Gov. Mike Kehoe issued a letter recognizing November 2026 as Homelessness Awareness Month, bringing attention to homelessness, hunger, and housing instability throughout the state.

In his Oct. 1 letter addressed to all Missourians, Gov. Kehoe acknowledges that housing instability can affect individuals and families in every part of Missouri and emphasizes the important role of nonprofit organizations, faith communities, businesses, healthcare providers, schools, local governments, and community partners in preventing homelessness and helping individuals and families achieve stability.

The recognition comes as organizations across Missouri are being invited to participate in Missouri Homelessness Awareness Month 2026, a statewide community awareness initiative developed by the Audrain County Shelter Resource Coalition in Mexico.

The initiative was created to complement National Homelessness Awareness Month while providing organizations and communities with practical tools to increase awareness, challenge misconceptions,promote homelessness prevention, and encourage meaningful local action.

"This recognition isn't about one organization or one community," said Ra'Vae Moore, Executive Director of ACSRC. "It's about the individuals and families across Missouri who are experiencing homelessness or struggling to maintain stable housing, and the organizations working every day to help them. Our hope is that November will bring greater understanding, stronger community partnerships, and more conversations about preventing homelessness before it happens."

To encourage participation, ACSRC developed a comprehensive campaign toolkit and distributed it to organizations throughout Missouri. The free resources include educational materials, social media content, community outreach ideas, media resources, editable graphics, and activities that organizations can customize for their own communities.

The campaign follows four weekly themes:

SEE — Recognize the people behind homelessness and housing instability.

UNDERSTAND — Challenge stereotypes and increase understanding of the circumstances that place individuals and families at risk.

ACT — Encourage local involvement, partnerships, volunteerism, and meaningful community action.

PREPARE — Strengthen awareness of prevention, housing stability, and the ongoing work needed beyond November.

The campaign officially begins Nov. 1, with Purple Ribbon Sunday, an invitation for churches and faith communities to display purple ribbons, share messages of awareness, and encourage compassion and understanding.

Throughout November, participating organizations and communities are encouraged to display purple ribbons, share educational information, organize awareness activities, and highlight local resources and opportunities to get involved.

The initiative also recognizes National Hunger & Homelessness Awareness Week, Nov. 15–21 and concludes with an optional Giving Tuesday opportunity on December 1, encouraging individuals to support organizations serving their own communities.

Participation is voluntary, and organizations are encouraged to use as much or as little of the campaign as works for their community. The materials are designed to be adapted, allowing local organizations to share their own stories, highlight their own services, and encourage support for local needs. 

"Homelessness doesn't begin the day someone enters a shelter," Moore said. "For many families, the crisis begins long before that with an unexpected expense, a job loss, a medical emergency, or simply not having enough income to keep up with housing costs. If we want to make a lasting difference, we have to talk about prevention as much as we talk about responding to homelessness."

Governor Kehoe's letter reinforces the importance of these efforts by encouraging Missourians to learn more about homelessness and housing instability, recognize the dignity of those experiencing homelessness, and support the organizations working toward housing stability and greater self-sufficiency.

Missouri Homelessness Awareness Month 2026 is a community-led initiative intended to bring greater visibility to an issue affecting communities of every size, from Missouri's largest cities to its smallest rural towns.

Organizations, businesses, schools, churches, and individuals interested in participating are encouraged to contact ACSRC for information and access to the free campaign materials. 

For more information about Missouri Homelessness Awareness Month 2026 or to request campaign materials, contact Ra'Vae Moore at 573-469-5850 or ravae@acsrcmo.org.