Columbia housing commission holds public forum to discuss federal funding to support the homeless

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

The City of Columbia's Housing and Community Development Commission (HCDC) heard from the public Wednesday about federal funding to support the homeless.

"We are in desperate need of more housing," said John Dunbar, with the Columbia Housing Authority. "There is those homeless that you see but then there's those homeless that you don't."

The federal government, through the American Rescue Plan, awarded the City of Columbia $2,161,652 in funding to be administered through the HOME Investment Partnership Program from the Department of Housing and Urban Development.

Eligible projects for funding include non-congregate shelters, rental housing development, tenant-based rental assistance and supportive services.

Rebecca Shaw, a commissioner on the community housing developing committee says the group has a lot of responsibility.

"We heard tonight from a lot of people, that unhoused neighbors are a very large concern, a permanent shelter of some sort is a large concern and public and affordable housing is a large concern," Shaw said. "So we will definitely take into account the things we heard this evening and make sure that we can get the best possible opportunity with this money."

The projects must benefit families and people facing homelessness and or those fleeing domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking or human trafficking situations.

Some Columbia organizations submitted their HOME ARP consultation questions responses before the start of the meeting.