In a move hailed as a historic moment for St. Louis, the city's Department of Human Services (DHS) has teamed up with the St. Louis Continuum of Care (CoC) in response to homelessness through a freshly penned memorandum of understanding. This agreement marks the first official partnership between the two entities, who have collaborated informally for over three decades. St. Louis City’s announcement detailed the plan to enhance the efficacy of local response to homelessness with clarified responsibilities and bolstered opportunities for funding.

The memorandum between DHS and CoC is set to redefine how agencies interact, a necessity underscored by the ongoing homelessness challenge in St. Louis. Adam Cisroe Pearson, director of DHS, emphasized the significance. "I am excited that DHS and the COC now have a formal relationship that lays out mutually agreed-upon objectives that support the critical systems that get people housed," Pearson told St. Louis City’s official website. This new framework aims to streamline their combined actions toward sheltering those in need, ensuring more efficient use of resources.

Kathy Connors, executive director of Gateway 180 and newly appointed COC Board chair, joined Pearson in celebrating the new agreement. Connors said, "History has been made with this MOU signing. Now, we can refocus our energy on helping every person in need of housing and services, moving us toward our ultimate goal of ending homelessness." This marks a shared optimism that the structured partnership will yield substantial progress in St. Louis's homelessness crisis.