As Demand Grows, Homeless Shelters Struggle

[hatrack]

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"Fuller and Leonard are part of a growing homeless problem in the St. Louis metro area. People in the emergency shelter network say the problem has been getting steadily worse over the past few years, with more people needing rent and mortgage assistance and more families facing homelessness.

The number of requests for emergency shelter has increased 46 percent over 2001, according to records supplied by the Housing Resource Center, which functions as a clearinghouse for such requests. The center also operates a housing crisis hotline, which last year fielded more than 23,000 calls for help. According to the center's records, more than half the homeless people in this area are children, and more than one-third are women.


Shelters close their doors

Complicating the increased demand is the closing of more and more shelters, victims themselves of financial shortfalls. The latest is AL-PAC, a shelter in Pacific that provided 23 to 30 emergency beds for homeless families, mostly women and children.

The Rev. Larry Rice, of the New Life Evangelistic Center, said his center has seen a 150 percent increase in women and children seeking shelter. 'After last Christmas we started setting up air mattresses in our worship studio for women and children,' he said. 'We thought it was for a few weeks, but the numbers keep on growing.'"

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St. Louis Post-Dispatch

[Don_G]

1. Catholic Charities Have Been Hit Hard Too

With multi-million dollar payouts in multiple areas of the country, they don't have the money they used to. That's hurting those who need it most.

[yellowcanine]

2. Don't those homeless people realize the economy is improving?

How come they can't use the 7.2% GDP growth rate to find a place to live? That's what is wrong with this country, nobody takes personal responsibility anymore. If I owned an apartment building and some homeless person came to me and said "could I have an apartment since the GDP grew 7.2%?" of course I would give it to him.

[lovedems]

3. The rich get richer and the poor get poorer.

And all we are going to hear about in the upcoming weeks are tax breaks for corporations. I truly despise what this administration stands for.

[Malva Zebrina]

4. tax breaks for the rich, billions to fight and kill in a war that is

unjust and fought under the lies Bush told to his own people.

This is done purposefully, imo--Bush has his eye on Faith Based Charites being passed, and all the churches will be running the marathon to line up for the money. He brazenly forced the abortion bill, and faith based is next. Wow--he will get the votes of so many people who will be grateful to him for his compassionate conservatism

[blessedwithbliss]

5. I don't understand why more homeless don't go to SF

It's warmer and they get a few hundred cash a month to spend. I know that if I wind up on the street I'm hitching it to SanFran and at least be more comfortable. If the Green makes it in as mayor then they may even get a raise.