Greene County has emergency funding available for individuals and families struggling to pay their rent or utilities because of COVID-19. This emergency assistance is income-based and available only to those who rent their homes and live in Greene County.
COVID-19 impacted many families in several ways. Renters who have been impacted by COVID-19 may qualify for emergency assistance if they lost their job, had a reduction in work hours and/or experienced financial hardship because of COVID and are at risk of homelessness or housing instability. Examples of housing instability include past-due rent and/or having past-due utility bills and/or not being able to pay current rent and/or utility bills.
This project is supported, in whole or in part, by federal award number ERA0293 awarded to Greene County by the U. S. Department of the Treasury.
There are several local trusted community organizations available to help individuals learn if they qualify for the emergency assistance and can assist with the application process:
- Catholic Charities of Southern Missouri: 417-268-9998
- Community Partnership of the Ozarks: 417-888-2020
- Consumer Credit Counseling Services: 417-889-7474
- Council of Churches – One Stop for Early Childhood Program: 417-887-3545
- OACAC: 417-447-0554
- The Salvation Army: 417-862-5509.
Individuals who have a job loss or reduction in work hours and want to know about short-term job training programs or job opportunities can contact the Missouri Job Center at 2900 E. Sunshine, 417-887-4343. The Job Center has reopened to the public by appointment only. The Job Center also has a new affiliate office located at The Fairbanks, 1126 N. Broadway. Job Center staff can help job seekers apply for the many job options available in the Springfield area.
Springfield’s top job industries include health/medicine, business/entrepreneurship, teaching/education, manufacturing/engineering, and information technology/software solutions. Springfield is fortunate to have many job training opportunities. Several local and state initiatives provide options to strengthen job seekers’ skill sets to enter the workforce stronger than ever.
Job seekers may want to consider apprenticeship programs, especially for individuals wanting to make a career change. Apprenticeships provide an opportunity to connect with employers and learn valuable job skills in a variety of industries. Apprenticeships provide an opportunity to earn while learning, receive hands-on training, and study under a mentorship of seasoned professionals. Industry-recognized credentials, a degree or certificate can also be earned through apprenticeships. Visit moapprenticeconnect.com to obtain more information and create a profile.
COVID-19 has had challenging impacts in our community. However, with great programs supported locally and across the state, Missourians can return strong! For more information about the Return Strong Campaign, please visit jobs.mo.gov/return-strong.
As job seekers search for employment, it is important for individuals to know how they can enhance job skills in their areas of interest, or how to seek new opportunities in high-demand jobs in the Springfield area. For connections to other related resources, in the areas of education, health, housing, job/financial security or transportation, please visit prosperspringfield.org.
Prosper Springfield is a collective-impact initiative focused on a shared community vision to improve economic mobility in the Springfield community. The Prosper Springfield mission is to build community relationships and align community resources to create pathways that help move people to prosperity. For more information about Prosper Springfield, call 417-888-2020.