homelessness

Columbia counted 309 homeless people in 2025, a number that is roughly consistent with the totals recorded over the past few years.

The Voluntary Action Center headquarters opened April 6, with other services on the campus to open in the coming months.

The campus will be a resource to Boone County residents who are homeless or otherwise in need of help.

The contract with Utah-based waste management firm EnviroServe has a term of one year and is renewable.

The City Council approved nearly $1 million in funding for shelter and stabilization services through two local nonprofits.

Kayla Keller and Hannah Pond both work at the Halo Girls Home in Jefferson City, a residential program for homeless and at-risk girls ages 16-21 who are pregnant, parenting, and non-parenting.

The council members said that homelessness and violent crime require different solutions, noting police work is not enough.

The Department of Natural Resources set a Nov. 15 deadline for the city and local partners to submit a plan to address water quality.

The UM president addressed homeless encampments and downtown crime in a Sept. 27 letter to students and employees.

The city of Columbia, Boone County and University of Missouri have been operating on an expired joint stormwater permit amid a grace period.