Date: March 5th, 2025 To: Rep. Dean Van Schoiack, Chair, and members of the Special Committee on   Rural IssuesFrom: Misha Smith, Affordable Housing Policy Manager, Empower MissouriRe: Opposition to HB 595 Founded in 1901, Empower Missouri is the largest anti-poverty advocacy organization in the state. As part of our work, we convene a statewide Affordable...Read More

Food is one of a handful of basic requirements for our survival. Yet too many Missourians are unable to meet this basic need when faced with the barriers of affordability and accessibility. According to 2022 data analyzed by Feeding America, 15 percent of Missourians – more than 920,000 people are food insecure. The numbers are...Read More