The Thrive Housing Task Force of Excelsior Springs — a community collaborative with a mission to improve quality of life and increase life expectancy through economic vitality, housing, and health and wellness — hit their yearly goals for 2023. Within the task force, strategic priorities have been set to help the community obtain safe and affordable houses, address issues associated with blight, financial literacy, workforce housing, economic stability and growth, as well as pride in one’s home, through the monthly curb appeal contests. Laura Mize, neighborhood specialist and chairman of the task force, explained the housing sector has met its goals for 2023. The cohort continues to strive for the same momentum teetering into 2024. Thus far, the task force has been working toward increasing access to safe, affordable housing for all residents in Excelsior Springs through initiatives, including: • Reducing the percentage of residents livin...