26-02-2025
Missouri bill could take away funding for Healthy Homes program
LEE'S SUMMIT, Mo. — Missouri House Bill 1316, which aims to eliminate rental registrations, was discussed during a committee meeting Tuesday at the State Capitol.
The measure's potential to eliminate funding for Healthy Homes and similar programs across Missouri concerns some Kansas City metro health officials.
Republican Missouri State Representative Hardy Billington introduced House Bill 1316.
He explained some of his reasons for the measure during Tuesday's committee meeting.
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'So anytime you add cost to a landlord, they've got to add that cost to each month people pay rent, and rent is already high, and you don't want to increase that cost,' Billington said Tuesday.
Both Jackson County and Kansas City health officials say they've seen rental inspection programs positively impact both landlords and tenants.
'They help the tenants because it gives them another avenue if their property owner, their landlord, is not responding to something in their dwelling that might be a health hazard. They can go to the city for additional resources to help with that issue,' said Meghan Senne, policy coordinator for Jackson County Public Health.
'This is not just a matter of protecting the 46% of Kansas City families who rent (representing over 230,000 people). Registration benefits landlords as well. Landlords receive help with tenants not following basic safety standards, such as in hoarding situations,' Kansas City's Health Department Director Dr. Marvia Jones said in a statement to FOX4.
The Healthy Homes rental inspection program has been in place in Kansas City since 2018 and is entirely funded by the $21 annual fee that all rental property owners pay.
'This would impact quite a few municipalities in Jackson County. It's not just Kansas City. It's also small communities and has quite a big impact,' Senne said.
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Jones said, ' The $21 registration fee is a small price to pay for the immense benefits it provides – protecting renters, supporting responsible landlords, stabilizing access to affordable homes, and preventing costly public health crises. I urge the committee to carefully consider the value of the current rental registration process in maintaining the well-being of our communities.'
'I think there was some confusion on the occupancy permits at the hearing today and why those aren't sufficient. I think the main thing is that those rental registration inspection programs offer a routine inspection, not just that initial occupancy, code inspection,' Senne said. 'So if something comes up two years down the line with the tenant, there's still an opportunity for that to be addressed.'
The full statement from Kansas City Health Department Director Dr. Marvia Jones is below:
'Access to safe and healthy housing is among the most critical elements of an opportunity to lead a healthy life. Unhealthy housing directly contributes to mental and physical health problems. These include chronic disease, infections, injuries caused by structural issues (like my mother's fall), organ damage caused by mold or infestations, and developmental challenges in children caused by lead exposure. These illnesses due to substandard housing impact people from all walks of life, regardless of race, ethnicity, creed, or any other factor.'
'At the Kansas City Health Department, we work hard to prevent these disastrous health outcomes through a program known as Healthy Homes, which ensures rental properties meet basic health and safety standards. This program is entirely funded by the modest $21 annual fee required of landlords through their rental registration process. House Bill 1316 aims to eliminate rental registrations, effectively stripping away the funding that sustains Healthy Homes and similar programs across Missouri.'
'This is not just a matter of protecting the 46% of Kansas City families who rent (representing over 230,000 people). Registration benefits landlords as well. Landlords receive help with tenants not following basic safety standards, such as in hoarding situations. The registration process also enables the Health Department to maintain a database of property owner contact information, allowing for quick contact in case of emergencies such as fires, water line breaks, or heating and cooling failures. Many landlords are small business owners who depend on this swift communication from the City to prevent costly damages. The small annual fee protects renters, rental property owners, and the community at large.'
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'House Bill 1316, if enacted, would dismantle a program that safeguards the health of Missouri families and the stability of our housing market. Kansas City's housing stock includes a large number of aging buildings, which are often the most affordable options for hard working families. As our family homes and apartment buildings age above 100-years in many neighborhoods, proper upkeep is critical to keeping affordable housing available to the public. The $21 registration fee is a small price to pay for the immense benefits it provides – protecting renters, supporting responsible landlords, stabilizing access to affordable homes, and preventing costly public health crises. I urge the committee to carefully consider the value of the current rental registration process in maintaining the well-being of our communities.'
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