House the Homeless
From "Ideas Portal"
Go to the project
The Workhouse would be a credible solution for temporary shelter, because the structure of the building is not suitable as a permanent solution for even animals, let alone human beings. Yes, caging can be removed, but close quarters and shared common areas are a recipe for disaster. Rehab should include resolving these problems. Can rodent control be effective?
Several empty structures in St. Louis can be used to house the Homeless, that are no longer of use to the business community. The now-vacant AT&T building at One Bell Center is an excellent example. This building alone could possibly house more than 50% of the homeless population.
Major cities take the responsibility of housing their Homeless, if for no other reason than to not intimidate visitors. It should be a Human Compassion issue but, it is a wise investment.
In the New Living Translation (NLT) of the Bible, Mark 14:7(a) reads, "You will always have the poor among you, and you can help them whenever you want to...¨
Comments(13)
Please to comment.
Most recent comments have loaded.
Profile of Loon-Tzian Lo
Posted by:Loon-Tzian Lo
2 years ago
INCLUSIVEstl Opportunity Zone Fund plans to raise capital for community development projects in St. Louis City and North St. Louis County. One of the real estate projects planned is the re-development of the Railway Exchange Building, improving affordable home supplies for housing homelessness and those with drug and alcohol issues in St. Louis area.
Profile of Paula Kyla Oudshoorn
Posted by:Paula Kyla Oudshoorn
2 years ago
From the ContinuumFrom the Continum of Care website: In 2018, according to this report, the total number of beds, these numbers include all shelter beds, not just emergency shelter, CLICK the total number of shelter beds in the county was 1,007 CLICK the total number of shelter beds in the city was 3,114, more than three times as many as the county. Now the population of St Louis County is 1 million and the population of St Louis City is 300,000. CLICK that means that
** for every 100 residents in the City we provide 1 shelter bed.
**for every 100,000 residents in the County they provide 1 shelter bed. It is time for the County to take their share of the responsibility, homelessness is not just a City issue, this is a regional issue.
Profile of Marshelle Woodland
Posted by:Marshelle Woodland
2 years ago
@Gioia Spurlin I'm looking for people to partner for change with to do community fundraising events. My idea about the homeless problem was ignored also. It includes holding community fundraisers for all Community issues especially the Homeless Problem at venues we have paid for. I already have the ball rolling to use the Dome and Convention Center for the first biggest give back to the community event. Let's talk at 314-243-6034 if you're interested.
Profile of Pete Wagner
Posted by:Pete Wagner
2 years ago
Placing the blame and responsibility for regional and national homelessness relegates St. Louisans to second-class citizens. The call for us to sacrifice more on behalf of regional and national communities' homeless is:
Is rooted in bigotry against St. Louis residents. Self-proclaimed city homeless advocates are aligned with outsiders using hate-speech against St. Louis residents. This same bigotry causes many to wrongly take retribution upon us and our neighborhoods, blaming us for regional and national homelessness.
Relies upon repeated use of disinformation by the self-proclaimed homeless advocates to advance their actions against St. Louis neighborhoods.
Weaponizes regional and national homeless against St. Louis via forced occupation against an ever-decreasing residency.
Wrongly seeks to increase the burden on city residents on behalf of regional and national special interests. The City of St. Louis continues to disproportionally bear the burden by servicing 90% of the regions’ homeless population, despite having 15% of the total population.
The city should should be taking on less of the obligation for regional and national homeless instead of more.
Profile of Gioia Spurlin
Posted by:Gioia Spurlin
2 years ago
@Pete Wagner Most of your reply is opinion. We all have opinions, and when asked for ideas, that's what opinions are. I don't see bigotry or racism in my ideas but perhaps there's a middle ground where we could both be wrong, and could both be right.
Profile of Paula Kyla Oudshoorn
Posted by:Paula Kyla Oudshoorn
2 years ago
@Gioia Spurlin It is not opinion. If you look at the CoC website you will see that what Pete says is correct.
Profile of Paula Kyla Oudshoorn
Posted by:Paula Kyla Oudshoorn
2 years ago
@Pete Wagner Well said. I've had to cease using my front porch on the home I own, because of being harassed by several homeless folks. Things stolen off my porch. it's too much.
Profile of Paula Kyla Oudshoorn
Posted by:Paula Kyla Oudshoorn
2 years ago
Gioia, do you currently live in the city? U-city has zero homeless shelters, perhaps you have influence?
Profile of Gioia Spurlin
Posted by:Gioia Spurlin
2 years ago
@Paula Kyla Oudshoorn please forgive my thoughtlessness; I look at Saint Louis as a metropolitan area with City and County and near Illinois townships combined.
University City is not the only township in need of shelters that don't exist. The surrounding areas: Pagedale, Wellston, Overland, St. Ann, Bridgeton, Riverview, Jennings, Maplewood, Richmond Heights, South City and North City--ALL have a surge in homelessness due to our current economy.
Unfortunately it appears the players have changed in U-City and I would not have influence with the current administration, but I encourage you as a resident to exercise your civic duty and petition your Mayoral Administration to make changes.
Profile of Paula Kyla Oudshoorn
Posted by:Paula Kyla Oudshoorn
2 years ago
@Gioia Spurlin I definitely@Gioia Spurlin I definiately have been in touch with the city admin. We have done a lot of research on the subject. These numbers come directly from the CoC. In 2018, according to this report, the total number of beds, these numbers include all shelter beds, not just emergency shelter, CLICK the total number of shelter beds in the county was 1,007 CLICK the total number of shelter beds in the city was 3,114, more than three times as many as the county. Now the population of St Louis County is 1 million and the population of St Louis City is 300,000. CLICK that means that for every 100 residents in the City we provide one shelter bed. For every 100,000 residents in the County they provide one shelter bed. It is time for the County to take their share of the responsibility, homelessness is not just a City issue, this is a regional issue.
Profile of Steve Smith
Posted by:Steve Smith
3 years ago
I agree with this. On the other hand housing the homeless is not just an issue of human compassion. There are people profiting from homelessness, and as long as they continue to profit from this, the problem will persist. I refer to the film "A Field of Dreams" here. If you build it, they will come. I'm not suggesting to remove all homeless shelters, but something along those lines seems favorable to reduce the problem. It's essentially human trafficking. Similar to the scourge of the for-profit prison system that plagues us. I believe some people prefer prison because they can make more money that way. Many people do not have this perspective. I live in a bad neighborhood and have this perspective because of it. I no longer view it as a "bad" neighborhood however. These are people like you and I, trying to live their lives in peace. Some of them choose to engage in illegal activities, and understand and are prepared for the consequences they may face if they should have to face them. I was one of them.
I grew up in an affluent St. Louis family in the county. Perspective changes everything and it's true, "things are not always as they seem".
Profile of Gioia Spurlin
Posted by:Gioia Spurlin
3 years ago
@Steve Smith
I encourage the submission of different perspectives. This brainstorming is how we arrive at real solutions. I am from University City, a sort of Utopia, where everyone had more than enough. I am also from a generation that knows there is more than enough to go around.
Greed has its place rooted in the devastation of mankind, and homelessness is no exception. I appeal to GREED, that to assist the homeless is to invest in one´s ventures.
Downtown residents have complained about the presence of the homeless population and foolishly pulled strings to shut down one of the most effective shelters. So instead of supporting this shelter´s efforts, the shutdown increased the visibility of the homeless, which I believe slowed the residential real estate market, which could have been lucrative. Now they have tent communities and their rage intensifies, which breeds violence. We have heard about the violence.
Where are our social programs and mental health institutions? Slowly put away over the decades, in the name of saving ¨tax dollars¨. Again, greed over wisdom but wisdom wins hands down.
Profile of Loon-Tzian Lo
Posted by:Loon-Tzian Lo
2 years ago
@Gioia Spurlin I agree.
WellHealth Institute plans to develop mental health and addiction treatment programs in North St. Louis City, depending on fund availability.
Total likes: 114, total dislikes: 14
. Sign in to react.. Sign in to react.