In response to the tornado disaster that has left many St. Louis residents in precarious living conditions, the city has teamed up with state and civic partners to offer a safety net for those braving the winter in damaged homes or without shelter at all. Outlining the initiative, St. Louis Mayor Cara Spencer stated, “During the brutal cold weather of the past two weeks, we opened shelters for anyone who needed a place to be safe and warm, but we recognize there are people who are still living in homes damaged by the tornado who may not want to come to a shelter, or may need different kinds of support,” as per the City of St. Louis.
Family units with children, elders over 65, and individuals with accessibility challenges are prioritized for assistance including hotel rooms and emergency rental aid thanks to over $10 million in funds approved to aid these tornado-affected citizens and the city’s unhoused, these funds being allocated through board bills 94 and 95. The St. Louis Recovery Office alongside groups like Action St. Louis, and the St. Louis Integrated Health Network are making outbound calls and sending outreach workers to check on those in compromised houses and connect them with resources to ensure they remain warm and informed about the warming centers…