Dozens of Columbia households at risk for eviction getting to stay in their homes for the holidays

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Dozens of Columbia households at risk for eviction get to stay in their homes for the holiday.

Love Columbia Program Director Conrad Hake says his organization has served 48 households with assistance from a recent campaign, which equals around $45,000. That campaign was launched on the first of the month and is based around "Roof over your Head Day" which falls on Dec. 3.

"For many of them, it's a way for them to make sure they [don't] have that stress of the cost of their rent, especially if they're getting behind," Hake said. "There's a lot of excitement and enthusiasm."

It's all thanks to the CoMo Gives Campaign, which aims to raise $150,000 to keep at least 150 Columbia households in their homes by paying for a month's rent. As of Monday, Love Columbia along with other organizations including the Veterans United Foundation had raised approximately $122,000 for the campaign.

"These are households that they've experienced some kind of barrier, some kind of reason why they weren't able to pay their rent regularly," Hake said. "We're able to not just help intervene and provide that assistance for that one time that month, but we're able to get them into one of our coaching programs ... to find better employment."

Hake says Love Columbia has received around 4,800 requests for assistance so far this year, which is the most they've ever received. He says about 70% of those requests deal with housing.

Suzie Musick has lived in Columbia since 1991 and has received help from Love Columbia with her rent. She says the last two years have hit her hard with rising prices, especially while being on a fixed income due to her disability.

"I pay $100 more in rent than I've ever paid and the ends just aren't meeting," Musick said. "My five grandkids aren't gonna get Christmas from Nana this year and that just breaks my heart."

Musick said that without Love Columbia's help, she would not be in a good place.

"I'm not the person that asks for help. That is really hard for me," Musick said. "[My landlord] is the only reason I did and [Love Columbia] is really awesome. They don't make you feel like you're a burden."

The latest Annual Homeless Assessment Report for the U.S. shows homelessness has increased by 12% this year compared to 2022. The report says about 653,000 people in the United States were experiencing homelessness on a single night in January. The report says a majority of the people in the 12% increase were experiencing homelessness for the first time.

The CoMo Gives Campaign is set to run through Dec. 31.