SSI Are Eligible for Discounted Internet Service Through the Lifeline Program
Content updated March 25, 2026
This federal initiative is designed to make phone and internet services more affordable for low-income households, ensuring that more individuals have the connectivity needed to access important resources and services online. Eligible consumers can receive a monthly discount of up to $9.25. Consumers living on Tribal lands are eligible for an enhanced discount of up to $34.25 per month, making it even easier to stay connected and access essential services.
Individuals receiving Supplemental Security Income, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, Medicaid, and other Federal Assistance programs, as well as households with income of 135 percent or less than the Federal Poverty Guidelines are eligible.
Individuals can visit Home - Universal Service Administrative Company to check their eligibility and submit an application.
Once enrolled, individuals are encouraged to create a personal my Social Security account, ensuring safe, secure, and convenient access to your Social Security records and online services.
Websites to Compare Plans
Content updated March 30, 2026
These websites track the plans offered by different companies and list some less expensive choices.
Whistleout - Phone, internet, TV
NerdWallet - Phone
Be sure to compare coverage area as well as prices
MO-X
Content updated March 18, 2026
MO-X/Doc & Norm Direct is a scheduled service providing ground transportation between Columbia and the St Louis Airport. Service can originate at Columbia, Kingdom City, or The St Louis Airport. We are located in Columbia, MO.
303 Business Loop 70 East
Columbia, MO 65201
573-256-1991
877-669-4826
Email: reservations@moexpress.com
Greyhound at the Midway Truck Stop
Content updated April 24, 2026
New April 2026 - The phone number on the website is discontinued; local bus stop has no email or phone number.
6401 Highway 40 W
Columbia, MO 65203
(800) 231-2222
OATS Transit
Content updated Jan. 31, 2025
OATS Transit is available to anyone regardless of age, income, disability, race, gender, religion, or national origin.
County service outside Columbia city limits - from Ashland, Hallsville, Centralia, Harrisburg, Rocheport, and Sturgeon to Columbia:
2nd and 4th Monday of each month
Open to individuals of any age.
Service Within the City of Columbia:Medical Appointments:
Medicaid transportation is available for medical appointments but must be booked through MTM (866-269-5927).
Medical appointments must be made between 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. to ensure transportation home.
Open to seniors 65+ and individuals with disabilities.
Fare - $2 per one-way trip; $4 round-trip. NOTE: Drivers no longer accept payment from riders on the bus. Riders can add funds to their account before riding and each time you ride the fare will be withdrawn. When calling to add funds to your account a minimum amount of $10.00 is required. You can send a personal check, money order or cashier’s check to the OATS Transit office if you do not want to pay by credit/debit card.
Non-Emergency Medical Transportation
Content updated Oct. 15, 2025
NEMT stands for Non-Emergency Medical Transportation. The purpose of the NEMT Program is to ensure transportation to eligible MO HealthNet fee for service and Managed Care Health Plan participants who do not have access to free appropriate transportation to and from scheduled MO HealthNet covered services. The NEMT Program may use public transportation or bus tokens, vans, taxis, ambulances, ride-shares, or even airplanes, if necessary, to get participants to health care appointments. Participants may also receive help with gas costs if they have a car, or have a friend or a neighbor who can take them. The NEMT broker must approve this before the appointment.
Para Transit
Content updated Oct. 15, 2025
Go COMO Paratransit offers inclusive, point-to-point transportation for those who complete an application and qualify with a doctor's endorsement, ensuring that everyone can travel comfortably and confidently throughout our community.
The City has lift-equipped paratransit mini-buses that provide origin to destination service to qualified individuals. Reliable transportation is a valuable asset for ADA-eligible citizens when they seek to work, attend school, shop or get health care. Since passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, the City of Columbia has provided origin to destination transportation service to citizens who are certified as unable to ride Go COMO’s fixed-route bus system.
Our goal is to provide safe, courteous, and reliable transportation to all our clients with challenges that restrict their ability to use the regular fixed route bus system. More information is available via Columbia’s My Key website.
Fixed route and Paratransit service
Monday – Friday: 6:25 a.m. – 6:40 p.m.
Saturday: 10 a.m. – 6:40 p.m.
Sunday: Closed
Wabash Bus Station lobby
Monday – Friday: 7 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Saturday: 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Sunday: Closed
126 North Tenth Street Columbia, MO 65201 (573) 874-2489
Email: Transit@CoMo.gov
Columbia Housing Options
Tips on choosing the Best Option for Creating a Long-Term Housing Plan
Finger Lakes State Park
Updated on: May 7, 2024
Open year round. It is free to enter the park.
Finger Lakes State Park is a recreation park with emphasis on ORV trails and motorless watercraft trails. You can buy ORV passes or rent watercrafts at main office. The campground has sites for with 30amp or 50amp hookups (16) as well as basic tent sites (19). Firewood and ice are available year around from office. There is a 14-day stay limit to all sites.
1505 E. Peabody Road
Columbia, MO
573-443-5315
877-422-6766
Shelter KC: A Kansas City Rescue Mission -Men
Men Only
Content updated Oct. 27, 2023
Shelter KC Men's Center offers 3 programs:
- A 60+ bed short-term emergency shelter.
- Shelter KC offers homeless men two weeks of emergency shelter. After that time, they are encouraged to join the Shelter Launch program. This program connects shelter guests with a life coach to create a launch plan with the resources they need to obtain independent housing including: physical, mental, and spiritual health; finances, legal issues, job search, and housing search.
- Shelter KC offers the Christian Community of Recovery (C-COR) to men in our emergency overnight homeless shelter who struggle with a life-controlling addiction. C-COR is a trust and responsibility-based recovery environment and is designed to disciple men toward a committed and sober life in Jesus Christ.
1520 Cherry St
Kansas City, MO 64108
816-421-7643
Genesis Men’s Home
Men
Content updated Jan. 22, 2024
Genesis offers a residential 12-month program for men that provides a consistent schedule of Christian education, one-on-one counseling, group sessions, anger management, relapse prevention, prayer, work, and fellowship. As drug use of any kind and tobacco products are prohibited, students are subject to random drug, alcohol, and nicotine screens.
Genesis is a free of charge program. Please find the attachment above as well as below the Genesis Men’s Home web page link.
Genesis Men's Home - Saint Louis Dream Center - Saint Louis Dream Center (stldreamcenter.org). Please call (314) 934-1155 with any further questions you might have regarding enrollment.
4324 Margaretta Ave
St. Louis, MO 63115
314-381-0700
Mercy Multiplied
Women Only
Content updated Oct. 16, 2023
Mercy Multiplied’s Christian Residential Counseling Program helps young women between the ages of 13-32 who are dealing with life-controlling issues and situations. Most young women complete the program and graduate after an average of 6-9 months. For more information, please visit MercyMultiplied.com or send an email to info@mercymultiplied.com with any questions.
1455 Romaine Creek Rd
Fenton, MO
636-326-2015
Shelter KC: A Kansas City Rescue Mission - Women
Women Only
Content updated April 20, 2026
Shelter KC Women’s Center offers two programs:
- Women’s Center is a 20-bed residential recovery facility for single, homeless women located near downtown Kansas City.
- The Sisters of Recovery Program which includes life coaching, work therapy, and case management.
2611 E 11th St
Kansas City, MO 64127
816-348-3287
No public email
Hope City Recovery Center Trade Off Program
Content updated Nov. 20, 2023
Hope City’s Trade-Off-Program (T.O.P.) is a faith based in-house program offering two 90-day, back to back tracks to men and women struggling with addiction and other life altering circumstances.
5101 E 24th St
Kansas City, MO 64127
816-241-9931
Email tradeoffprogram@hopecitykc.org for program inquiries