Homelessness

Homelessness in the St. Louis region has been increasing over the past few years because of the lack of affordable housing, the coronavirus pandemic and increased rent. Advocates for homeless people say a new Missouri law that will make living on state-owned property illegal on Jan. 1 will exacerbate the problem.

The elections bill was just one piece of legislation Parson signed into law on Wednesday. Others included funding charter schools, bills related to utilities and another barring homeless people from sleeping on state-owned land.

Some members of the St. Louis Board of Aldermen want to bar people from pitching tents in public right of ways in St. Louis.

City officials canceled plans to fund a low-barrier shelter with Bridge of Hope and are looking for a new provider. In the meantime, providers are relying on private donations for pop-up shelters.

Washington University instructor Quinn Tyminski and her students have made big inroads with St. Louis’ homeless community. Their weekly occupational therapy clinic seeks to help people move from surviving to thriving.

Local providers and organizers are scrambling to keep a pop-up emergency shelter open during freezing temperatures, while they wait on the city to fund one.

St. Louis has set aside more than $43 million in federal funding for homeless services and housing support. Advocates hope to see progress before deadly winter weather arrives.

The Veterans Community Project, a Kansas City-based nonprofit, is building tiny homes and an outreach center in the JeffVanderLou neighborhood to help veterans who are experiencing homelessness.

An investigation by St. Louis Public Radio and APM Reports found at least five homeless people froze to death this winter after city officials declined to fund a 24-hour walk-in shelter.

A program at St. Patrick Center that houses at-risk homeless women in St. Louis has been in a precarious position in recent years, but an influx of federal funding has allowed it to expand its capacity.