In this issue, you will read about neighbors who are pressing forward amidst the housing crisis. You will also learn about Love Force One, a new volunteer team for the more adventurous among us, and about new classes linked below where local experts share ways to promote affordable housing and help you secure your assets.

Our Local Housing Odds

For First Time Home Buyers:

• Boone County’s median home prices have risen 60% since 2020. There are signs of prices dropping, but it is uncertain if this trend will continue. According to April Sales Statistics from the Columbia Board of Realtors comparing prices to April 2024, the median sold price was down 4% ($309,900) in Boone County and 13% ($313,000) in Columbia. Average prices were down 8% ($345,787) in Boone County and 13% ($345,100) in Columbia. Home price listings dropped 18% nationally, but only 15% in Missouri. Even with these declines, low-to-moderate income first-time homebuyers often cannot find an affordable home (under $200,000). 
• Younger adults ages 25-35 have a harder time purchasing a home. In a study reviewing homeownership rates for younger adults by state, 44% of younger adults in Missouri are homeowners compared to 70% of Missouri’s general population. The study also defined each state’s attractiveness by comparing average young adult income to home prices.

For Renters:

• Available rentals are in short supply especially for the low-income renters. Boone County’s 2024 Housing Study found a shortage of 3,800 affordable housing units for households earning below 50% of the area median income.
• Rent prices continue to rise. According to Rent.com, only 24% of rentals are under $1,000 a month.

• According to the 2024 Boone County Housing Study, 51% of renters are cost-burdened, spending more than 30% of their income on housing costs, with 27% of renters severely cost-burdened, spending over 50% of their income on rent.

How to Beat the Odds: Hope & Teamwork

Stay hopeful and work with others to achieve your goals during these challenging times. Our homeownership and tenant training classes include our HUD certified housing counselors and community volunteers who provide expertise on every aspect of the home buying and rental process. So far in 2025:

• 29 people attended our First Time Homebuyer class, 14 attended the Pre-Ownership class, and 7 purchased homes
• 58 attended our RentWell tenant training
• 77 secured rental housing (41 of whom were unhoused and 36 needed more affordable/sustainable units)

Shereka: First Time Home Buyer Supported by Local Church

Shereka, a single mom with three children who works full-time and cares for her mother, will become a homeowner next month. She began her journey nearly two years ago when she enrolled in our Extra Mile financial coaching program and partnered with Midway Locust Grove Church to reside in a home they owned to allow her to save for a downpayment. Pastor Ben Lee said Shereka, her kids and mother have become like family. Shereka said she has never felt so loved and supported. Shereka came in to ring our Joy Bell and celebrate with her housing coaches.

Lori: First Time Home Buyer through Columbia Community Land Trust

Lori moved into her new home built by Central Missouri Community Action Center last month. The home was made affordable through CMCA’s efforts and its location within CCLT. Lori, who serves on Love Columbia’s coaching team, is pictured with Doug Hunt from the CCLT board and Carolyn Hunt, administrator of Wilkes Blvd Methodist and Turning Point. Lori spends much of her time helping people find rental housing. She creates a weekly housing openings list, teaches our RentWell course, and facilitates Boone County Upward Mobility’s Housing Access and Support Alliance. We are so happy Lori has now found herself a home!

Heather: Support to Bring Stability to First Time Renter

Heather is a dedicated Path Forward Advisor who works with several of our young adult clients (ages 18 to 24) who participate in a HUD rental assistance program where renters coming out of homelessness gradually take over paying their entire rent over a two year period. A client recently shared that she had moved frequently during her childhood due to the challenges of her mom securing stable employment. Because of this, she found it difficult to invest in forming new relationships. She told Heather that even when they did stay in one place for over a year, the constant anxiety of potentially having to move again at a moment’s notice kept her from ever feeling truly settled. When Heather and the client were discussing moving into her new home, the client said this “isn’t just a place to live—it’s an opportunity to finally start building my own stability.”

Monica: Rental Security through Love Force One

Monica found her health declining as housing prices went up. She made adjustments by relocating to a rental she could share with a family member who was also on a limited disability income. Though Monica loves to cook and decorate, she did not have the strength or energy to make the rental unit feel like a home. When an upcoming rental inspection put pressure on her, she called for help and became the first mission of Love Force One. Carl Edwards, who is spearheading our new volunteer response team, led 16 volunteers who transformed Monica’s home in one day!

“Carl worked with me to execute all the plans I had but could not accomplish. It was one of the best days of my life," Monica said. "I don’t know when I have ever felt so loved and supported. It is hard to accept help, but I want to encourage others to let Love Force One come into their lives.”

Monica, Carl with Monica, and other volunteers pictured below.

Family Concerned About Unhoused Brother: Starting the Journey

This month we responded to the following request made through our website by sharing local resources and programs available through Love Columbia:

“Hello. I am contacting you on behalf of my brother. He is in Columbia and has been living on the streets for some years. Is there someone with your organization who could help him put together an action plan and connect him with the necessary resources? My family is not in a position to provide him financial support, nor do we live in Columbia. And frankly, none of us would really know how to start to move forward and get out of the circumstances he has been living in. We would appreciate any guidance that you would be able to provide.”

Rebecca, a member of our Connections team, responded to this request, one of the 120 requests we average weekly. 

Get Involved

There is a role for anyone interested in supporting a neighbor on their housing journey. Email volunteer@columbia.org or donate@lovecolumbia.org to discover your options.

Pastor Curtis Olson from Community United Methodist Church providing moving assistance for older, disabled woman priced out of her rental unit.

Don’t Miss These Exciting Learning Opportunities

• June 10 (5:30-6:30pm) or June 11: Career Coach Training (2:00 - 3:00pm). Join our career coaching team to become a part of empowering our neighbors to advance their careers.
• June 17: Estate Planning (5:30 – 6:30pm) A local attorney provides an overview of the essential documents and concepts involved in planning for the management and distribution of your assets, both during your lifetime (in case of incapacity) and after your death. Including information on the titling of bank accounts and property to ensure protection of assets and the avoidance of probate.
• June 24: Home Maintenance (5:30 – 7:00pm) Addresses ongoing upkeep of a property to ensure it remains in good condition and functional. The class will include discussion of a variety of tasks, from routine cleaning and repairs to more extensive inspections and upgrades. The goal is to provide education to preserve the property's value, safety, and comfort for the residents.   
• July 12: How Do You ADU? Workshop (10am – noon) A local architect and builder share the basics of creating an accessory dwelling unit, attached or detached from your home. Information on potential materials and lending options will be included.