By Matt Sepic, KWMU
St. Louis – The Rev. Larry Rice is trying to convince federal Health and Human Services officials to let him turn the 280,000 square foot Abram Federal Building in downtown St. Louis into a homeless shelter.
The federal officials met with city officials Monday and will tour the building with Rice Tuesday.
Rice says the number of homeless women and children in the area is growing, and the Abram building is an ideal place for them.
"I'm amazed at how it's perfectly set up for such," Rice said. "And when I stop and think if we don't receive this particular facility, the ongoing needs that are not going to be met I find horrifying."
Mayor Francis Slay and Developer Don Breckenridge want to tear down the building as part of a redevelopment plan for the Kiel Opera House.
They say a more regional approach to combating homelessness is needed.