Shelters & Emergency Services Guide

Boone County – Food

Boone County – Shelter

  • City of Columbia Affordable Housing Resource Guide
  • Columbia/Boone County Resource and Referral Guide
  • Flourish Homes
    A local program providing housing and resources to young adults, aged 16-20. Contact mark@allyouthflourish.org for more information.
  • Rainbow House
    1611 Towne Drive, Columbia, MO 65202.  (573) 474-6600
    Emergency shelter for children, birth to age 18.
  • Safe Families for Children – Mid Missouri
    807 North Providence Columbia, MO 65203. 573-217-0377
    This Christian nonprofit, temporarily hosts children in their homes and provides a network of support to families in crisis while they get back on their feet.
  • Safe Place
    (573) 474-6600 (The Rainbow House 24 hour on call line.)
    Or text SAFE and your current location (address/city/state) to 44357
    Provides access to immediate help and support for all young people in crisis through a network of sites sustained by qualified agencies, trained volunteers and businesses.
  • Salvation Army Harbor House
    602 N. Ann St., Columbia, MO 65201. (573) 442-1984
    Emergency shelter and transitional shelter (61 beds) for men, women and families; daily community lunch.
  • St. Francis House
    901 Rangeline St., Columbia, MO 65201. (573)-875-4913
    Temporary shelter for men ages 18+. No deadline for stay (duration varies according to need). Breakfast and dinner available.
  • True North
    Shelter: (573) 875-1370 or (800) 548-2480
    Crisis line for the deaf: (800) 380-3323
    Provides a safe place for victims of domestic and sexual violence fleeing from their abuser.
  • Turning Point
    United Methodist Church at 702 Wilkes Blvd. Suite 301, Columbia, MO 65201. (573) 214-4077
    Open Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. – noon, this day facility has showers, phones, temporary storage for documents, and employment resources.
  • Voluntary Action Center
    403A Vandiver Drive, Columbia, MO 65202. (573) 874-2273
    Provides financial assistance with basic and emergency needs, including food and shelter.
  • Welcome Home, Inc.
    2120 Business Loop 70 E, Columbia, MO 65201. (573) 443-8001
    A Veteran-only emergency and transitional shelter.
  • Winter Shelter – Room at the Inn
    Opening October 29, 2023. Overnight shelter for adults 18+. 2023-2024 location is Ashley Street Center (former VFW Hall), 1509 Ashley Street (located behind the power plant on Business Loop). Families referred. Guests need to appear in-person at the shelter after 6pm to check availability (the line starts to form then). Speak to a staff member at the door to get on the list for the night. The shelter is accessible from the Co Como Transit Orange Route, or shuttle service runs from Wilkes Blvd Methodist Church Loaves and Fishes Soup Kitchen (where the nightly meal is served) to the shelter until 6pm. Check-in ends at 8pm.

Boone County Resources Map


View Columbia, Missouri Emergency Shelter & Food in a larger map

Callaway County- Food

  • Holts Summit Soup Kitchen
    Meal served Tuesdays and Thursdays, 4:00 – 5:45 p.m.
    282 Greenway Drive, Holts Summit, MO 65043, (573) 301-8181
    Donations can be dropped off or mailed to 11877 Spruce Drive, Holts Summit, MO 65043
  • Open Table
    Serves dinner Monday, Tuesday and Thursday, 5:00 – 6:00 p.m.
    John C. Harris Community Center, 350 Sycamore St., Fulton, MO 65251
  • Serve, Inc.
    4901 Co. Rd. 304, Fulton, MO 65251. (573) 642-6388
    Food Pantry open Monday, Wednesday and Friday,  9:00 a.m. -12:00 p.m.
    Currently operating a drive-thru system only. See website for details. Also provides financial assistance, volunteer opportunities for all ages, door-to-door public transportation, a thrift store, supplemental school supplies and Christmas gifts for families in need.
  • Union Hill Baptist Church – Food Pantry
    460 S. Summit Dr., Holts Summit, MO 65043. (573)896-4374
    The food pantry is currently housed at Union Hill and is open in the fellowship hall of the activities building every Tuesday and Thursday morning from 9:30-11:30.

Callaway County- Shelter

  • Our House – Callaway County
    829 Jefferson Street, Fulton, MO 65251. (573) 642-6065
    Provides homeless sheltering in Fulton utilizing two houses, one for families with children and one for adults only.

Free Clothing

  • The Community Closet
    Free clothing and home goods store open to the public.
    Open every Wednesday from 10:00am to 4:00pm.
    400 E. Sexton Street, Harrisburg, MO 65256, (660) 596-6456
  • The Wardrobe
    Volunteer run thrift store and consignment shop. On Tuesdays from 11 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. those with a referral from a social service agency or church may receive free clothing, shoes and household goods.
    715 Park Ave., Columbia, MO 65201. (573) 442-3260

General & Referral

  • Central Missouri Community Action (CMCA)
    807 North Providence Rd. Columbia, MO 65203. (573) 443-8706
    Part of a national network of Community Action agencies dedicated to eradicating the causes and conditions of poverty.
    The CMCA Area Resource Guide is a comprehensive guide of resources available to lower income individuals and families in need.
  • CoMo Mobile Aid
    A local organization dedicated to providing both resources and referrals to resources for marginalized communities. Their resource page contains links for resources related to food, housing, clothing, and other services available in and around Columbia.
  • Love Columbia
    1209 E. Walnut Street, Columbia, MO 65201. (573) 256-7662
    Love Columbia’s goal is to provide a single point of access to assistance from many of Columbia’s local organizations, including housing resources, food resources, employment resources, and many more. The information library, and the career clearinghouse especially, are invaluable resources to connect with helpful organizations in the community.
  • Mid-Missouri Crisis Line
    (573) 445-5035 or (888) 761-4357
  • Voluntary Action Center
    403A Vandiver Drive, Columbia, MO 65202. (573) 874-2273
    Provides financial assistance with basic and emergency needs, including food and shelter.
  • United Way
    2-1-1 or (800) 427-4626
    Assistance for everything from rental assistance to counseling.

Health Services

  • Callaway County Health Department
    Offers services from testing to nutrition to breastfeeding counseling and more.
  • Family Health Center
    Provides access to primary medical, dental and mental health services to community members, with emphasis on the medically underserved.
    There are three locations:
    Family Health Center (Worley), 1001 W. Worley St., Columbia, MO 65203. (573) 214-2314 or (844) 853-8937.
    Family Health (Broadway Bluffs), 2475 Broadway Bluffs, Suite 200, Columbia, MO 65201. (573) 777-9282.
    Family Dental Center (N. Providence), 1101 N. Providence Rd. Columbia, MO 65203. (573) 777-8997.
  • MedZou Clinic
    A faculty-sponsored medical clinic. Free primary health care, education and prevention to uninsured residents of Central Missouri.
    Thursdays 5 – 9 p.m.
    105 E. Ash Ste. 200, Columbia, MO. 65203. (573) 356-2499
  • For a list of mental health and substance abuse resources see our Mental Health Guide.
  • Public Health and Human Services – Columbia/Boone County
    Assists in preventing and treating diseases, provides a variety of testing and immunizations to the community, as well as health promotion and education. Through the WIC and community nutrition program, provides income-based nutrition services to pregnant women, new mothers, babies and children up to their 5th birthday.