City of Refuge

Our Mission: 

At City of Refuge, we walk alongside refugees as they rebuild their lives in mid-Missouri. Through relational care, education, and development, we provide holistic, people-centered support rooted in trust. Because the journey to a new life shouldn’t be walked alone.

Why We’re Great: 

City of Refuge exists to serve, empower, and equip. Each year, we welcome individuals and families who’ve fled persecution, conflict, or disaster and made Columbia their new home. We offer essential services—housing assistance, job placement, language support—but we go further: we invest in meaningful relationships.

Our community now includes refugees and immigrants from over 45 countries speaking 23+ languages, making us a vibrant hub of cross-cultural beauty and resilience. At our core is the idea of “Love Your Neighbor.” That means more than assistance—it means becoming lifelong friends. These relationships serve as the foundation for a welcoming community where refugees feel supported, trusted, and able to flourish.

Community matters deeply. For someone rebuilding their life, these connections mean more than friendship—they are the anchors through transition, the pathways to stability, and the stepping stones to hope. At City of Refuge, we aim to be the safe space, the bridge, and the extended hand that says: you belong here.

Why Your Support Matters:

Today, the need is bigger than ever. Funding uncertainties, expanding program demands, and newly arriving families mean we’re operating in an environment of unprecedented challenge. Our federal grants are ending, our operating budget faces shortfalls of $50,000/month, and we’ve added multiple new programs—with staffing and space stretched thin. 

As we look toward 2026, your support isn’t just helpful—it’s crucial. It ensures that every refugee who walks through our doors receives support, every family has a chance to succeed, every volunteer has a role to play.

Your contribution goes directly to:

• Care – Walking alongside families: jobs, housing, medical, social benefits, transportation, emotional support—all undergirded by trust and relationship.
• Education – Language and literacy classes, job-readiness training, driving lessons, artisan & culinary skills—so our friends don’t just survive—they thrive.
• Development – Empowering families toward long-term self-sufficiency: small-business coaching, home-ownership support, financial coaching, opportunity creation.

Make a Difference Today

Your gift today helps us keep serving and empowering our neighbors—refugees who are starting over in mid-Missouri. This season, your generosity sends more than practical support: it sends a message—you are valued, you are loved, you belong.

Give today and help make 2026 a year of hope, opportunity, and belonging for the refugee families who now call Columbia home. Thank you for helping us carry out this powerful mission and for making a lasting impact this holiday season.