Help in Missouri
For people starting over after prison, foster care, treatment, homelessness, abuse, or trafficking
We've verified 24 places in Missouri, most of them in Kansas City, St. Louis and Springfield, plus 8 that serve the whole state. The most help we've found here is for people leaving homelessness (14) and after prison or jail (10).
Missouri Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence
Statewide coalition that maintains a searchable directory of every domestic and sexual violence program in Missouri. It does not run a crisis line itself; use the directory or regional map to find the shelter or advocate nearest you, or call the National DV Hotline at 800-799-7233 any hour.
United Way 211 Missouri
Free information and referral line covering all of Missouri and Illinois. A specialist looks up shelter beds, food pantries, utility help, and treatment openings in a database of thousands of nonprofits and connects you by phone, text, or chat.
Reentry Services
Every Missouri state prison runs a reentry center where people nearing release work on housing, identification, benefits, medical coverage, and job placement, with partner agencies continuing support after release. The unit also brokers hiring fairs with employers willing to hire people with felony records.
Older Youth Program (Chafee)
Aftercare for young adults who left Missouri foster care after 18 and are under 23: a personal advisor, emergency funds for rent, utilities, car repairs, and food, short-term housing help of about 90 days, job training referrals, and the Education and Training Voucher of up to $5,000 per year. MO HealthNet coverage continues automatically to age 26.
Refugee Resettlement Program
State office that funds social, employment, cash, and medical assistance for refugees, asylees, Cuban/Haitian entrants, certified trafficking victims, and Iraqi and Afghan special immigrants. Services are delivered through contracted agencies in St. Louis, Springfield, Kansas City, Columbia, and Jefferson City rather than at a state office.
International Institute of St. Louis
Missouri's Region One refugee resettlement agency under contract with the state. New arrivals and asylees in the St. Louis area receive case management, employment services, and help enrolling in benefits here.
Hope Faith
Kansas City's homeless day center, open weekday mornings to anyone with no restrictions. Guests get hot breakfast and lunch, showers, haircuts, and connections to housing and health partners on site.
Bureau of Vital Records
Issues certified Missouri birth and death certificates. You can order by mail or online, visit the Jefferson City lobby by appointment, or walk into one of 115 local public health offices around the state. Identification is required to receive a record.
Missouri Nondriver ID
A state nondriver identification card costs $24 and is good for up to six years; a nondriver ID issued for voting purposes is free. Apply at any Missouri license office with proof of identity, lawful status, Social Security number, and Missouri address.
Family Support Division Benefits (myDSS)
Apply for SNAP food benefits, MO HealthNet (Medicaid), Temporary Assistance, and child care subsidy in one place. Applications, document uploads, and status checks are online at myDSS.mo.gov; interviews are done by phone and a statewide information line answers questions.
Peter & Paul Community Services
South St. Louis agency running an emergency shelter, the Labre Center, and permanent supportive housing for adults who have been homeless. Positive Directions provides case management to those with mental illness or HIV.
Legal Services of Eastern Missouri
Free civil lawyers for low-income people in 21 eastern Missouri counties, including eviction defense, protective orders through the Lasting Solutions family law unit, public benefits appeals, consumer debt, and immigration. Interpreters are arranged if you ask on the first call.
Safe Connections
St. Louis crisis helpline and counseling center for adult and teen survivors of relationship violence and sexual assault. Licensed therapists provide individual therapy at no cost, and the helpline can be called or texted at any hour.
MoNetwork Recovery Community Center
Peer-run drop-in center in south St. Louis for people who use drugs or are in recovery on their own terms. Offers peer support, street outreach, wound care, essentials, and free naloxone by mail. No abstinence requirement.
Healing Action Network
St. Louis survivor-led program for people who have experienced sex trafficking or commercial sexual exploitation. Clients get an intensive case manager, a certified peer specialist, trauma therapy, and basic needs help including bus passes, food, and hygiene items.
reStart
Downtown Kansas City shelter campus with emergency beds and transitional housing for single adults, families with children, veterans, and youth ages 12–24. Residents receive three meals a day, case management, employment help, and assistance replacing IDs and birth certificates.
City Union Mission
Faith-based Kansas City mission operating a Men's Emergency Center and a Women & Family Emergency Center with meals, beds, and long-term recovery programs. A shelter hotline handles bed questions.
Journey to New Life
Kansas City reentry organization with residences, peer support, career development, and case management for people coming home from prison. Walk-ins are taken four mornings a week at the Troost Avenue office.
Healing House KC
Recovery housing network in northeast Kansas City with sober homes and apartments, CARF-accredited outpatient treatment, a recovery community center, and employment training. Admissions are handled through an online application and the main line.
Rose Brooks Center
Kansas City domestic violence agency with emergency shelter, an on-site clinic, pet shelter, court and police advocacy, therapy, and housing programs. A shelter advocate answers the hotline around the clock.
Legal Aid of Western Missouri
Free civil legal help across 40 western Missouri counties from offices in Kansas City, Independence, St. Joseph, Joplin, and Warrensburg. Cases include protection orders, evictions, public benefits, municipal court defense, and immigration.
O'Reilly Center for Hope
Springfield one-stop hub where One Door coordinated entry assesses people who are homeless or about to be in Greene, Christian, and Webster counties and refers them to shelter and housing. Benefit, WIC, Habitat, and OACAC partners share the building; single adults are sent to One Door at New Day, 809 N Campbell Ave.
Victory Mission + Ministry
Springfield mission with an emergency shelter and transitional shelter for men, residential restoration programs for men and women, a WorkReady boot camp, and senior lunch. Case managers meet people first through the shelter or street outreach.
Harmony House
Springfield's domestic violence shelter, offering emergency housing for survivors and their children plus outreach case management for those who stay elsewhere. Advocates answer the emergency line and a web chat.
National lines that work in Missouri
SAMHSA National Helpline
Free, confidential treatment referral for substance use and mental health. Finds local programs that take your insurance or none.
988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline
Call or text 988 for any mental health or substance use crisis. Available to anyone in any program.
Lifeline free phone program
Free or discounted phone and service for people on Medicaid, SNAP, SSI, or low income. Apply online or through a carrier.
National Human Trafficking Hotline
24/7 confidential hotline for survivors of trafficking and people who suspect it. Connects to vetted local services.
National Domestic Violence Hotline
24/7 confidential help for anyone affected by domestic violence. Advocates connect you to local shelters and legal help.
Start right where you are
Each program has a step-by-step checklist for the first 72 hours, 30 days, and 90 days, so you always know your next step.