As St. Louis prepares for a chilly night with temperatures dipping to 25°F, the City of St. Louis Department of Human Services is springing into action to ensure residents have a warm place to stay. Partnering with local organizations, the city has activated emergency shelters, which opened at 6 p.m. yesterday and will remain open until 9 a.m. today, offering a total of 304 emergency beds in addition to the 400 year-round beds already available to those in need.
Seeking shelter in St. Louis can be as easy as walking up to the designated locations—particularly Biddle Housing Opportunities Center at 1212 N. 13th St. for single men and Peter & Paul - Sidney Shelter at 112 Sidney St. for both single men and single women alike; however, after 9 p.m., those without a spot must dial 211 to contact the United Way 211 Helpline who will guide them to an available opening. In a report by the City of St. Louis, spaces are also allocated for families, which can be secured through a call to the Helpline or by speaking directly with a coordinator at any rally point across the city.
The city has also arranged for transportation pickups between 5 and 7 p.m. at several rally points, including the North City Zone's two locations—the Urban League Women's Business Center on 4401 Natural Bridge Ave. and the Wellston Loop Community Development Corporation at 1522 Hodiamont Ave.; the Centenary United Methodist Church at 1610 Olive St. (using the Pine Street entrance) in the Central City Zone; and the parking lot at Loughborough Commons, 1020 Loughborough Ave., between the local Schnucks and Lowe's, in the South City Zone. The services at these rally points include either an inviting warming bus or an indoor facility to shut out the cold, along with a Metro Call-A-Ride shuttle that is equipped with both a driver and an outreach worker to ensure a safe and warm transit to the various shelters, as noted by the City of St. Louis official website.
Individuals in need of transportation can request assistance through the United Way 211 Helpline to access shelter during severe weather. City leaders and local organizations said they are working together to help vulnerable residents stay warm as cold conditions continue across St. Louis.
