COLUMBIA RESOURCE DIRECTORY
HOUSING
Content added July 23, 2025
You can obtain your FICO score for free directly from MyFICO.com( this provides your score from Equifax, not a full credit report). Beyond just the score, their website offers fantastic educational resources to help you understand credit better.
A FICO Score is a three-digit number based on the information in your credit reports. It helps lenders determine how likely you are to repay a loan. This, in turn, affects how much you can borrow, how many months you have to repay, and how much it will cost (the interest rate).
When you apply for credit, lenders need a fast and consistent way to decide whether or not to loan you money. In most cases, they'll look at your FICO Scores.
Content added July 23, 2025
First/Last Mile's mission is to eliminate transportation barriers by providing safe , reliable and accessible transportation services, empowering individuals to reach their full potential. We specialize in bridging the "first/last mile" gap for individuals and organizations. Whether its getting employees to work, clients to appointments, or voters to polling places, we ensure that no one is left behind.
Administrative Office: Monday through Friday, 8 AM - 4:30 PM
Transportation Hours: Monday through Friday, 8 AM - 8 PM
(573) 415-0230
Email: admin@flmvalettransportation.org
Content updated July 23, 2025
CHA provides housing assistance to over 1,900 families in Columbia and Boone County. To apply for housing you will need: a completed application.
201 Switzler Street
Columbia, MO
573-443-2556
Housing coordinator - 573-443-2556, ext. 1230
List of Housing Places:
Bear Creek Family Site, 1109 Elleta Boulevard, Columbia, MO 65202; Manager - 573-443-2556, ext. 1215
Bryant Walkway I & II Family Sites, 211 Boone Drive, Columbia, MO 65203; Manager - 573-443-2556, ext. 1210
Kinney Point,
Oak Towers, 700 N. Garth Ave, Columbia, MO, 65203; Manager - 573-443-2556 ext. 1216
Paquin Towers, 1201 Paquin St, Columbia, MO 65201;
Stuart Parker Family Site, 201 Switzler Street, Columbia, MO 65203; Manager - 573-443-2556, ext. 7019
If you are eligible for health insurance with your employer, contact your insurance company and ask for a list of primary care providers. Select a provider and call and ask for a new patient appointment.
Content updated June 10, 2025
Contact Missouri Connections for Health to get help applying for Health Insurance Marketplace.
Hours of operation 8:30am-4:30pm
Office/In-person: By appointment only. Call 573-817-8300 ext. 214 or email contact@moconnectionsforhealth.org to make an appointment.
601 W Nifong Blvd Ste. 3A
Columbia, MO 65203
(573) 817-8300
Email: contact@moconnectionsforhealth.org
Content added June 12, 2025
Missouri residents who are 65 years or older (or under 65 and receiving disability benefits) can enroll in Medicare or switch Medicare plans during the Medicare Open Enrollment Period, which runs from October 15 to December 7. If you would like assistance with open enrollment, contact the Missouri State Health Insurance Assistance Program.
Content updated June 12, 2025
The annual Open Enrollment period for buying or renewing health insurance through the Health Insurance Marketplace typically runs from November 1 to January 15 in Missouri. During this time, you can enroll in or change your health insurance plans for the following year, with coverage generally starting on January 1. If you miss the Open Enrollment, you may still be able to enroll or change plans if you experience a Qualifying Life Event that makes you eligible for a Special Enrollment Period. Examples of Qualifying Life Events are losing coverage, getting married, having a baby, or moving. If you would like assistance with open enrollment, contact the Missouri Connections for Health.
Content added June 25, 2025
Whenever an illness or injury occurs, you need to decide how serious it is and how soon to get medical care. This will help you choose whether it is best to:
Call or contact your health care provider
Go to an urgent care clinic
Go to an emergency department right away
It pays to think about the right place to go. Treatment in an emergency department can cost 2 to 3 times more than the same care in your provider's office. In addition, your health insurance may require you to pay a higher copayment for care in an emergency department. Think about this and the other issues listed below when deciding.
When to use the emergency room - adult: MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia
Content added June 25, 2025
If you are not sure what to do, and you don't have one of the serious conditions listed above, call your health care provider. If the office is not open, your phone call may be forwarded to a nurse or other provider who is on call for the clinic. Describe your symptoms to the provider who answers your call, and find out what you should do.
Your provider or health insurance company may also offer a nurse telephone advice hotline. Call this number and tell the nurse your symptoms and ask for advice on what to do.
If you don’t have a health care provider or health insurance, call one of the following sliding fee scale clinics and ask for an appointment.
Content added June 25, 2025
When you have a problem, do not wait too long to get medical care. If your problem is not life threatening or risking disability, but you are concerned and you cannot see your provider soon enough, go to an urgent care clinic.
The kinds of problems an urgent care clinic can deal with include:
Common mild illnesses, such as colds, the flu, earaches, sore throats, migraines, low-grade fevers, and limited rashes
Minor injuries, such as sprains, back pain, minor cuts and burns, minor broken bones, or minor eye injuries
Content added June 25, 2025
Coughing or throwing up blood
Deep wound
Dizziness or weakness that does not go away
Heavy bleeding
High fever with headache and stiff neck
High fever that does not get better with medicine
Inhaled smoke or poisonous fumes
Passing out, fainting
Pain in the arm or jaw
Poisoning or overdose of medicine, illegal drug, or alcohol
Possible broken bone, loss of movement, particularly if the bone is pushing through the skin
Seizures
Serious burn
Severe allergic reaction with trouble breathing, swelling, hives
Severe pain anywhere on the body
Sudden confusion
Throwing up or loose stools that does not stop
Trouble breathing
Unusual or bad headache, particularly if it started suddenly
Content added June 25, 2025
When to call 911
Choking
Stopped breathing
Head injury with passing out, fainting, or confusion
Injury to neck or spine, particularly if there is loss of feeling or inability to move
Electric shock or lightning strike
Severe burn
Severe chest pain or pressure
Severe shortness of breath
Seizure that lasted more than 1 minute or from which the person does not rapidly awaken
Suddenly not able to speak, see, walk, or move
Suddenly weak or drooping on one side of the body
Content added June 25, 2025
Contact and other information on almost 30 local mental health resources. See list of programs.
Content added June 13, 2025
The National Center on Law and Elder Rights (NCLER) provides the legal services and aging and disability communities with the tools and resources they need to serve older adults with the greatest economic and social needs. A centralized, one-stop shop for legal assistance, NCLER provides Legal Training, Case Consultations, and Technical Assistance on Legal Systems Development. Justice in Aging administers NCLER through a contract with the Administration for Community Living’s Administration on Aging.
Content added June 13, 2025
This cookbook is based off eating healthy, making recipes, that cost $4 per day per person, to adhere to SNAP guidelines. It has a variety of types of meals and recipes and nice photos.
For more information on the book, go to Good and Cheap.
Content added June 10, 2025
Cars for Moms is a nationwide charity that provides transportation, vehicles, and car repairs for single parents who need help with reliable transportation. People donate cash or cars to support single moms in need.
To qualify, you need a nomination for a donated car. You can nominate yourself, or someone can nominate you.
Cars for Moms vets all nominees and checks with partners in your state to see if there are donated cars to give away. If there are no cars available, the nonprofit saves your information until they are able to help.
Content added June 10, 2025
FreeCharityCars.org is the free car division of 1-800-Charity Cars, a nonprofit organization that accepts donated vehicles to be given to families who are without transportation. The organization has been featured on Oprah, Good Morning America and in People magazine. The company has gifted more than $70 Million worth of vehicles nationwide.
Content added June 9, 2025
To participate in Columbia Center for Urban Agriculture’s Produce Prescription Program, you will need to be a patient at Compass Health Network who lives in Boone County and has children 19 and younger in your household. Healthcare providers at Compass Health can then "prescribe" fresh fruits and vegetables to eligible patients. The program is now administered by Columbia Farmers Market, starting January 11, 2025.
Columbia Center for Urban Agriculture
PO Box 1742
Columbia, MO 65205
(573) 514-4174
Email: info@columbiaurbanag.org
Content added June 9, 2025
Please Note: This is not an emergency assistance program. Welcome to the Columbia/Boone County Public Health and Human Services! A nationally accredited public health department in the state of Missouri, we serve both the city of Columbia and surrounding communities within Boone County, Missouri.
Our mission is to promote and protect the health, safety and well-being of Boone County residents. We do this through leadership, partnership and service by coordinating with federal, state and local organizations to achieve our vision of optimal health, safety and well-being for all. Learn more.
Are you interested in receiving emails about local public health updates, such as public health alerts and more? If so, please complete this form.
701 E. Broadway
P.O. Box 6015
Columbia, MO 65205
573-874-2489
Content added June 7, 2025
Bountiful Baskets is a food coop to get baskets for fruits and veggies at discount prices. You pick up your basket on Cherry Street and must be on time, 8:15 am. You have to volunteer once per month and set up a free account on their website. Step by step how to get set up details at this link: www.bountifulbaskets.org
Content added June 6, 2025
Compass Health Network is a nonprofit health care organization that provides a full continuum of behavioral health services as well as primary and dental health services throughout Missouri.
Content added May 28, 2025
Wolfner Library offers informational and recreational materials in braille, audio and large print to Missourians who are unable to use standard print materials due to blindness, visual or physical impairment or a reading disability. Learn about the ways to apply for services below.
P.O. Box 387
Jefferson City, Missouri 65102-0387
Toll Free: 800-392-2614
Phone: 573-751-8720
Fax: 573-751-3612
E-Mail: wolfner@sos.mo.gov
Content updated May 24, 2025
Content updated May 24, 2025