Columbia Housing Authority

08/26/2026

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 26, 2026

Veterans United Foundation Awards $250,000 to Support Providence Walkway Redevelopment

Columbia, MO – The Columbia Housing Authority (CHA) is pleased to announce a $250,000 funding award from Veterans United Foundation (VUF) in support of the Providence Walkway Apartments redevelopment and will be holding a media event on Wednesday, August 26th at the CHA Administration Building, 201 Switzler.

Providence Walkway will rehabilitate 16 existing affordable housing units along Trinity Place and add nine newly constructed units nearby, preserving and expanding affordable housing through the creation of 25 modernized, energy-efficient homes for local families.

Veterans United Foundation stepped forward with the additional investment as CHA worked through a late-stage financing need ahead of closing. VUF’s flexibility and ability to respond quickly provided important additional capacity to help keep Providence Walkway on schedule while preserving other resources supporting CHA’s adjacent Blind Boone Apartments redevelopment.

“We are extremely grateful for Veterans United Foundation’s continued partnership and investment in affordable housing,” said Bob Hutton, Chair of the Columbia Housing Authority Board of Commissioners. “This $250,000 investment helps keep both Providence Walkway and Blind Boone moving forward while leveraging more than $20 million in local investment in affordable housing. It is a great example of how flexible philanthropic support can strengthen much larger public and private investments in our community.”

Providence Walkway and Blind Boone are part of CHA’s broader effort to preserve and redevelop affordable housing while creating modern, sustainable housing opportunities for Columbia families. Together, the developments represent significant investments by local government, philanthropy, financial institutions and other public and private partners.

“Veterans United Foundation has been a tremendous partner to CHA and the residents we serve for many years,” said Randy Cole, CEO of the Columbia Housing Authority. “Their flexibility and responsiveness helped keep these projects moving forward and ensure some of our community’s most vulnerable low-income households have access to quality, stable and affordable housing.”

“Unexpected challenges are a reality in any building project,” said Erik Morse, Board President of Veterans United Foundation. “What matters is having partners that step in, and that’s exactly the kind of moment we want to be there for. Our community partners take on ambitious work to serve their neighbors, and when an issue threatens that progress, we’re glad to be able to step in and help keep things on track. We’re proud to support CHA and the families who will call Providence Walkway home.”

About the Columbia Housing Authority
The Columbia Housing Authority provides quality affordable housing opportunities with supportive and economic resources to eligible households throughout Columbia and Boone County and currently serves more than 2,000 households.

About Veterans United Foundation
Veterans United Foundation is the non-profit arm of Veterans United Home Loans, and is funded by employees of Veterans United Home Loans and its affiliated companies. Driven by a shared mission of enhancing lives, the Foundation has raised over $157 million since its inception in 2011, with nearly 90% of company employees donating a portion of each paycheck to support its mission. Employees also take an active role in referring needs to the Foundation and showing the community support through volunteer work. For more information about Veterans United Foundation and its charitable initiatives, please visit www.enhancelives.com.

Contact:
Randy Cole
CEO, Columbia Housing Authority
573-443-2556
[email protected]

Chad Moller
Veterans United Foundation
573-268-3110
[email protected]

08/17/2026

Happy Nonprofit Day! Thank you to Richard Burns, Board Member, for stopping by to celebrate with us!

07/20/2026

Join us for the Community Affordable Housing Forum: Building Sustainable Housing Solutions on Thursday, July 23, from 3:30–5:00 p.m. at the Boone Electric Community Building.

Nationally recognized affordable housing attorneys Glenn Graff and Ben Meyer will discuss what it takes to finance and sustain successful affordable housing developments. The forum is presented by the Columbia Housing Authority in collaboration with Boone County and the City of Columbia.

The event is open to elected officials, nonprofit and community organizations, lenders, developers, business leaders, and community members interested in affordable housing.

Space is limited, so please RSVP using the information on the flyer.

06/25/2026

🏡 Welcome Home, Park Avenue!

This week, the first CHA residents began moving into the newly redeveloped Park Avenue community, a major milestone for the Columbia Housing Authority, the City of Columbia, Boone County, and many community partners.

Park Avenue reflects CHA's mission of serving households across the housing continuum. The community includes affordable housing, homes reserved for households exiting homelessness, and market-rate units that support long-term neighborhood stability and economic diversity. Each year, many households find housing stability through CHA housing and supportive services, some moving from homelessness into permanent housing, while others transition into market-rate housing. Park Avenue is designed to support those pathways and opportunities.

While there is still more work ahead, today we celebrate the residents who are helping bring this new community to life.

Welcome home! 🎉

05/21/2026

The new paving on Paquin has been completed!
This improvement was identified as a resident priority through our RAB meetings. We appreciate everyone who continues to share feedback and help shape CHA community improvements.

05/19/2026

What an incredible day at Patriot Place.

CHA is deeply grateful to the Veterans United Foundation for its extraordinary $100,000 donation to replace furniture for residents at Patriot Place Apartments, as well as to the many Veterans United employee volunteers who spent the day assembling furniture and helping residents settle into their renewed homes.

Patriot Place is a 25-unit affordable housing community dedicated to serving Veterans impacted by homelessness and housing instability. Today’s generosity brought not only new furniture, but also added comfort, dignity, and stability to the Veterans who call Patriot Place home.

As we head into Memorial Day weekend, this was a powerful reminder of what community partnership and service to Veterans truly looks like.

Thank you again to the Veterans United Foundation and every volunteer who gave their time and energy to make such a meaningful impact for our residents.

Patriot Place is operated by the Columbia Housing Authority as a permanent supportive housing community serving homeless and at-risk veterans in Columbia.

04/16/2026

Thank you to the Columbia Chamber of Commerce Ambassadors, Kip Kendrick, and the community for celebrating 70 years with us!

04/16/2026

04/13/2026

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Columbia Housing Authority Celebrates 70 Years of Service
Columbia, Missouri, April 13, 2026. The Columbia Housing Authority (CHA) will celebrate its 70th Anniversary, marking seven decades of providing safe affordable housing and supportive services to residents across Columbia and Boone County.

Event Details:
Date: April 15, 2026, 4:00 p.m.
Location: CHA Administration Building, 201 Switzler

The Columbia Chamber of Commerce will host a ribbon cutting at 4:00 p.m. Boone County Presiding Commissioner Kip Kendrick will present a proclamation, and City of Columbia 4th Ward Council Member and Mayor Pro Tem Nick Foster will offer remarks on behalf of the City. The event will recognize residents, partners, and community leaders who have contributed to CHA’s mission over the past 70 years.

Established in 1956, CHA today serves more than 2,000 households and nearly 4,000 individuals through housing programs, development initiatives, and supportive services. Over its 70-year history, CHA has expanded its housing portfolio, modernized operations, and strengthened partnerships with the City of Columbia, Boone County, and local community partners. From its first public housing developments in the 1950s to its newly modern housing at Kinney Point, CHA has consistently responded to evolving community needs.

CHA has been a leader in housing innovation with early adoption of the Housing Choice Voucher ( Section 8 ) program and participation in the Rental Assistance Demonstration (RAD) program have allowed CHA to leverage public and private capital to preserve and modernize affordable housing across its portfolio.

Beyond housing, CHA delivers supportive services through its nonprofit affiliate, CHALIS, including youth programming, employment services, case management, and food access. Programs like Family Self-Sufficiency (FSS) help residents build income, savings, and long-term stability.

“CHA’s 70-year history reflects a deep commitment to this community and a strong foundation for the future,” said Bob Hutton, Chair of the Columbia Housing Authority Board of Commissioners. “Through partnerships, innovation, and responsible stewardship, CHA continues to expand its impact and meet the evolving housing needs of Columbia and Boone County.”

Contact: Randy Cole
CEO, Columbia Housing Authority
573-443-2556
[email protected]

04/10/2026

Congratulations to Alex Cason!

We’re proud to celebrate Alex, a valued member of our Oak Towers maintenance team, who was recently honored by Job Point for his success and completion of their Vocational Training Program.

Alex’s hard work, dedication, and growth are making a real difference every day for our Oak Towers residents. His journey is a powerful example of how opportunity and determination can change lives—not only for individuals, but for entire communities.

Your CHA team is incredibly proud of you, Alex—keep up the great work!