Prost Builders has completed construction of Love Columbia’s new Love Forward Homes complex at 1221 E. Ash Street in Columbia. The building is now open and welcoming its first families.
The three-story, 12,700-square-foot building includes six three-bedroom units and four two-bedroom units — housing for up to 10 families at a time. A fenced playground was built on-site for the children.
Love Columbia launched the Love Forward Homes Program in 2015 to help homeless families with children get back on their feet. Since then, more than 80 families have secured permanent housing through the program. Parents receive individualized coaching on finances, housing, and career goals. Most families stay four to nine months. During that time, they save 30% of their income toward future housing costs, such as a deposit and first month’s rent.
The $3.4 million project was funded through federal American Rescue Plan Act dollars from the City of Columbia and Boone County, a $1.1 million gift from The Crossing Church, and support from the William Guitar Little Foundation and other donors.
The site came with real challenges. The property sits in a tight downtown footprint, hemmed in on all sides by existing homes, College Boulevard, St. Joseph Street, and a parking garage. Working within those constraints required careful planning and precise coordination throughout every phase of construction. Prost Builders Project Manager Jason Bias and Superintendent Lonnie Paulson led the team from groundbreaking to completion, keeping the project on schedule.
Love Forward Homes is one of several projects Prost Builders has completed in Columbia. The company has built a strong track record across mid-Missouri, serving clients in commercial, educational, governmental, and healthcare construction. (Learn more about Prost Builders’ work in Columbia MO: https://prostbuilders.com/columbia-mo/)
“We are proud to have played a role in this project,” said Vaughn Prost, CEO of Prost Builders. “This is the kind of work that makes a real difference in people’s lives.”
About Prost Builders: Prost Builders is an employee-owned commercial construction firm based in Jefferson City, Missouri. Founded in 1949, the company specializes in general contracting, design-build, and construction management for clients across Missouri. Learn more at www.prostbuilders.com.
Prost Builders
3617 Route CC
Jefferson City
Missouri
65109
United States
