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Local advocates ask O'Fallon to underwrite winter sheltering as homeless services face rising demand
Summary
A continuum-of-care advocate told the council that homelessness and housing instability in the region are increasing and asked municipalities to help fund emergency motel sheltering for families this winter; advocates estimated about $77,000 would be needed to cover winter hotel stays through March and said O'Fallon residents accounted for roughly
A member of the regional continuum of care urged O'Fallon council members on Oct. 23 to help fund emergency winter sheltering and to join a broader municipal conversation about affordable and crisis housing.
"It takes an average in this community of nine months to successfully rehouse a family once they've become homeless," said Dottie Kastegar, a local advocate working with the continuum of care. She told the council the coordinated system had received 386 requests for assistance from O'Fallon residents since January; 328 of those households received prevention assistance, and 144 people were waiting for housing at the time of her remarks.
Kastegar said the closure of the Salvation Army shelter in the county had increased pressure on regional systems and that last year the continuum was able to fund short motel stays using limited hotel funds. Because those funds are no longer available, she asked municipalities to consider funding emergency sheltering again. "To keep people safe this winter, we need about $77,000," she said; she added that roughly 20 percent of that need corresponds to O'Fallon residents.
Why it matters: advocates said unstable housing affects children's school attendance and job stability. Fort Zumwalt School District data cited by the presenter included nearly 200 students identified as homeless in the prior year and significant transportation costs — the district reported tens of thousands of dollars in monthly cab fares to transport students to assigned schools.
What council members asked and said: Several council members thanked the presenter and asked where donations and checks could be sent; staff said Community Council will open an online donation channel after Nov. 1 and will accept checks directing funds to homeless sheltering. Council members expressed urgency and asked staff to connect with the county system for coordinated responses.
Next steps: the presenter invited elected officials and community leaders to a Nov. 6 breakfast to discuss longer-term solutions and asked the city to consider a local contribution or outreach to faith-based partners for winter sheltering locations and volunteer support.
