HCJC Friends and Supporters,
I want to give you a brief update on where we are with Housing the Community Jefferson City (HCJC) and, more importantly, ask for your help with an important next step.
As previously reported, HCJC formally asked the City Council to postpone the public hearing on our 107 Adams Street proposal. The Council granted that request. We asked that the hearing be rescheduled for October 5 but learned on August 15th that it has instead been rescheduled for Monday, September 21.
We also asked the city to work with HCJC and other community partners on a collaborative process to determine the best path forward. In addition, we requested greater clarity about the standards that will be used to evaluate our proposal so that the process is transparent, fair, and consistent. We are still awaiting responses to those requests.
Our effort to establish a permanent resource center and emergency shelter at 107 Adams Street has faced significant challenges during the zoning process. We continue to believe the property is the best location for the proposed facility. At the same time, the HCJC Board remains committed to finding a workable path forward—whether that means 107 Adams Street or another location.
Preparing for September 21
Our mission has not changed—only our strategy.
HCJC Mission: We seek to promote dignity for those in need of stable housing in Jefferson City by seeking solutions for housing, shelter, and support services.
Between now and the September 21 hearing, we will focus on two priorities:
- Responding clearly and specifically to the concerns and issues raised about our proposal.
- Demonstrating broad community support for addressing homelessness and establishing a resource center and emergency shelter.
The HCJC Board is also developing a Strategic Business and Operations Plan. The plan is intended to address many of the questions and concerns raised during the 107 Adams Street process while providing a clearer picture of how HCJC would operate and work with community partners.
Our goal is to demonstrate that the resource center and emergency shelter would not duplicate existing services but would complement the important work already being done by the Salvation Army, local churches, healthcare providers, and other community organizations. Just as importantly, we want to build a better understanding of our community’s need for these services.
We Need Your Help: 500 Signatures by September 15th
One of the most important things we can do now is demonstrate the level of community support for HCJC’s mission and for establishing a permanent resource center and emergency shelter.
We have already received almost 150 signatures through petitions and emails expressing support for our efforts. Our goal is to reach 500 signatures by September 15th, 2026, and we need your help to get there.
The petition form is at the bottom of this page. Here is what we are asking you to do:
We are asking each member of our Advisory Group and our other supporters to help by:
- Sign the petition if you have not already done so.
- Personally ask at least 10 people in your network to sign the petition
- Share the petition with your churches, civic organizations, businesses, and other community groups.
- Identifying others willing to help promote the petition.
The goal is not simply to collect names. We want to demonstrate that support for addressing homelessness in Jefferson City extends well beyond the HCJC Board and our existing supporters.
Reaching 500 signatures will require all of us to make a personal effort. More importantly, this gives us an opportunity to engage people in conversations, answer questions, and involve people in the work.
Thank you for everything you have done to support HCJC. The challenges we have encountered have not diminished our belief that this work is needed. If anything, they have strengthened our determination to find a responsible and sustainable way forward.
We remain committed to working collaboratively, listening to concerns, being transparent about our plans, and finding solutions that benefit both people experiencing homelessness and the broader Jefferson City community.
Thank you for standing with us and helping demonstrate that there is a strong community of people who want Jefferson City to be part of the solution.
Scott Johnston
President
Housing the Community Jefferson City (HCJC)
Recent Comments