KSHB 41 reporter Claire Bradshaw covers eastern Jackson County, including Blue Springs and Independence. Share your story idea with Claire.
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New Reflections Technical Institute in Kansas City is on a mission to assist those in need by building 24 tiny homes.
Right now, construction students are working on the first two. They learn a new skill in the classroom each week and then apply it to the tiny homes.
This week, students are learning about wiring. Soon, they will wire the tiny homes for electricity.
New Reflections founder and president Mark Byrd said his goal is two-fold.
He wants to give these construction students the skills to get a trade career and a purpose to build their lives on.
Byrd also hopes the tiny homes will get people off the streets and give them a second chance.
"We're helping people, help people. We have to be the ones that save us," Byrd said. "We have to build things. We can't just be people that just sit around and talk about this, this is not a spectator sport. We need to make sure that we're involved."
Byrd said New Reflections is working with the city of Kansas City and land banks to place the tiny homes on vacant lots.
Those selected to live in the homes are allowed to stay for up to two years.
Byrd said residents will also have access to mental health services, financial literacy classes and more.
“To be able to know that you can turn your key and walk into your place and call it your own home," he said. "You can have running water and a place to take a shower, and food to eat and a refrigerator. All those things, a lot of us kind of take for granted because we think it's just normal. It's not normal for people who don't have it."
So far, 74 students have graduated from the eight-week construction program. Byrd said they have a 98% graduation rate at New Reflections and an 87% job placement rate.
Byrd also said New Reflections needs help financially with the tiny homes. If anyone is interested in donating or partnering with the program, call Mark Byrd at 816-361-5239.
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