Black-owned housing cooperative in the nation, with more than 500 affordable housing units in the heart of the 18^th and Vine Jazz District. Since 2022, Congressman Cleaver has workedwith HUD Secretary Marcia Fudge, Acting Secretary Adrian Todman, HUD officials, and local officials to stabilize the property and chart a path to preserve affordable housing, ensuring the property was soldby HUD to the City of Kansas City for redevelopment last year. Following the City's conveyance of the property to Twelfth Street Heritage Corporation, a non-profit, Rep. Cleaver has strongly advocated for additional federal investments, including Section 202 Supportive Housing for the Elderly Program funding, to support the redevelopment of Parade Park while ensuring it remains affordable to local and longtime residents.

"From HUD to the local officials in Kansas City, this has truly been a team effort to ensure the residents of Parade Park can remain in their homes and the community can receive the redevelopment necessary to create more affordable housing for families on the east side of Kansas City," said Congressman Cleaver. "The work is not finished, but this is a major victory for the people of Kansas City, and I'm thrilled to have helped play a role in making it possible."

More information on the federal grant funding from HUD is available here.

Emanuel Cleaver, II is the U.S. Representative for Missouri's Fifth Congressional District, which includes Kansas City, Independence, Lee's Summit, Raytown, Grandview, Sugar Creek, Greenwood, Blue Springs, North Kansas City, Gladstone, and Claycomo. He is a member of the exclusive House Financial Services Committee and Ranking Member of the House Subcommittee on Housing and Insurance.