A new report by the St. Louis County Affordable Housing Trust Fund Task Force outlines various “place-based” and “mobility-based” strategies to create pathways for very low- and low-income families to move into neighborhoods with existing opportunity.
On Wednesday’s St. Louis on the Air, guest host Sharon Stevens discussed the report in depth with Chris Krehmeyer and Adrian Bracy, co-chairs of the task force. Chris Krehmeyer is the CEO of Beyond Housing and Adrian Bracy is the CEO of the YWCA of Metro St. Louis.
The task force was established last year by then-County Executive Steve Stenger. Members of the coalition hope to continue its mission despite Stenger’s resignation on Monday.
“We hope that new County Executive [Sam] Page and his team will embrace this and recognize that it meets a great need,” Krehmeyer said. “It's a report that doesn't have any funding associated with it, so there's still a lot more work to be done. But again, we think the findings, the priorities, the strategies will do great benefit to residents and those who need affordable housing in St. Louis County.”
He noted that there are currently more people living in poverty in the county than the city.
To fund the work needed to expand affordable housing opportunities, the task force anticipates raising $30 million annually and hopes to introduce a sales tax on the 2020 election ballot.
Bracy added that County Councilwoman Lisa Clancy introduced a bill last week that would enact some income protection for people who are using some type of subsidy or assistance to pay their rent.
“[That] was part of our finding as well,” Bracy continued. “People who are receiving housing vouchers sometimes are not accepted into a housing unit because of the voucher. So we don't know how far the bill will go, but at least we can see some movement already. “
Listen to the full discussion:
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