Columbia organizations use chunk of federal funding to address community violence
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)
The City of Columbia has routed $2.1 million in funds awarded during the COVID-19 pandemic to work to cut down on violence.
Columbia was awarded $25.2 million in American Rescue Plan Act funding to address public health and economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. A large portion of that money was dedicated to cracking down on crime.
In 2023, five organizations were awarded funding in hopes of helping the city achieve those goals.
- In2Action
- Destiny of H.O.P.E
- Columbia Supreme
- United Community Builders
- Boone County Nature School
In2Action was given $750,000 of the city's approximately $2.1 million allocated toward community violence. According to the organization's proposal to the city, the group intends to provide housing and support services to men returning to the Columbia area from prison, helping deter crime. Data from the City of Columbia shows the group used $634,172 from October 2024 to September 2025.
Destiny of H.O.P.E's agreement with the city -- which ends in 2027 -- awarded the group $320,000. The group received additional funding from the Columbia City Council in 2024, bringing its total amount of money awarded to $428,333.33, according to Columbia/Boone County Public Health and Human Services spokesman Austin Krohn.
Lonnie Lockhart Bey -- Destiny of H.O.P.E. executive director -- said the money will help the organization secure a new building.
"It's a space that will be dedicated to teens ages 13-17 approximately, allowing them to have a space that they can call their own on the weekends, be able to give them the space that hopefully we can get them from downtown," Lockhart Bey said.
The organization aims to provide community-based mentorship, positive youth development, site-based mentoring, peer support and family therapy services. The group has also been working to provide a Critical Change Gang Prevention program to address core issues of gang affiliation.
The non-profit used $137,868 during fiscal 2025, according to the city's website.
Destiny of HOPE's contract is a purchase of service agreement -- the organization invoices the city for the number of units of services they provide, Krohn said.
Columbia Supreme -- which received $150,000 from the city -- said it intended to create a youth mentor program.
United Community Builders received $750,000, while the Boone County Nature School was awarded $200,000, according to documents from the City of Columbia. According to Krohn, Boone County Nature School has spent its total amount of money awarded.
Watch ABC 17 News at 10 on Monday to see more about how organizations are using the funding to fight violence.
