By Bill Raack/Kevin Lavery, KWMU
St. Louis, MO – The city of St. Louis and St. Louis County will have more tools to fight homelessness with news today that they have received eleven-million-dollars in grant money.
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development says the money will be distributed among groups that provide housing and support services for the homeless.
Mayor Francis Slay says the grant will boost the city's effort to address the problem. "It seems like there are more and more homeless people on the street with the downturn of the economy, downsizing of corporations. We need, as a region, to do more to address this issue. That's why we put together the ten-year plan. And that's why I'm so pleased to see County Executive Charlie Dooley to join with us in addressing this very difficult challenge."
Service providers say there are about 1,200 people that are considered chronically homeless in the city.