For the past several months, a growing coalition of tenant leaders, housing advocates, legal experts, and community leaders in Springfield has been working toward a game-changing goal: securing a Right to Counsel (RTC) for tenants facing eviction. The problem is clear—eviction courts are fundamentally unbalanced. Across the country, landlords almost always have legal representation, while...Read More

The latest issue to face intense debate in the Missouri Senate is paid sick leave. HB 567, which would remove paid sick leave for workers, passed the Missouri House in March.  Since then it has progressed through the Senate and is now eligible for discussion on the Senate floor. On Wednesday night, multiple Democratic Senators...Read More

Date: April 23, 2025To: Senator Jill Carter and Members of the Senate Families Seniors and Health CommitteeFrom: Christine Woody, Food Security Policy Manager, Empower MissouriRe: Our opposition to SB 662 My name is Christine Woody. I am the Food Security Policy Manager for a statewide non-profit organization called Empower Missouri. We lead a statewide coalition...Read More

Imagine a food system that breaks down silos, fosters innovation and collaboration, and creates sustainable food access for all Missourians that is supported through a robust, equity-focused statewide Healthy Food Financing Initiative (HFFI). This is exactly what the Missouri Rural Food Access Partnership came together to accomplish on April 3rd when 33 participants representing 23...Read More

This week, Governor Kehoe signed SB 4, an omnibus utility bill that changes financing for utility companies. The bill adds more ways for utility companies to shift costs to consumers and increase utility bills. Empower Missouri denounces this change for these reasons: Consumers Council of Missouri estimates that SB 4 will raise utility bills by...Read More

Position Title: Columbia Field Organizer Position Type: Part-Time; Temporary Reports to: Empower Missouri Transformative Conversations Program Lead Position Summary: Empower Missouri is seeking passionate and dedicated Field Organizers to join our deep canvass & tenant organizing project in Columbia. Field Organizers will be responsible for engaging with community members, conducting transformative conversations, organizing bases of...Read More

Position Title: Rolla Field Organizer Position Type: Part-Time; Temporary Reports to: Empower Missouri Transformative Conversations Program Lead Position Summary: Empower Missouri is seeking passionate and dedicated Field Organizers to join our deep canvass & tenant organizing project in Rolla. Field Organizers will be responsible for engaging with community members, conducting transformative conversations, organizing bases of...Read More

As an organization focused on ending poverty in our state, Empower Missouri is deeply aware of the individual costs of a criminal record. Limited housing, employment, and education options can leave a person with a lifetime struggling to overcome a past mistake, long after they have served their time. But in Missouri alone, there are...Read More

Position Title: Springfield Field Organizer Position Type: Part-Time; Temporary Reports to: Empower Missouri Transformative Conversations Program Lead Position Summary: Empower Missouri is seeking passionate and dedicated Field Organizers to join our deep canvass & tenant organizing project in Springfield. Field Organizers will be responsible for engaging with community members, conducting transformative conversations, organizing bases of...Read More

Date: April 2, 2025 To: Chairman Mayhew and Members, Corrections and Public Institutions Committee From: Jerika White, Criminal Justice Policy Manager, Empower Missouri Re: Support for HB 774, 603, 729 As the largest and oldest anti-poverty non-profit in our state, Empower Missouri is committed to improving the quality of life for all Missouri residents through...Read More