Isiah Long is no stranger to hardship, having experienced homelessness and instability throughout his life.
But his involvement in the Clean Up KC initiative has provided him with a path to recovery and stability.
“I’ve been homeless a lot,” said Long. “I’ve been in and out of shelters, sleeping on other people’s couches my whole life,”
Thanks to Clean Up KC, Long now has stable housing and is working to secure a permanent job. Launched in 2022 through city funding, the initiative aims to tackle two pressing issues. One is finding employment for unsheltered individuals and the city’s growing problem of illegal dumping.
“This is not only a city problem, this is a county problem and a state problem,” said Antown Washington, executive director of Creative Innovative and program leader. “Being at the forefront of this, you are a hero, we are heroes cleaning our community.”…