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Panel: Real Estate Tax Assistance Fund has saved homes; city urged to help sustain program

St. Louis City Housing, Urban development and Zoning Committee · November 18, 2025

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Summary

ParkCentral, Legal Services and the Collector's Office told the committee the Real Estate Tax Assistance Fund (RETAF) has saved roughly 205 homes since 2022 and preserved more than $7 million in home equity; presenters asked the board to consider local funding to sustain the program beyond ARPA and private donations.

Speakers from ParkCentral, Legal Services of Eastern Missouri and the Collector of Revenue presented the Real Estate Tax Assistance Fund (RETAF) to the Housing, Urban Development & Zoning Committee on Nov. 12, detailing the program’s origin, eligibility rules, outcomes and funding needs.

Greg Daley, Collector of Revenue for St. Louis City, introduced the presenters and said the initiative preserves homeownership and prevents tax‑sale driven displacement. Abdul Abdullah, executive director of ParkCentral, described how the program grew from two local efforts into a coordinated, tri‑party model with the collector's office and legal services providing warm handoffs and title work. "This particular program has prevented [home sales at distress prices] and has really done what I think is an exceptional job of keeping people in their homes," Daley said.

ParkCentral and Legal Services reported measurable results since 2022: about 205 homes saved, an estimated preservation of more than $7 million in home equity (the organizations valued that as appraised equity preserved), roughly 356 residents assisted including 112 children, and direct funds returned to city general revenue of approximately $883,000. Presenters said the average cost to save a home has been about $4,300. They emphasized the program targets owner‑occupied homes that are at imminent risk of tax sale, requires clean title (or legal services help to cure title defects), and is limited to households under program AMI thresholds tied to funding requirements.

Panelists asked the committee and the board to explore sustainable local funding beyond the ARPA or private donations that currently support RETAF; ParkCentral said it has raised roughly $200,000 in private funds that help leverage public dollars. They provided practical contacts and access details: applications via retaf.org or by calling ParkCentral (314‑535‑5311) and noted the program accepts donations through ParkCentral Development (a 501(c)(3)).

Alderwomen and aldermen praised the program’s outcomes and asked staff to help connect constituents; several members expressed interest in working on a board bill or local funding mechanism to sustain RETAF’s services. The committee took no formal vote on a city appropriation at the hearing.