St. Louis Mayor Signs New Legislation to Streamline Shelter Creation for Homeless

In an effort to reduce homelessness, St. Louis Mayor Tishaura O. Jones signed Board Bill 114 into law. The new law gives the homeless population hope by changing the city’s zoning regulations to facilitate the construction of shelters and transitional houses.

The bill expedites applications and mandates public hearings and community notification for new shelter projects, according to a City of St. Louis press release. “As we work to implement a regional housing strategy, this legislation helps support the interim needs of residents getting ready for the rehousing process,” Mayor Jones stated.

The goal of the measure is to shorten lengthy housing wait times. “A person has to wait more than 700 days on average for community housing and more than 250 days for emergency shelter,” said Alderwoman Alisha Sonnier, the bill’s sponsor, underscoring the pressing need. In addition to giving providers a clear route through our zoning code to provide life-saving services, the passage of this bill has given our residents and departments a clear, streamlined, and community-centered process that offers vital enforcement tools for safety and compliance,” the same release stated.

Recognizing the need for a team effort to protect the city’s most vulnerable, Megan Green, the president of the Board of Aldermen, endorsed the proposal. Green added, “I want to thank Alderwoman Sonnier for her dedication to our unhoused neighbors and ensuring the city supports efforts to meet their needs,” according to a statement from the City of St. Louis.

This measure is the result of regional solutions to homelessness that were outlined during last month’s Housing First STL Summit. The measure seeks to support the Regional Emergency Rehousing System, which was deemed necessary by national experts. “The bill ensures enough housing options for those in need, which is a complement to the system,” said Adam Pearson, Director of the Department of Human Services.

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