Welcome Home Inc

Welcome Home is dedicated to honoring Veterans and restoring their lives, driven by a powerful vision to end Veteran homelessness. Our organization provides vital support to homeless and at-risk Veterans, offering shelter, permanent and rapid re-housing assistance, nourishing meals, essential supplies, transportation, employment resources, personalized case management, advocacy, and connections to partnering organizations for mental health, physical care, and VA benefits. Each Veteran deserves a greater quality of life, and we are committed to making that a reality.

Welcome Home is the only Veteran-centric shelter and supportive service center in Missouri. Through our programs and services, Welcome Home enrolled and served 434 Veterans and family members in 2023, providing more than 34,000 well-balanced meals and nearly 13,000 bed nights of service. Our unwavering goal is to serve the same number—or even more—each year, ensuring that no Veteran is left behind.

More than just a shelter, we offer comprehensive wrap-around programs and services designed to facilitate recovery and prevent future homelessness—all at NO COST to the Veterans we serve. This allows them to focus on their path to stability and success.

Every dollar raised goes directly to supporting our programs and services for Veterans in need—your contributions make a real difference.

WELCOME HOME HISTORY

The inspiration behind Welcome Home emerged from the heartbreaking loss of a Veteran who died alone on the streets. This tragedy galvanized a group of Columbia Vietnam Veterans into action. They pooled their resources and opened a shelter, leading to the establishment of Welcome Home. The first shelter, purchased in 1992, served one crucial purpose: to provide homeless Veterans with an address, a phone number, and a safe, warm place to rest.

However, as the demand grew, it became unacceptable to turn away Veterans due to limited space or funding. Between 2014 and 2017, Welcome Home raised $3.5 million to secure a new, debt-free facility—ensuring that future donations would go directly to vital services. 

With the support of community partners, an active Board of Directors, and dedicated volunteers, we transformed an old, abandoned motel into a new refuge for Veterans. In September 2017, our expanded 25,000-square-foot Emergency and Transitional Shelter and Supportive Services Center opened its doors, fully equipped to meet the diverse needs of Mid-Missouri Veterans experiencing homelessness or at risk of becoming homeless, along with their families. We tripled our professional staff and capacity, expanded our programs, and continuously strengthened our mission with unwavering commitment and operational excellence. 

Together, we can create lasting change for those who have served our country.