In this issue you will read about exciting progress:

• Love Forward Homes gives families a new start and will soon welcome many more.
• Extra Mile financial coaching empowers people to take control of their money and set a goal of homeownership.
• Love Columbia provides our neighbors with a roadmap and guides to housing stability and thriving.

Love Forward Homes Accompanies Families to Success

Jennifer and Warren: Opportunity to Reset

Jennifer and Warren moved into a Love Forward Home with their four children this past June. Jennifer said, “Love Columbia had helped us gain stability in the past and helped us with several life challenges along the way, but we never thought we would need their help to avoid homelessness.” The family had been forced to move from a house they had rented for four years when the landlord would not address serious mold issues. After discovering few affordable options for a family their size, they eventually found a unit for $1,600 with a one-year, non-renewable lease. At the end of that year, their landlord offered them another property for $2,500 per month. This really stretched their budget, but they made it work until Warren lost his job. Fortunately, the landlord allowed them to make a payment agreement for their rent arrears and did not file an eviction.

Jennifer said, “We literally had no place to go and had no idea things were about to get worse with my employment about to unexpectedly end.

Moving into a Love Forward Home took pressure off and allowed the couple time to reset. Jennifer landed a job she loves as a paraprofessional with CPS and Warren secured a restaurant job with hours that allowed him to enroll in Job Point’s HVAC program, where he will graduate in December. Jennifer shared, “Our kids love the house. Two have learned to ride bikes on a quiet side street and our oldest has picked up a dog walking job and hopes for a career working with animals. We have kept very busy with Healthy Homes events, weekly financial coaching and completing the RentWell tenant training course. It feels good to accomplish so much. We are paying off our debt, raising our credit scores and starting to dream about someday becoming homeowners. The Love Columbia staff have been great listeners, guides and friends, always showing us kindness and compassion.”

Sarah: Bridge to Permanent Housing

Sarah and her three daughters moved into a Love Forward Home to gain stability following a family separation. Sarah had a steady work history providing transportation for people with disabilities, but she had no credit score or savings. While living in our home, she boosted her savings to $4,000 and raised her credit score to over 700. Her oldest daughter graduated from high school and enrolled at MACC where she plans to pursue a healthcare career. Her high school and middle school daughters are flourishing in school and finding local church support for their faith.

“There are no words to describe my gratitude for the Love Forward Homes program," Sarah said. "I learned so much through all the coaching and classes. My future goals are to start my own business and buy a home. The support of the Love Columbia staff allowed me to have the energy to do the hard work of staying on top of my finances and saving so I could secure my own place and move forward in life.”

Sarah graduated from Love Forward Homes and rented a house in a quiet neighborhood they love. She told the volunteers who helped her move in that she finally felt like she was home. She has enrolled in our Love Savings program to save for establishing her own business. “God has been very good to us and used Love Columbia to really bless us,” she shared.

Teresa Shaffer, Sarah’s Extra Mile financial coach, said: “She has a heart of gold, great work ethic and is highly motivated. She wants so much to make a better life for her daughters. It was a privilege to work with her.”

Teresa is preparing to help Love Columbia launch a credit building course for high schoolers and hopes to pilot it with Sarah’s daughters. Teresa pictured above with Love Columbia Financial Coaching Coordinator Sherry Wyss.

Welcoming More Families: New Construction Nears Completion

Click to watch the Love Forward Homes progress video.

Projected completion: year end 2025.

Sponsor churches gather to prepare to welcome arrivals. 

Extra Mile Financial Coaching Raises Sights to Homeownership

Extra Mile coach Brandon Kalista with Love Columbia Executive Director Jane Williams. More Extra Mile clients than ever before are setting a goal of homeownership. Here is one example.

Brandon just finished coaching his first client through our 16-week Extra Mile money management program and is ready for his next coaching match. Brandon, who has a young family and serves as a banker at Mid America Bank, found time to meet weekly with Logan, a young man who wanted to learn to better manage his money and gain independence.

Brandon shared how much he admires anyone willing to be transparent about their finances and seek help. He believes the first step is the hardest so he began by telling Logan, “let’s take the first step together. I’m not here to judge. I want to see you flourish.” Brandon shared some of his own financial history and challenges to encourage his young client to openly share with him. “It truly is a partnership together. We’re coming together, if I can’t be vulnerable with you about my financials why would you trust me with yours?”

Logan opted to continue meeting in beyond Extra Mile monthly sessions for three months to further solidify his financial gains.

Logan shared, “Brandon helped me realized my spending habits and encouraged me to change them for better. He taught me the steps to take to get spending under control, and helped me visualize what I can financially handle for rent, car payments, etc. I was able to eliminate two monthly payments, purchase a new vehicle, and other smaller things. I’ve set a goal to buy a home, be debt free, and be comfortable financially.”

Brandon believes he and Logan will stay in touch after program completion. He said, “You’re forming a bond on not just the financial aspect, but the friendship aspect too. I want to be available for ongoing questions, but also as a friend.”

Brandon highly recommends becoming an Extra Mile coach: “Everyone can be an Extra Mile coach. We all have to budget and make decisions and ask: Can we afford this? How do I hit my goals? You don’t need to work at a bank to coach, just someone that has a heart to walk alongside someone and lead them on a path to financial freedom.”

Join the Team

More Extra Mile coaches are needed to serve the growing number who want to learn money management. To learn more or register for an upcoming coach training, email: kelliv@lovecolumbia.org

To learn Ways to Step Into the Housing Crisis, click here.

RentWell and First Time Homebuyer classes provide milestone certifications. Recent graduates look forward to success in a tough housing market.

Homeownership Journey

Pre-Homeownership Class & Coaching

If you are dreaming of buying a home and want to know if you are ready or need more preparation, our pre-homeownership class is for you! Next class: Tuesday, October 28, from 5:30-6:30 PM. You will hear from Sherry Wyss, our homeownership coordinator, and a local lender about required credit score, income-to-debt ratio and other qualifying factors and can sign up for follow up coaching sessions to get you where you want to go.

First Time Home Buyer Class

Students spend four hours on a Saturday morning learning every aspect of home buying and meeting local professionals who inform them about all phases of the process. Attendees can sign up for individual coaching and qualify for City of Columbia and other downpayment assistance programs. Next class: Saturday, November 8, from 8:30 AM-12:30 PM.

Love Columbia is celebrating 19 new homeowners in 2025.

Erica and Virgil came in for post-purchase counseling after our first time home buyer class led to them buying a home. “The resources and speakers helped us so much!”

Tina who attended our First Homebuyers Class January 2023 class reached her dream this past month.

Closing day for the latest of five Anderson Homes Foundation home purchases in partnership with Love Columbia.

Continue Your Journey: October Classes 

• Saturday, October 18: 3-in-1 Class featuring, Home Maintenance, Estate Planning, Fraud Prevention classes
• Tuesday, October 28: Pre-Homeownership class

Howdy, to all car enthusiasts and families looking for free Saturday fun!

Join us for the Second Annual Love Columbia Howdy's Car Show presented by QuesTec Mechanical on Saturday, October 4, from 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM at the Crossing Church parking lot (3615 Southland Drive Columbia, Missouri 65201). The Car Show is free to attend and open to everyone! Join us for cool cars, delicious food trucks and a live DJ.

Got a car you want to enter into the show? Registration is $20 on the day of the event. The lot opens for participants at 8:00 AM.