Spruced Up KC opens supportive living home for veterans

By Kristina Light

Adriana Swift, owner and director of operations of Spruced Up KC and a new member of the Grandview Chamber of Commerce, founded the veterans independent and supportive living program after years of accompanying her father to dialysis treatments at the Kansas City VA Medical Center.

On Aug. 1, her vision became reality when Spruced Up KC opened a fully furnished residence within walking distance of the VA. Seven veterans now share the home with a live-in house manager, enjoying room, board, and a sense of community at a fraction of the cost of living alone.

A family’s tradition of service

Swift’s connection to veterans runs deep. Her father served in the U.S. Army in the late 1960s and early 1970s and was stationed in Germany. Swift’s older brother and several other relatives also served.

During her father’s VA appointments, Swift noticed many veterans leaving with no one waiting for them at home, and some with no home at all.

“My dad has a really strong support system,” Swift said. “He would come home emotional some days and tell us how grateful he was to have us.”

Seeing how much care her father needs after treatment, Swift began to think about veterans without family and friends for support.

“I can’t imagine how people feel without it,” she said. “We want to offer support, a sense of community, a home, a meal, a clean space.”

From prayer to reality

Swift first imagined a veterans home around the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, but the plan was set aside as the world shut down. The idea stayed with her, and she turned to prayer for direction. In time, she reached out to friends who invest in real estate in search of a large, multi-bedroom property. One friend, himself a veteran, offered a house to rent while the family worked toward purchasing it. Spruced Up KC closed on the property July 28.

Swift, a project manager who oversees renovation projects professionally, led the effort. The family renovated and fully furnished the home in about 90 days, so residents need to bring only their personal belongings.

The program’s name pays tribute to Spruce Street, where Swift’s parents have owned property for about 40 years. The family’s mission is to honor veterans by providing safe, stable housing and supportive services to promote independence, dignity, and a brighter future. For Swift, the project is also an expression of her Christian faith and a way to serve others as Jesus taught.

“This has been a spiritual gift, the gift of love, the gift of family,” she said.

Becoming a resident

Word of the program has spread through local churches, VA caseworkers, and friends. Swift’s father has been one of its strongest advocates, sharing information with fellow veterans during his treatment visits.

Because residents share a home, each applicant goes through a three-step process. Swift begins with a phone interview to learn the applicant’s story. Next, she meets the applicant over dinner to review the home’s expectations. Finally, the applicant tours the house to decide whether it feels like a place to call home.

“It is a family community,” Swift said. “We have to be conscious of who we’re placing in it.”

Accepted residents sign a one-year living agreement and pay a monthly living expense covering room, board, and meals. Each agreement takes the resident’s income into account. The home currently serves men, with plans to welcome both men and women at future locations.

Daily life and support

Some residents were unhoused before moving in, and Swift said having a secure space of their own means a great deal.

“They know every day, if they leave, they come back,” she said. “This is still their space.”

Life in the house follows what Swift calls “home expectations.” Drugs and alcohol are prohibited, smoking is allowed only outdoors, and residents follow a laundry schedule and share cooking duties. Each week, the household gathers for a family night.

While the program does not provide medical or counseling services, the family helps residents schedule and follow up on appointments. Most residents walk to the VA, and Swift’s adult sons provide transportation when needed. Spruced Up KC is not a nonprofit and is funded entirely by the family.

“I wasn’t looking for help,” Swift said. “I was looking to help.”

Plans for growth

Swift hopes to open a second and third home within the next 12 months and is praying over where each one should go. Her long-term goal is to purchase a larger building, such as a former school or apartment complex, to serve more people, including those facing high barriers to housing. The family has also discussed future programs for sober living and for young people aging out of foster care, though Swift said veterans remain her focus.

“This was a dream,” she said. “And it’s now become reality.”