The City of St. Louis has launched its 2024–2025 Winter Plan to house homeless people in order to combat the winter cold. Mayor Tishaura O. Jones said in an official City of St. Louis release, “I am thankful to our Department of Human Services, which has worked with community partners to ensure that more shelter beds will be available for our unhoused neighbors this winter than a year ago.” Increasing attempts to find long-term housing alternatives is another key component of the plan.
In addition to the more than 800 beds that are available year-round, the plan adds roughly 160 more beds for severe weather shelters. Beginning on December 1, these extra beds will be accessible on nights when it is predicted to fall below 25 degrees with precipitation or 20 degrees without. “My administration is committed to finding sustainable long-term solutions, but we also have a responsibility to step up our efforts in the winter, and that s what we re doing,” Mayor Jones said in the same release.
Recently, Mayor Jones presided over the signing of legislation to streamline the transitional housing and new shelter opening procedures. She also participates in a regional homelessness effort run by the East-West Gateway Council of Governments.
Verified shelters and outreach organizations are receiving basic goods from the city’s Department of Human Services, including cots, blankets, caps, socks, and cleaning supplies. “Our Homeless Services Division has carried many of these efforts thanks to solid leadership from Amy Bickford, Manager of the division, a team of outreach workers who meet people where they are on the streets, and a team of contract compliance officers who ensure that we’re providing the robust supports needed to fund organizations who engage with the unhoused population,” stated Adam Pearson, Director of the Department of Human Services, in a statement from the City of St. Louis.
In order to properly implement these regulations, the city works with outreach organizations and the Continuum of Care, demonstrating a solid partnership between the government and community organizations in the fight against homelessness.
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