What a blessing it was in 2016 when St. Louis received a $1 million federal Housing First grant that allowed many homeless people to get permanent housing. Many people who were homeless in 2016 now have stable lives and are contributing members of the community.
But not all people who applied in 2016 received housing. And in the last two years, many more people have become homeless. This is why there is a continuing need for emergency shelter and emergency services. Biddle House was renovated by the city at a reported cost of $2.4 million, and Peter & Paul and St. Patrick Center were jointly paid $515,000 annually to make things run.
This year, for various reasons, neither nonprofit will be operating the Biddle House Opportunities Center, so a politically connected Ohio company, Homefull, will be paid $980,000 to make things run. The increased payment is 90 percent over what the two local non-profits were paid, but not only is Homefull being paid $465,000 more than the local charities, it is no longer providing services to nonresidents of the Biddle House. Thus, children, women, and unsheltered men are at the mercy of the generosity of other nonprofits to obtain meals, showers, laundry.
First, the city must tell us how these additional dollars are being spent. Second, the city must increase the number of affordable units. Prevention is the best solution to homelessness.
Scott Egan
Connie Lamka
Robert Boettcher
Metro St. Louis Coalition for the Homeless
