CITY RECEIVES $1.5 MILLION HUD GRANT

ST. LOUIS- Mayor Francis Slay and Human Services Director William Siedhoff today announced that the City of St. Louishad received a $1.5 million grant from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) under the 2009 Continuum of Care (CoC) grants process. 

The City successfully competed with thousands of cities across the country in securing this award that will support two new local projects that will offer critically needed housing support services to homeless individuals and families over the extended lifetime of the grant.

The newly funded projects are:

Catholic Charities:  Catholic Family Services Places for Fathers Plus - $1,016,205 This project will be the City’s third Safe Haven providing 29 units of permanent supportive housing for single, homeless men suffering from mental illness and co-occurring substance abuse disorders.

Gateway Homeless Services - $482,641 Gateway Homeless Services and Grace Hill Settlement House will partner on the Water Tower Transitional Housing project. This collaboration will provide 55 transitional beds for large homeless families.

Last December, HUD awarded nearly $1.4 billion through its Continuum of Care programs with St. LouisCityreceiving $8 million at that time. The grants announced today will build on that investment by funding new projects such as those through Catholic Charities and Gateway Homeless Services.

“The City of St. Louishas seen a 30% reduction in homelessness in the past three years,” said Mayor Slay.  “These new projects continue the great tradition of bringing quality services and housing to the homeless residents of the City via partnerships with non-profit providers of the Continuum of Care to End Chronic Homelessness.”

For more information on these and other homeless services programs, please contact the Homeless Services Division of the Department of Human
Services at 314-657-1704.

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Kara Bowlin

Press Secretary to the Mayor
City of St. Louis Mayor's Office
City Hall, Room 200
St. Louis, MO 63103
o. 314-622-3479
c. 314-651-5907
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

HOMELESSNESS PREVENTION & RAPID RE-HOUSING PROGRAM

For Information, Call:          1-877-70-HOPE-4U

City Receives $8.4 Million from American Recovery & Reinvestment Act

As a result of the passage of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) of 2009, the “Homelessness Prevention and Rapid Re-Housing Program” (HPRP) was established.  Congress appropriated $1.5 billion for this program allowing communities to provide financial assistance and services to either prevent individuals and families from becoming homeless or help those who are experiencing homelessness to be quickly re-housed and stabilized.  Through these funds, the City of St. Louis received an allocation of $8.1 million from the U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development (HUD) and nearly $300,000 from the State’s Department of Social Services’ allocation, a total of $8.4 million.

Gateway Homeless Services is a part of the Continuum of Care For Ending Homelessness, 55 organizations in St. Louis that work together and collaborate to provide services to St. Louis residents who require housing support or who are currently experiencing homelessness.  The strategic plan of our community focuses on ending homelessness.  The city's ten year plan to achieve this goal:

St. Louis City Continuum of Care for Ending Homelessness 10-Year Plan:

10 Year Plan to End Homelessness in St. Louis.pdf 962.86 Kb 05/03/2009, 01:30 

By Martin Rafanan

Top 5 Things You Can Do To End Homelessness and to Build a Better Community

1. Look in the Mirror

It is hard for most of us to acknowledge our own biases. Take the time to stop and evaluate how you interact with those who are homeless or who are different from you in some way.  Understand that all people, no matter what their circumstances, share a common humanity and a common bond.  Look for what unites us; not for what divides us.

2. Get Smart

Take the time to find out more about homelessness and about people who are homeless at this time. Education is the key to eliminating bias and opening the door to building strong, mutual relationships that can empower homeless people to transform their own lives and the life of our community.

3. Listen and Speak Up

Be aware of what you hear on TV, the radio, from your neighbor, teacher, colleague or friend. Speak up when you hear someone spreading misinformation about homelessness or about people who are different in some way.   When you stand up for others, you stand up for yourself.

4. Venture Beyond

When we think in new ways, meet new people, and embrace new ideas, we expand our capacity for understanding. Being open to different perspectives and lifestyles is one of the best examples you can provide for others to follow.  Learning the particular circumstances and needs of homeless people helps to make one a strong ally in the goal of ending homelessness for all.

5. Make a Commitment

Do not stand still. Get involved. Join an organization in your community that inspires you. Participate in programs or honest conversations focusing on what it takes to end homelessness.  Engage issues that are important to you and your community.