Jerry Damron of Fulton knows firsthand how instrumental Our House can be in getting a life back on track.
Callaway County's homeless and emergency shelter program's transitional house for families, Haven House, put a roof over his family's heads when a car accident and divorce left him homeless and without a support system.
Now that he's back on his feet years later, Damron wants to help people in the same situation.
A grant he earned through a Central Missouri Community Action leadership program will help install a resource room at Haven House to allow families and individuals to job hunt, develop resumes, apply for supplemental nutrition and other assistance during their stays.
"Just sitting on the porch watching people drive by and look at you funny because you're homeless makes you feel (displaced)," Damron said. "I'm making stuff available so you don't have to feel that way."
Damron had the chance to apply for a small grant after graduating from Central Missouri Community Action's Step Up to Leadership program in May. The 12-week course, designed to help civic-minded adults in lower income brackets to develop leadership skills, gives graduates an opportunity to apply for the grants to better their communities.