Columbia’s Housing Crisis & Solutions
Why Are So Many in Columbia Unhoused?
The short answer is that there is not enough available, affordable rental housing. The existing stock has shrunk due to various market pressures, and few income-based public housing units were built in Columbia in the last 45 years. Increases in wages have not kept pace with the cost of rent.
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Median rent was $802 in 2014 and increased to $925 in 2019, representing a 15% increase.
In 2014, 74% of all rentals in Boone County were under $1000. This percentage decreased to 59% in 2019, representing a 15% decrease.
New construction is in higher income properties. 3,955 new multi-family rental units were built between 2014-2019, but even with new construction, the total number of affordable rental units under $1000/month dropped by 4,046 units during that time frame.*
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Over one third of people in Columbia (35%) were housing cost burdened in 2015-2019*
Over half of people in Columbia who are renting (55%) were housing cost burdened in 2015-2019
More Columbians who rent are housing cost burdened (55%) compared to Boone County (52%), Missouri (45%), and the US (50%)*
The Columbia Housing Authority reports that 5,845 households make 30% of the area median income or less AND spend more than 50% of their income on rent.
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Although the Columbia population has more than doubled since 1974, only 34 additional income-based public housing units have been built by the Columbia Housing Authority since that time.
The Housing Authority has a waitlist of 900 households, which includes 600 individuals and 300 families.
*Note: The most recent data available is 2019. These percentages are estimated to be higher now due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.
A number of issues put people at risk of homelessness, but one of the primary issues is lack of supportive relationships.
Rent inflation, mental health, substance use, and even having kids are factors people experiencing homelessness in different forms have in common, but if a household has supportive relationships, they may be able to weather a loss of income or change in life situation.
Community Collaborations to Address the Housing Crisis
The Boone County Coalition to End Homelessness is a collaboration of over 22 organizations that provide supportive services, shelter, and housing to the homeless population in Columbia and Boone County. Their goal is to reduce the number of people experiencing homelessness in our community.
The Affordable Housing Coalition is a diverse group of business, nonprofit, government, and church sectors seeking to find longterm solutions for Columbia’s current gap in affordable housing options.
Love Columbia’s Extra Mile Homes Program provides transitional housing for families with children experiencing homelessness. Families receive four to nine months free housing with intensive weekly financial and housing coaching.
Love Columbia creates and shares a weekly updated Current Housing Listings page with over 100 community organizations.
“It is so nice to have a kitchen to cook for my kids and a yard for them to play in. Love Columbia stepped in just when I had nowhere else to turn. Now, we have a roof over our heads for the holidays, a place we can call home.”
— Kathryn
“I have no words. I thought I was going to die on the street. I am so thankful for you guys.”
— Sherri