Letter to the St. Louis Post – Dispatch
10/24/2008

We owe it to our city’s homeless to fulfill promise of safe havens

A recent attack on a volunteer by a homeless woman at the New Life Evangelistic Center highlights a major problem facing our city and the lack of proactive resources combating it (“Assault at homeless shelter highlights dangers,” Oct. 15).

Some homeless people are transitioning through an unlucky life period. For others, the problem is less temporary. They face significant psychological barriers and often are ill-prepared to care for themselves. Some people are prone to verbal or violent outbursts, as the unfortunate attack demonstrates.

Housing homeless individuals in an outdated high-rise building is not this problem’s ultimate solution. However, criticizing an organization that fills an obvious void in local homeless services is disingenuous.
The Housing First model is a step in the right direction. It provides the individual care and attention required to break the cycle of homelessness. That’s why the city committed to establishing five of these safe havens. Unfortunately, the action has lagged behind the promise.

Currently, only two exist in the entire city, providing just 50 beds. This simply is insufficient. Our city government must keep its promise and fully establish and fund each haven.

This is a critical step to improving St. Louis’ homelessness problem. It will provide a safer environment for everyone who lives and works downtown and will go a long way toward ending the cyclical nature of the problem. It is a simple action, but it must be taken immediately. We owe our city’s homeless (and the volunteers caring for them) nothing less.

Kacie Starr Triplett | St. Louis

Alderwoman, Sixth Ward