UPDATE: Columbia attorney will be city’s first housing director

A Columbia native who graduated from Rock Bridge high school and Mizzou has been named as the first  director of the city’s new Housing and Neighborhood Services department.

Rebecca (Becky) Thompson will start her new job on March 6. Counselor Thompson is an attorney with seven years of experience as an assistant city counselor. She’s also been an assistant counsel for the state Department of Transportation (MoDOT).

Creation of the new department has been a priority for Columbia city manager De’Carlon Seewood, who proposed it in his latest budget. Columbia’s city council approved the new department in September. Mr. Seewood says the long-term goal is to create a housing resource center to make housing a priority, and to create a place where housing developers and those looking for homes have access to the city.