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<p style="font-weight:bold; display: inline; line-height:150%; font-size: 115%;">1005 W. Worley St. <br />Columbia, MO 65203</p></div>
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<p style="font-size: 150%; font-weight: bold;">FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE</p>
<p style="font-size: 120%; margin-top: -5px; font-weight:bold;">August 13, 2026</p>
<p style="float:right; font-weight:bold; margin-bottom: 25px; font-size: 100%; text-align:right;">CONTACT: Conrad Hake <br />Steering Committee Co-Chair <br />conradh@lovecolumbia.org <br /> <br />Betsy Peters <br /> Steering Committee Co-Chair <br />ward6@como.gov <br /> <br />Dr. Natasha Harris <br />Steering Committee Vice Chair <br />thenatashaharris@gmail.com <br /> <br />Sara Humm <br />Public Health Planner <br />Columbia/Boone County Public Health and Human Services <br />Sara.Humm@CoMo.gov</p>
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<div style="font-size: 110%; line-height:150%;"><h1 style="clear:both; margin-top: 75px; margin-bottom: 10px; font-weight: bold; font-size: 130%;">Community members invited to participate in homelessness Strategic Plan process</h1>
<div class="content"><span style="padding-left: 50px;">(COLUMBIA, MO)</span> - <p style="display:inline;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">A City of Columbia Steering Committee is creating a Strategic Plan focused on homelessness and is inviting the community to participate in the process. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The Steering Committee is seeking input from community members through a roundtable discussion and survey to help identify priorities, challenges and opportunities that will inform the Strategic Plan and future community efforts to address homelessness. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The public is invited to attend a community roundtable discussion on Thursday, Aug. 27, from 5:30 to 7 p.m. at the ARC, 1701 W. Ash St. Participants will take part in small-group discussions led by a facilitator who will guide the conversation using prepared questions and recording responses.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">This is not a drop-in event, and attendees should plan to stay for the full discussion. A meal and free childcare will be provided.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">RSVPs are encouraged, but not required, to help staff plan for seating, meals and childcare. Please RSVP here: </span><a href="https://forms.gle/m2yUWcb5CEsbpett5"><span style="font-weight: 400;">https://forms.gle/m2yUWcb5CEsbpett5</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">. Anyone needing ADA accommodations can contact City staff at least 48 hours before the event by emailing </span><a href="mailto:sara.humm@CoMo.gov"><span style="font-weight: 400;">sara.humm@CoMo.gov</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> or calling 573-817-6403.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Community members who are unable to attend the roundtable discussion, or who would like to provide additional feedback, are encouraged to complete an anonymous survey. The survey can be found here: </span><a href="https://survey.alchemer.com/s3/8944581/Homelessness-Strategic-Plan-Community-Survey-Summer-2026"><span style="font-weight: 400;">https://survey.alchemer.com/s3/8944581/Homelessness-Strategic-Plan-Community-Survey-Summer-2026</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">In addition to feedback from the public, the Steering Committee is hosting focus groups, discussions and interviews with people experiencing homelessness, direct service providers, business owners, first responders, housing providers, healthcare professionals, faith leaders and more.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Feedback collected through the survey, roundtable discussion, focus groups and interviews will help shape recommendations and action items in the Strategic Plan, which will be presented to the Columbia City Council later this year.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The Steering Committee encourages all community members to participate and appreciates their time and input in helping shape the Strategic Plan.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Updates about the process can be found by visiting the BeHeardCoMo site here: </span><a href="https://beheard.como.gov/homelessness-strategic-plan"><span style="font-weight: 400;">https://beheard.como.gov/homelessness-strategic-plan</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Other related press release:</span></p>
<p><a href="https://www.como.gov/CMS/pressreleases/view.php?id=9742"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Steering Committee to create strategic plan focused on homelessness</span></a></p></div>
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<div class="content"><strong>Location:</strong> <a href="https://experience.arcgis.com/experience/6f3861f1e730435182b939631f4731aa/page/page/#widget_32_output_config_1%3A0&widget_32=search_status:%7B%22text%22%3A%22 1701 W. Ash Street%22%7D" target="_blank">1701 W. Ash Street</a></div>
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<em>Columbia is the best place for everyone to live, work, learn and play.</em></p>
<p>City of Columbia Mission<br>
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