Homelessness Archives

Columbia Utilities commits to tracking complaints, actions taken on reports of illegal camping and dumping near water

April 14, 2025 4:23 PM Lucas Geisler

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Columbia Utilities says it will work with other agencies and track complaints regarding illegal camping and dumping near the city’s waterways. The department sent its updated plan to the Missouri Department of Natural Resources two weeks ago, said utilities department spokesman Jason West. The two-page updated portion of its application for a

Homelessness Taskforce discusses expanding temperature threshold to open overnight shelters

March 13, 2025 6:49 PM ABC 17 News Team

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ) The Jefferson City Task Force on homelessness discussed plan on Thursday to further resources in Mid-Missouri. The group was updated on what officials in Columbia are doing. One of the main focuses was making changes to Turning Point in Columbia, including a new contract for an overnight center and expanding the temperature

Love Columbia’s transitional housing, Love Forward Homes, set to open in early 2026

March 11, 2025 5:00 PM Meghan Drakas

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Love Columbia’s transitional housing complex, Love Forward Homes, is expected to be complete early 2026. The complex at 1221 E. Ash St. in Downtown Columbia will have six three-bedroom units and four two-bedroom units that can house up to 10 families. Love Columbia says in 2024, it provided 4,144 hotel nights to

DNR threatens Columbia stormwater permit over homeless encampments

March 11, 2025 12:13 PM Haley Swaino

The Missouri Department of Natural Resources has requested that the city of Columbia create a plan to minimize waste from homeless encampments from getting into public waters.
DNR sent a letter to the city, along with Boone County and the University of Missouri, on Feb. 28, 2025. It said it wants to see the issue addressed before it will renew their “Municipal Separate Storm System (MS4) Operating Permit Renewal.”

Opening of Voluntary Action Center’s Opportunity Campus pushed back to spring 2026

March 3, 2025 6:36 PM Meghan Drakas

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) The expected opening of the Voluntary Action Center’s Opportunity Campus has been pushed back to March 2026. As of December 2024, the Opportunity Campus was expected to open in fall 2025. On Monday, Voluntary Action Center director Ed Stansberry said the initial timeline was a “best guess” and that weather has caused

Columbia police encounters with homeless population increase in 2024

January 24, 2025 5:32 PM Meghan Drakas

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Columbia’s police officers are having more frequent encounters with homeless people — so many that the Columbia Police Department has a team dedicated to dealing with that part of the population. The number of calls for service and arrests involving homeless people jumped 38% in Columbia from 2023 to 2024, according to

Columbia Housing Authority awarded $537,433 to fight chronic homelessness in Boone County

January 17, 2025 6:38 PM Meghan Drakas

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) On Friday, the U.S. Department of of Housing and Urban Development awarded the Columbia Housing Authority $537,433 to fight chronic homelessness in Boone County. “We are pleased with this,” CHA CEO Randy Cole said. “These funds are for special vouchers we use for persons experiencing chronic homelessness.” Cole said the vouchers come

Overnight warming centers in Columbia near capacity as temperatures continue to drop

January 7, 2025 8:16 PM Haley Swaino

As temperatures continue to drop, the need for shelter increases. Resources here in Columbia are working to keep the homeless community safe through dangerously low temperatures.

Homeless encampment cleared in front of vacant Downtown Columbia storefront

December 27, 2024 5:07 PM Olivia Hayes

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) A homeless encampment outside of the former Glik’s Boutique in Downtown Columbia drew the attention of authorities Friday. And shop owners say the camp is a problem for surrounding businesses. Management at El Fogon Veracruzano and Kent’s Floral Gallery told ABC 17 News the unwanted neighbors have affected hurt their business and

Missouri River Regional Library sees decline in homeless patrons thanks to increased social service resources

December 20, 2024 9:47 PM Marie Moyer

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ)The Missouri River Regional Library says it’s made strides in better helping homeless people thanks to collaborative efforts within the community. Library director Claudia Young has been at the Missouri River Regional Library for 29 years and tells ABC 17 News that the building served as a warming center for as long

Jefferson City Task Force on Homelessness hears from stakeholders at third meeting

December 12, 2024 8:04 PM Haley Swaino

The Jefferson City Task Force on Homelessness on Thursday heard from three organizations who can provide services in the Jefferson City area.

Some homeless people struggle with shelter access amid Columbia bus route challenges

December 5, 2024 11:00 PM Mitchell Kaminski

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) With dangerously cold temperatures sweeping through the region, warming shelters across mid-Missouri have opened their doors Thursday night. According to data from the Boone County Coalition to End Homelessness, more than 400 people in Boone County are considered homeless. As temperatures dipped into the teens in Columbia, dozens of people lined up

Voluntary Action Center announces additional funding for $18.6 million Opportunity Campus project

December 3, 2024 7:18 PM Meghan Drakas

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) On GivingTuesday, the Voluntary Action Center announced it has been awarded a $745,400 challenge grant award from the Mabee Foundation to support The Opportunity Campus project. The project is being built along Business Loop 70 and Bowling Street in central Columbia to support transitional services for the homeless population in Boone County.

Mid-Missouri homeless resource centers preparing for upcoming winter season

November 22, 2024 7:03 PM Meghan Drakas

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Multiple Mid-Missouri homeless resource centers are preparing for the upcoming winter season. The 2024 Point in Time Count which counts all of the people in the state experiencing homelessness on a single night in January, tallied 7,338 people. In Region 5 — which represents much of Mid-Missouri — the 2024 count stood

Jefferson City Taskforce on Homelessness raises concerns on lack of resources

November 14, 2024 7:35 PM Marie Moyer

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ) During the second Jefferson City Taskforce on Homelessness meeting Thursday, members discussed critical gaps in available resources for those experiencing homelessness. The taskforce — whose creation was approved by the Jefferson City Council in June — brings together various groups such as law enforcement, community recreation, legal professionals and resources like

Harry S. Truman Memorial Veterans’ Hospital houses over 100 veterans in FY 2024

September 26, 2024 4:06 PM Meghan Drakas

The Harry S. Truman Memorial Veterans’ Hospital has housed over 100 veterans experiencing homelessness during fiscal 2024, the hospital said Thursday.

An early look at Columbia’s developing homeless shelter: The Opportunity Campus

August 21, 2024 5:54 PM Meghan Drakas

With the growing homeless population in Boone County, the Voluntary Action Center is building The Opportunity Campus with the hopes of getting people back on their feet.

Columbia Housing Authority awarded $6,300 from federal government to combat veteran homelessness

August 9, 2024 4:00 PM Meghan Drakas

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development announced in a Thursday press release that it is awarding an additional $20 million to help combat veteran homelessness across 43 states. HUD is awarding $197,618 to Missouri from the HUD-Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing program. The funding is broken down between eight areas across

25 apply to become members of Jefferson City homelessness task force

July 24, 2024 7:24 PM Nia Hinson

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ) Jefferson City received 25 applications from residents hoping to become a part of its homelessness task force, according to a spokesperson for the city. City spokeswoman Molly Bryan said there are eight positions open, five of which are reserved for members from faith-based or nonprofit organizations and three members “at large.”

Project Homeless Connect links dozens with resources in Columbia as homeless population grows

July 11, 2024 5:54 PM Meghan Drakas

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) On Thursday, Project Homeless Connect linked dozens of people with homeless resources in Columbia. According to the Boone County Coalition to End Homelessness, as of July 8, there were 379 people experiencing homelessness in the county. Data from July 2023 shows 231 people were experiencing homeless a year prior. According to the