Neighbors Coming Alongside the Unhoused

So far this year, Love Columbia staff and volunteers have helped 45 households secure housing and have provided 565 coaching sessions. It is slow work with often few available options, but the load is lightened as more partners link arms to help. In this issue, read about ways to help, people who are helping, and success stories.

Become Informed

Learn why so many of our Columbia neighbors are unhoused and how everyone can be part of the solution.



Transitional Housing Is Transformative

Love Columbia’s Extra Mile Homes program has assisted 48 families move from homelessness to stable, permanent housing since 2015. The program currently has three homes, and has had as many as seven homes during the pandemic as individuals stepped in to loan houses. We hope to establish ten units as permanent Extra Mile Homes on our downtown property and are seeking American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds from the city and county to do this.

Lives are changed as families learn new skills in supported, safe housing.

Three families and eight children have transitioned to permanent

housing this month.

• LaRhonda and her 4 children lived in an Extra Mile Home for 7 months before transitioning to Indiana where she had supportive family. Financial coaching and receiving a donated car made this possible. She quickly secured a full-time job and was able to move into income-based housing that she could afford. Her 18-year-old twin children have also found jobs and have secured their own income-based apartment where they are successfully living independently.

• "Hatiana is changing her daily living practices so she can leave a legacy for her kids," says her Extra Mile coach. Hatiana learned and practiced new skills as she participated in financial and housing coaching to prepare for moving into her own place. It all paid off this month as she was able to move into a market-rate rental unit. She remains on the wait list for income-based housing and will use her new skills to make ends meet until she can secure long-term affordable living.

• Doris was working a full-time job but needed support to provide a stable home for her and her daughter. After 3 months in our Extra Mile Homes program, she secured a market-rate rental and is now self-sufficient.

Two families and five children have moved into an Extra Mile transition home.

• DeAnn works full-time at a local bank but struggled to cover the cost of living expenses for herself and two children. When she lost her home last year, she moved in with a friend and her daughter moved in with her dad so she could remain in her school district with bus transportation. DeAnn actively participated in our coaching programs until we had an opening in an Extra Mile Home. She is excited about the progress she can make in the rent free, supportive environment.

• Akeyah reached out for help when she was struggling to provide a stable home for her three children. She wanted support to create a housing plan. This month, she was all smiles as she moved into an Extra Mile Home to have opportunity to reset her life. She is working full time and is currently in line for a promotion.



Volunteers Find Ways to Help

When Trina was experiencing housing instability and in need of support, Marilyn coached her through the Extra Mile program.

Trina wrote to Marilyn, "You were my mother. You called me outside of appointment times to check on my goals. You rallied on the sidelines and behind the scenes for me for an entire year, Marilyn. You helped me get my smile back." Trina and her 9-year-old daughter moved from a hotel provided by Love Columbia into their own apartment. She works full-time and continues to participate in financial coaching to set and achieve more goals.

Pat Stahl stepped in when a 33-year-old blind woman was evicted from her home. Pat helped the distraught woman get oriented to the hotel room Love Columbia provided and brought her food and hygiene supplies and clothing from The Love Seat.

When Jacalyn attended her VITA appointment, the volunteers made her feel so comfortable and welcomed that she shared her struggle to cover the cost of a car repair that needed urgent attention for safety reasons. "When Love Columbia told me they would fix my van, I was so relieved. I desperately needed transportation to get to work and to attend appointments for my kids."

Jacalyn is enrolling in coaching to improve her finances and advance her career. Her dreams include owning a home and working with special needs children.

Volunteers help teach our new homeownership class. Topics include: money management, savings, credit, homebuyer process, and inspections.

Love Columbia's Healthy Homes and Tables Program

Healthy Homes and Tables hosted a stress management class for moms facilitated by Parent Link. While they were learning how to de-stress, their kids decorated recycled containers to create pots for planting. The relaxed moms joined the fun and, together with their kids, planted herbs and flowers to take home.

Christian Chapel Academy

Middle Schoolers at Christian Chapel Academy learned about the needs of their neighbors and held a drive to gather items for Love Columbia’s essentials Closet. Their enthusiasm resulted in an abundance of help for those in need.

When you donate to or shop at The Love Seat,

you are helping your neighbors in need! In 2022:

 181 households received furniture

111 households received housewares

210 households received store shopping vouchers

25 households received moving assistance

The Love Seat resale store provides a place for shoppers to find quality,

low-cost furniture, housewares and clothing and for Love Columbia program participants to obtain essential items.

The Love Seat Furniture Bank provides free furniture and housewares to families

in crisis or transition. 

Store Hours:

Mon - Fri 10:00 - 5:00

Sat 9:00 - 4:00



Donation Times:

Mon - Sat 10:00 - 3:00

For Donation Inquiries/Scheduling Pick-Ups:

Call 573-303-6198

2600 Rangeline St. Columbia, MO 65202

Love Your Neighbor as Yourself

This is the ideal that drives Love Columbia. We coordinate relationships and resources to “love people forward” to a higher capacity. We provide coaching to help people improve their finances, employment, and housing, and offer strategic financial assistance and material goods to support their path forward.

• Information and referral

• Assessment and action planning

• Coaching (financial, employment, housing, transportation, life purpose)

• Transitional housing

• Payday loan relief 

• Strategic financial assistance

• Basic needs (furniture, clothing & housewares) 

Want to Give to Love Columbia?

Mail a Check

Send to 1209 E Walnut

Columbia, MO 65201

Give Online

Give securely at

lovecolumbia.org

Want to become a legacy donor?

Email us at giftplanning@lovecolumbia.org