Every day at Love Columbia, we face the stark reality of our "new normal" - more calls from people who cannot afford to pay their rent, fewer and more costly housing options, longer wait time to secure income-based opportunities and the seeming unsustainability of covering the costs of temporary stays in hotels for families who have nowhere to go.

Yet, we refuse discouragement and press forward by finding ways to help one at a time and join with others to work on bigger solutions.

LaRhonda moved to Columbia in February to live close to family, and stayed at a hotel while finding a permanent home. Between working two jobs (60 hours/week) with unreliable transportation and having difficulty finding affordable housing, she and her kids had a longer-than-expected hotel stay.

Five months later, we got to welcome LaRhonda's family into one of our Extra Mile transition homes! She says, "I'm able to focus on keeping a stable job, so I can provide a safe place for my family. The kids are excited about starting the new school year from a stable home, and one already has some college credit!"

LaRhonda is enrolled in Extra Mile financial coaching.

Love Columbia is seeking to expand our Extra Mile Homes program that provides families with children experiencing homelessness an opportunity to reset their lives. Since 2015, we have provided 45 families (with 116 children) an opportunity to live rent/utility free in a home where they meet with coaches weekly and have opportunity to retire debt and save to prepare to move into permanent housing.

from Crisis to Thriving

"Many children from Columbia will be sleeping on the floor tonight because they have no choice. Join me and the GP M.A.D.E. Foundation in providing Beds For Kids this summer with your donation." - Gary Pinkel

The GP M.A.D.E. Foundation is partnering with us to address this need by matching all donations to Beds for Kids up to $5000!

Volunteer Brandy Van de Riet interviewed 24 single moms and their children enrolled in our programs to learn about their needs and dreams. The goal was to create more support for families with kids using their voices to guide us. Parents reported an interest in the following supports: family events (95.8%), having a family mentor (79.2%), and learn a new hobby or skill (70.8%).

Four Veterans United interns spent the summer creating activity boxes for our families to encourage family connection and growth.

A few boxes include: back to school, baking cookies, and family game night. Volunteer Brandy Van De Reit attended the interns' project presentation.

Alberta passed her nursing board exam and is now officially a registered nurse in Missouri. Her husband Philip, who was just given permission to immigrate to the United States, participated in Career Coaching and secured a job at the university.

Volunteer Nancy Maddox has remained connected with their family and got to celebrate Philip's first American birthday this summer!

Soon after Uriah learned about the Extra Mile program from the mother of one of his music students, he got involved in the financial coaching program. "The program allowed me to look at all of my money and seriously consider my savings goals." He says that the program manager, Kelli Van Doren, helped him to thrive financially. When she recommend he connect with another Extra Mile participant, Daniel, he was eager to do so. Daniel is also a musician, and is now teaching music lessons with Uriah's business, U.C. Music.

When Paula Miller heard about the Beds For Kids campaign, she gathered a few of her sorority sisters (Delta Phi Chapter of Epsilon Sigma Alpha) to hand sew 55 pillow cases to give to the kids receiving beds. Soon after, they collected weighted blankets to help ensure kids get quality sleep.

"I got my first job in one year at Flat Branch." - brave neighbor pressing forward despite homelessness

"My credit score went up 120 points, and I'm at the highest level of my job." - single dad, graduate of Extra Mile Homes program

"I'm finally living in my apartment for the first time." - single mom on disability

"I was able to move into my own place after being homeless for 5 months due to of a house fire." - local lawn care employee

"I passed my first HiSET test." - expectant teen mom receiving tutoring

Registration is open. Rappel the Tiger Hotel on an adventure to bring hope.

We'll see you there on October 29th!

For Donation Inquiries/Scheduling Pick-Ups:

Text the word "LOVE" to 573-282-5396

Send to 1209 E Walnut

Columbia, MO 65201

Give securely at lovecolumbiamo.org