Sonnier, city clear hurdles for unhoused

The holiday season brings families and friends together in the comfort of homes throughout the St. Louis region.

Unfortunately, many area residents do not have shelter, in part because adequate housing is not available, leaving them unhoused.

Alderwoman Alisha Sonnier made it her task to help alleviate some roadblocks in the process of sheltering people by sponsoring Board Bill 114, which was passed by the Board of Aldermen on Friday, Nov. 15, 2024.

On Tuesday, Mayor Tishaura O. Jones signed the bill which amends the city’s zoning code to make the process for opening shelters and transitional homes clearer.

Jones calls it “a crucial component in the city’s continued effort to reduce our unhoused population.”

“As we work to implement a regional housing strategy, this legislation helps support the interim needs of residents getting ready for the rehousing process,” said Jones.

“We have been working on this legislation for a long time, and I want to thank our departments, the Board of Aldermen, and particularly Alderwoman Sonnier and Board of Aldermen President Megan Green for their significant efforts to help us make this positive change for St. Louis.”

The bill creates a clear and transparent process for shelters to apply for operation within the city, including opportunities for neighborhood input through a community notification requirement and public hearings for new shelter proposals. 

“Housing is a human right and right now one in five of our families in Saint Louis Public Schools are unhoused,” Sonnier said.

“On average, a person has to wait more than 700 days for community housing and more than 250 days for emergency shelter. With the passage of this bill, providers not only have a clear pathway through our zoning code to offer life-saving services, but our residents and departments now have a transparent, community-centered, and streamlined process that provides critical enforcement tools for safety and compliance.”

Green thanked Sonnier for her dedication “to our unhoused neighbors and ensuring the city supports efforts to meet their needs.”

“I also commend community partners, and our colleagues for doing the challenging work of building consensus on an idea that makes our city work for our most vulnerable residents.”

Last month, the East-West Gateway Council of Governments hosted the Housing First STL Summit, which brought in regional officials and national experts to create a regional approach with aspirations to solve homelessness across the St. Louis region.

It focused on putting housing first with an emphasis on public-private partnerships to fund initiatives to make homelessness a brief and rare experience, rather than a persistent struggle.

“There is a shared understanding that we as a region need to adopt a Regional Emergency Rehousing System,” said Adam Pearson, Department of Human Services director.

 “This bill complements what that system needs to be, one where we have sufficient housing options for the people who need them, be it permanent supportive housing, or shelter options for those who are awaiting placement in long-term housing in the community.”