Evictions

St. Louis cleared two homeless camps on Monday. The fate of a larger encampment is unclear.

Residents of four St. Louis encampments are now packing up their belongings in anticipation of a May 2 eviction. City officials cite health concerns, but residents question the timing of the city’s notice to vacate.

Backers of the legislation claim it's a way of protecting property rights and contract law.

Over 2,300 households have been evicted in St. Louis and St. Louis County since the beginning of the pandemic. Some people have received rental aid from federal programs, but city and county officials say if not for eviction moratoriums and rental assistance programs, more people would have lost their homes.

Action St. Louis and Arch City Defenders will host a town hall for renters at 6 p.m. today. Renters from the St. Louis area can speak with housing advocates about housing issues, eviction questions and how to build a tenant-led housing movement in St. Louis.

St. Louis County Council passed a bill to pause evictions during the holidays. The council also approved $5 million of federal funds to provide about 30 days of emergency rental assistance.

The St. Louis County Council spent its last meeting of the year passing the 2022 budget and an extension of an eviction moratorium.

The Illinois Department of Human Services is distributing additional rent help through faith-based organizations.

A Sept. 17 executive order from Gov. JB Pritzker scheduled the state's eviction moratorium to expire Sunday, Oct. 3. Rental aid and legal services are still available for renters facing eviction.

St. Louis County officials have distributed more than $18 million in emergency rental assistance funds, exceeding the amount the federal program requires the county to spend by September. Another round of funding is coming soon.