With temperatures dipping and the chill of winter settling in, St. Louis City's Department of Human Services, along with local organizations, are ramping up resources to serve those without shelter during the frigid months. According to the Homeless Management Information Systems (HMIS) platform, administered by the Institute for Community Alliances, the city has just over 800 beds allocated for emergency shelter and transitional housing, with a 94% utilization rate on average. This includes approximately 340 emergency shelter beds, and about 500 in transitional housing.
As reported by the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department website, some beds may temporarily be unavailable due to maintenance or other issues, however, providers are expeditious in making them accessible again. The DHS announced that nine senior centers and numerous public libraries, including the Central, Baden, Barr and others will function as warming centers, with locations and operation hours listed on their respective websites.
For those seeking shelter, the United Way’s 2-1-1 service is the essential resource for finding support and to prevent overcrowding, most shelters mandate a referral from 2-1-1 or the GetHelp app. The latter is a tool to centralize data on shelter bed availability, offering critical information for both operators and outreach partners.
Funding for these initiatives comes from various sources. The DHS Winter/Inclement Weather RFP generated just under $200,000, benefiting two providers. It also contributed to the St. Patrick Center Safe Haven/Grace House, helping to continue its operations through March 2025. Additionally, the Department is working in concert with HESTL on their RFP, allocating approximately $100,000 for a privately-raised winter flex fund to tackle the pressing needs of the homeless during winter months.
Efforts to enhance the welfare of the homeless in the region are not limited to funding and practical resources. The DHS coordinated a groundbreaking regional housing summit this past fall with the East-West Gateway Council of Governments, Greater St. Louis Inc, and HESTL. The summit's purpose was to create a cohesive strategy to tackle homelessness and was the first event of its kind in the bi-state area, aiming to foster cooperation among Continua of Care across two states, public housing authorities and other key stakeholders.
