Kansas City shelter at capacity still welcomes homeless with volunteers’ help

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (KCTV) – Every night, Luis Arellano opens doors for Kansas City’s homeless at Unity Southeast church.

“And when they say ‘Hey, Luis!’, they remember me for something good. ‘Remember me you gave me the jacket!’,” said Luis Arellano, who serves as shelter lead.

Two years ago, someone opened a door for him when he needed it most. In 2023, cancer took his wife. The grief that followed he said nearly took him as well.

“I lost people. I didn’t want to continue living. Drinking,” Arellano said.

Arellano said he spiraled into darkness, drowning his pain in alcohol. On the night he was planning on ending it all, someone saw him differently.

They brought him to the church, where he said he finally slept after days.

“Finally, I cried. I put everything out, and I felt more peace. He said sometimes we don’t understand why God takes away the people we love the most. I tried to get it more. And from there I started to help here,” Arellano said.

That person was Reverend Randy Fikki. Both Arellano and Fikki dedicate their time making sure others don’t face their darkest nights alone.

“If it was my brother or my sister or my mom or my dad, I wouldn’t want it to be a based on if somebody had room or not. The question is not if we have room in our sanctuaries. It’s if we have room in our hearts,” Fikki said.

Sunday night, Unity Southeast was at capacity, but Fikki said they’re not turning anyone away. He’s working to find space for everyone who needs shelter.

For Arellano, it’s more than a mission.

“I miss my wife, believe me. Of course I miss, that’s my baby. But I know the best can happen from her,” he said.

Fikki said their capacity is 70 people, but will not turn anyone away. He said they started the shelter in 2019.

Along with a place for rest, Fikki and Arellano said they give guests food, clothing, and entertainment as asked.

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