Voluntary Action Center opens doors to tour new Opportunity Campus

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A new $18.6 million facility built to support people experiencing hardship and homelessness is set to open its doors in Columbia in early July.

Construction on the Voluntary Action Center's Opportunity Campus began in February 2024. Ahead of its opening, members of the public are invited to an open house Thursday to tour the resource center and shelter.

According to Columbia's 2025 State of Homelessness Report, 309 people experienced homelessness last year. The city's homeless population has hovered around the 300 mark for at least three years, with 323 reported in 2024 and 270 in 2023. The report was not done during the pandemic from 2020-22.

Services will be provided to more than 7,000 people a year through the over 30,000-square-foot shelter facility, according to local nonprofit VAC. It will include 150 beds, an overflow bed area, a commercial kitchen, a dining room area, kennels for animals, showers and more.

The Opportunity Campus is made up of two buildings— the Cindy Mustard Resource Center and The Hub. The campus brings together local resources, including Waypoint Shelter beds, Campus Companions kennels and the New Day Columbia day center (formerly Turning Point). Loaves and Fishes Soup Kitchen will also provide dinner service.

The Hub houses VAC offices with mail delivery, laundry, secure storage and computer access, according to previous reporting.

The VAC Opportunity Campus is located in the 1300 block of Bowling Street in Columbia. Currently, Waypoint Shelter Director Jessica McNear said the overnight shelter operates out of a VFW building.

ABC 17 News will get to tour the VAC Opportunity Campus Wednesday. Tune in to ABC 17 News at 5 for an inside look.