ST. LOUIS, Mo. (First Alert 4) -Several area shelters and homeless service providers are preparing for extreme cold, and dozens of people seeking help.
The City of St. Louis typically funds nearly 850 shelter beds across St. Louis. During winter emergencies, such as the conditions the region will experience this weekend, the city provides 100 more.
Many of those extra cots are at the Biddle House Shelter, stacked wall to wall in a multipurpose room.
Michelle Gibbs, the site director for Biddle House, said that the shelter would also operate a warming center during the day and help clients connect with other services that may be able to help them stay safe in the cold.
“We know it’s cold outside and people are trying to get warm. If we need to make accommodations, that’s exactly what we’re going to do,” she said.
Adam Pearson, director of the city’s
Department of Human Services, said the emergency beds should cover most needs in St. Louis through the next few days. He said a longer term issue, however, is creating more permanent housing options.
“Year round the focus needs to be, ‘How can we build more affordable housing and add that to our portfolio?’” he said.
Amanda Laumeyer, the CEO of St. Patrick Center, agreed that the focus of the city, and the region, needs to shift. She acknowledged that more shelter space is needed, but said other stakeholders in the area need to take initiative.
“This is a city, county, state issue that everyone is facing,” she said.
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