“What you need is Love INC”. A church secretary said to Jane Williams (Love INC Co-Founder) in response to her frustration regarding the steady stream of financial assistance calls to her church office with no mechanism to verify need or coordinate with other churches in 2001.

History:  Jane learned about the Love INC model of a clearinghouse to coordinate church resources.  She struggled to gain support until she helped organize Columbia churches and agencies to partner to form a Disaster Recovery Center following Hurricane Katrina. The concept of centralized coordination was demonstrated when 500 evacuees relocated to Columbia and received assessment, resources and housing as a result. This series of events opened the eyes of many to the potential of a coordinated response to need in Columbia and served as the catalyst for Love INC in 2008.

Our Response: Love INC

Jane had experienced first-hand the often-unintended consequences of providing hand-outs when personal capacity development was needed.  As a result, her question to those seeking assistance became, “if we pay your bill this month, how will you pay it next month?” This capacity building approach has profoundly shaped Love INC’s development from the beginning.  When Love INC opened its doors in 2008 nearly every call was for financial assistance. (Now over 1/3 of our calls are for coaching or to enroll in a program.) Listening to literally thousands of these stories has heightened our awareness of the complexities of poverty and has shaped the programs Love INC now employs.

 “You asked me to share my story and I realized - I don’t like my story. Can you help me change it?”  Love INC client in 2008.  We started budget, job search and life purpose coaching.

History:  Love INC opened in May 2008, just as the country plunged into the Great Recession. With a volunteer staff and almost no resources we opened 80 cases our first month. Helping in the only ways we could, we began collecting and distributing information to the questions we were most frequently asked and helped people budget the resources they had. That effort emerged into what is now our information library and informed Living Large for Real, our first capacity development program. 

Our Response: Information Library & Living Large for Real

The Information Library is a collection of answers to the questions most frequently asked by people in Columbia in crisis or transition. Over 100 documents are available online or in printed form. We have found that many callers can help themselves if they have access to the right information. 

Living Large for Real ran from 2008 – 2014 and was designed to assess readiness for change and provide a safe community with classes and support for persons seeking assistance. The program featured child care, transportation, classes, meals, and an inspirational message from someone who had made the journey from need to self-sufficiency.  As stories of success were shared, clients began to see themselves in the stories and make changes to improve their own stories.  Over 100 adults participated each semester. Average attendance was 3 out of 12 sessions. Feedback was positive but we did not see the outcomes we desired in critical areas such as money management and job search where clients fared better with individual coaching.

“Could you please bring back the furniture bank that operated during Hurricane Katrina relief?”:  The overwhelming response we received from community service providers when asked, “What is the most pressing need Love INC could address?” in 2007.

History: The Love Seat Furniture Bank began with the old box truck donated to the Hurricane Katrina relief team and board member’s garages.  People donated furniture, clothing and household items which were distributed by volunteers to Love INC clients. Soon we received items the “needy didn’t need”, and these were sold to put gas in the truck. In 2011 with the help of a local donor, we hired a resale store manager and acquired some lease space. The Love Seat Resale Store was born. 

Our Response: The Love Seat

The beauty of the Love Seat is that it serves so many purposes. It provides free items for families in need, provides multiple levels of engagement for volunteers, provides opportunities for in-kind donations, produces an earned income stream to help support other programs, and serves as a face for our organization to the community. Many current volunteers and donors first experience with Love INC was at the Love Seat. It also serves a transitional employment function. Of the 100 persons hired in the last 10 years over 85 have had some barrier to employment.

"They (United Way volunteers) weren’t concerned about money, they weren’t concerned about agency names, they weren’t concerned about who’s been a traditional United Way partner, they were really looking at what strategies will be best at solving our community’s problems."  Tim Rich Heart of Missouri United Way Director; 2013 - Describing United Way’s criteria for new Community Impact model candidates.

History:  In 2012 Columbia’s HMUW implemented its Community Impact Model that shifted from general agency support to funding outcomes-based programs focused on poverty alleviation. The change opened the way for new agencies to receive funding for the first time. Love INC’s Clearinghouse and Extra Mile programs were both funded, making Love INC the largest funded new agency for HMUW.

Our Response: Extra Mile

As Love INC engagement with clients deepened, we found that nearly everyone we worked with, who had made the journey from need to stability, pointed to a friend, family member, or teacher, who believed in them, encouraged them, and kept them going.  This was the impetus behind the launch of what is now Love INC’s most successful coaching program, Extra Mile.  It providesmoney management education and coaching through a 16-week program that offers accountability partnership and opportunity to practice new skills.

“It’s harder in Columbia to find a house than a job.” Love INC Client 2014

History:  Nationally, wages were not rising as fast as the cost of rent. In Columbia, MU enrollment increased and made it harder for the general low income population to find affordable housing. Love INC responded by formalizing our Side by Side coaching program and adding housing search coaching (2013) and initiating Extra Mile Homes transitional housing program (2015).

 Our Response: Side by Side and Extra Mile Homes. 

 Not all Love INC clients were ready for the extensive coaching provided by the Extra Mile program.  They first needed to stabilize their employment or housing. The Side by Side program provided individual coaching in four areas; basic budgeting, job search, housing search, and life purpose

For many experiencing homelessness, past debt and poor credit history eliminates any possibility of acquiring permanent housing. In 2015 Compass Church purchased a home for use as a transitional house. It provided a great project and cause for their congregation and was so successful they purchased a second home a year later.  The following year a Love INC coach in the program donated a house to Love INC.  In 2020 two other volunteers purchased a house and two condos for the EM program to use, bringing the total number of Extra Mile Homes to six.  The program provides clients enrolled in Extra Mile a 4 – 6-month stay in a transitional home. While staying rent and utilities free, the client saves for deposit and first month’s rent, pays off old debt, and is surrounded by a support community. Every family that has participated in the program has moved on to permanent housing and remained stable. To add further support to those seeking to improve their housing options, we formalized our credit score building coaching program through a partnership with Justine Peterson, an asset building nonprofit in St. Louis (2017). We also developed a “second chance” landlord list and started publishing a weekly list of low-cost housing openings that we share with our clients and local agencies (2018).

“Often, an expensive car repair is the first domino to fall on the way to homelessness.”  Jane Williams Love INC executive Director. 2015

History: Local bus services had reduced routes and service times in recent years such that it is not a tenable source of transportation for many low-income workers. Columbia is too dispersed to support a robust transportation system and even our current, inadequate system is at risk.

Our Response: Car repairs, car donations, and Bike to the Future. 

As our funds allow, we provide car repairs to low-income workers. We also match donated cars with families in need of transportation. We work with clients to help them find reliable, used cars and understand the responsibilities of car ownership. A more robust car repair, ownership, and transportation program is a pressing priority for Love Columbia awaiting volunteer, professional and financial resources to implement.

Bike to the Future is an expansion of a program initiated by the Love Seat to refurbish donated bicycles. It began when a volunteer became inspired by the effort and engaged the Missouri United Methodist Conference in 2017.  The effort collects donated and abandoned bikes, refurbishes them, provides helmets and locks, and distributes the package to participants in programs of several local agencies.  Love INC helps vet the recipients and provides a DBA for the organization. Over 700 bikes have been donated between 2017 and 2020.

“They are never going to balance their budget with a 450% Payday Loan!” Extra Mile Coach, 2017

History:  Missouri is the most unregulated state for payday lending and has among the highest per-capita ratio of payday lenders in the US and over one million loans are issued here annually. 

 Our Response: Extra Mile Loans. 

In 2018 a local bank president helped us call together a group of 6 local bankers and private donors to create a $22,000 fund for payday relief loans to persons enrolled in Extra Mile who were making progress and had the confidence of their coach.  Participants could borrow up to $1000, interest free for a year, to pay off an existing payday loan.  By the end of 2020, we had provided 30 loans and had a 95-repayment rate. This is made possible through the close relationship coaches maintain with participants.

 “They said I need work history to get hired - but how am I going to get it?”  Love INC client 2018

History: Despite record low unemployment, rates among minorities and those with disabilities remain in double digits.  In Columbia in particular African American unemployment was consistently double that of white residents. Our then city manager began a campaign to challenge Columbia’s employers to hire minorities and reduce their unemployment by half.

Our Response: Jobs for Life.

Love INC introduced Jobs for Life, a national, evidence-based, job readiness and mentoring program to Columbia.  The approach pairs job-seekers with a “champion” who accompanies them through an 8-week, 16-session training curriculum and into their first months on a job.  The program involves local employers who provide hiring opportunities. 

"And the more I considered Christianity, the more I found that while it had established a rule and order, the chief aim of that order was to give room for good things to run wild." G.K. Chesterton

History: Columbia Churches were collaborating as never before to serve our neighbors. It was time to celebrate and draw even closer.

Our response: Linking for Love

Linking for Love annual events to promote and celebrate collaborations among local churches to serve the community. Over 300 pastors and church leaders attended each year (2016-2019).

“A woman with infant twins just got dropped off at the curb at the Welcome Inn, and it is starting to rain.” This was one of dozens of calls we got in March 2020, when the COVID-19 pandemic began.

History: In March of 2020, Columbia was hit with the COVID-19 pandemic and we saw an unprecedented amount of need. Like most of the world, unemployment, unstable housing, and general financial needs were daily, urgent needs. Love INC had more assistance requests than ever, and the needs were far more pressing than they had been in the past.

Our Response: Bridge Program

Our staff rushed to help the mother of twins and, by the end of the year had assisted over 200 homeless individuals/families and helped 101 households secure permanent housing. Overall, we provided services to 939 adults (with 966 children in their care) and provided consultations to 787 people. We created the Bridge program as a rapid response service to offer immediate assistance for families in crisis.

“We are sinking our roots deeper in Columbia.” Jane Williams describes our investment in downtown Columbia property and our new name.

History: Columbia has always been a model city in many ways. Our desire has always been to help grow its culture of compassion and love for one another.

Our Response: Love Columbia is established

In January 2021, Love INC of Columbia became Love Columbia. We are now an entirely local organization, with no national affiliation. Our Christ inspired mission is unchanged,  with all our attention and resources focused on Columbia where neighbors help neighbors and we all rise together.

“Would you take a million dollars?” Erik Morse, Veterans United Foundation Director, offering to add to the $750,000 already provided by Veterans United Home Loans to the Love Columbia Center capital campaign.

History: Requests for our services increased every year and more people wanted to step in with help. Our response was limited by our small and inaccessible facilities. We asked the community to help us make our organization the right size for Columbia.

Our response: To make the Love Columbia Center a reality.

Because of Veterans United Foundation’s generous donation, and numerous other gifts from community donors, we purchased a 2.6-acre property in downtown Columbia (formerly owned by Boone County family Resources). In March 2021, our core services relocated from a small facility in NW Columbia to a much larger, centrally located building at 1209 E Walnut. To add to our joy, The Love Seat also relocated to a larger, more accessible facility at 2600 Rangeline. We now have the capacity to serve more people and engage more volunteers!

“My landlord just raised the rent $200, and I cannot afford to stay.” One of hundreds of calls we received related to housing instability.

History: Beginning in mid 2021, we saw rent going up and within a year and a half average rent was 20% higher. Wages were not increasing as fast as inflation and particularly housing prices.

Our response: To bring available pandemic rent assistance funding to Columbia, most notably State Assistance for Housing Relief (SAFHR). From June 2021 through December 2022, we assisted over 2,000 households get assistance and brought over $2 million to local landlords. We also launched Career Next Steps career advancement guide on our website as higher housing costs necessitates increased earnings.

 “Only 3% of homeowners in Boone County are black.” Upward Mobility data report

“Only 3% of homeowners in Boone County are black.” Upward Mobility data report.

History: Columbia had no agency certified by HUD to teach home buyer classes necessary for down payment assistance.

Our response: Love Columbia obtained HUD certification and has five staff members certified as housing counselors.

We offered our first home buyer class in January 2023.