Assistance for Low-income Individuals and Families in Columbia, MO
CMCA supports the needs of those living in poverty. We work with community members on Community Action Team projects (CATs) to develop, enhance, and identify local solutions to the overall causes of poverty within a community.
BRIDGE Program
BRIDGE supports children, families, teachers, and schools to ensure family stability and educational success for children in grades K-5. The BRIDGE Program is made possible through support from the Boone County Children’s Services Fund and Heart of Missouri United Way. BRIDGE is offered in Boone, Cooper, and Howard Counties.
Energy Assistance
The Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) keeps families safe and healthy by assisting with energy costs. This, in turn, reduces the risk of health and safety problems that often arise from unsafe heating and cooling practices.
Financial Opportunity Center
The Financial Opportunity Centers® model pairs individuals with coaching services to create a plan for financial freedom. Coaches support individuals with tools and resources that allow them to navigate the complexities of increasing income, decreasing expenses, and acquiring assets.
To connect with someone about the program, please complete an interest form by clicking the icon below.
Foster Grandparents
The foster grandparents program provides low-income adult seniors, ages 55 and up, opportunities to mentor children at schools, day care centers, and other settings. Volunteers work with children individually and in small groups to provide support, guidance, and friendship for kids with special emotional, educational, and physical needs.
Healthcare Advocate
Do you need help understanding your health coverage options? Central Missouri Community Action can assist you!
Open enrollment for 2022 Health Insurance Marketplace coverage is November 1, 2021 to January 15, 2022.
Healthy Relationships
ShowMe Healthy Relationships (SMHR) offers free courses for individuals that live in the state of Missouri who want to learn more about happy, safe & healthy relationships.
Head Start
Early Head Start (EHS) is a program for ages 0 to 3 years. It provides child development and family support services to low-income infants and toddlers and their families, and pregnant women and their families.
Head Start (HS) is a program for ages 3 to 5 years. It provides opportunities for emotional, social, and cognitive development and support to families of low-income children to prepare them for success in school. The family health and wellness program, Eat Healthy, Stay Active, is offered through Head Start, as is the ICAN health and literacy program.
Housing
CMCA provides programs to support affordable and accessible housing. These include the Housing Choice Voucher Program and our Housing Development Program. We can also assist anyone wanting to complete and submit a USDA Home Loan request.
Housing Choice Vouchers
CMCA’s Housing Choice Voucher Program (Section 8) provides rental assistance to qualifying low-income individuals and families in Callaway, Cole, Cooper, Howard, Moniteau, and Osage counties. (Funded by the U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development.)
Housing Development
Working with community partners, CMCA builds and rehabs multi and single-family housing units to provide affordable, accessible housing options for low-income families.
Missouri Women's Business Center
The Missouri Women’s Business Center is dedicated to providing small business development assistance to aspiring women, with a focus on minority and low-to-moderate income-based entrepreneurs throughout Mid-Missouri. We do this through relevant programming and guided support to help them start their own business. From initial concepts to building a steady stream of economic resources, our mission is to break down the barriers that women in our community face when owning and operating a business.
Retired Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP
Retired Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP) specific to Cooper County. Volunteer age 55+ who serve choose how, where and when they want to serve with commitments ranging from a few hours to 40 hours per week. RSVP volunteers contribution to solutions with local, regional and national challenges by supporting agencies and their members in their neighborhoods.
SkillUP
Offered in partnership with the Missouri Department of Social Services, SkillUP helps SNAP recipients obtain skills, training, education, and employer connections that lead to employment and on-the-job success.
Step Up to Leadership
This leadership development curriculum provides opportunities to low-income adults who are interested in becoming community leaders through service on a Board of Directors, as members of Community Action Teams and other community organizations.
Weatherization
Weatherization supports low-income families by making their homes more energy-efficient, creating a safer, more cost-effective home environment.
