As winter approaches, St. Louis City officials are working to expand services for the homeless — an effort made possible by the infusion of millions of dollars in federal funds.
St. Louis has allocated more than $43 million for homeless services and housing support, which accounts for about one-fifth of the city's total funding granted through the US Relief Program.
The council of city councilors approved the spending plan in August. Since then, organizations that work with the homeless have submitted more than 50 funding proposals to the city. As the temperature continues to drop, some advocates in St. Louis have asked the city to speed up the process. But officials say these plans must be carefully designed to ensure long-term benefits for homeless city dwellers.
In recent weeks, hundreds of people have signed an online petition calling on city leaders to take "direct and immediate action" and provide more services for the homeless, including increasing emergency shelter beds.
Yousef Skokkin, director of the St. Louis Department of Public Service, said officials are working hard to start the project as soon as possible. But he added that the key is to “not just bring the services online, but also make sure they are coordinated.”
"You won't open a healthcare clinic without ensuring that the proper parts are in place, and so is our housingless service," said Skokin, whose office began reviewing project proposals on Friday. "The lives of these people are important, and the support and care provided there are important. We should not take it lightly."
The city on Monday released a winter operating plan for services for the homeless, including the availability of shelter beds and shuttle schedules. There are currently 598 urban refuge beds in the city, and 45 overflow beds will be added next month.
From December 1st, the city will also provide a night heating bus, which will pick up residents at the corner of Chestnut Street and North 13th Street in downtown St. Louis from 5 pm to 7 pm. The bus will take people to the sanctuary in St. Louis by February 2022.
Earlier this year, a citywide survey recorded nearly 1,000 homeless residents in St. Louis, but the actual number may be higher. Some people without housing live in their cars or on sofas, which complicates the work of accurate counting.
For those who live outdoors, winter is a particularly dangerous time. Last winter, at least five homeless people in St. Louis were frozen to death-from December to March 2020, at least one person was frozen to death every month. According to city forensic data, this was the deadliest winter on record for homeless urban residents since 2014.
The city has allocated 1.3 million US dollars to build a 24-hour walk-in shelter, which will be open to anyone in need. These shelters are called safe havens and are designed to shelter those who are most likely to die in cold weather, including those who struggle with substance use disorders and mental illness.
Officials also plan to create at least one managed outdoor camp where residents can get services, but they have not yet released details of when and where it will open. Skokin said that allowing people to live in city-approved camps is a way to reaffirm their "dignity and humanity."
The city's first intentional camp, called Camp Cole, opened in August in a warehouse in the city center, providing shelter for 40 people-some of whom have been evicted from an outdoor camp at Interco Plaza in St. Louis.
The St. Patrick’s Center staffed the deliberate camp, which was funded by a mix of private donations and closed in early November.
According to the final expenditure plan, the city has allocated US$1.25 million for the operation and management of outdoor camps. According to a spokesperson for Mayor Tishaura Jones, there is also $750,000 in city funds available for the construction of the camp.
"We want to meet people where they are," Skokin said. "Forcing people to enter a particular structure is not the most beneficial. We want to really create a series of options that provide us with an opportunity to attract people, so as to reach a place where we can choose permanent housing."
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