Inclement Weather and Shelter Access
Learn about the Homeless Services Cold Weather Operations and Shelter Process, and find outreach organizations
Overview
The City’s Cold Weather Operations and Shelter process includes continuous shelter availability, regardless of the forecasted temperature outside, from December 1st to March 31st.
The Department of Human Services remains committed to transitioning unhoused residents or those facing housing instability into permanent housing. Case management, meals and connection to other critical services are provided at the operating shelters to aid individuals and families in obtaining permanent housing.
This information is also available in PDF format: City of St. Louis Department of Human Services Inclement Weather Operations Fact Sheet - 2024/2025 Season
Shelter Bed Availability
Year-Round Beds
The St. Louis City Department of Human Services is one of the many local organizations that use a Homeless Management Information Systems (HMIS) platform, and this platform is administered by the Institute for Community Alliances. According to HMIS, there are just over 800 combined beds year-round for emergency shelter and transitional housing. This includes around 340 emergency shelter beds, and around 500 transitional housing beds.
- These beds have a 94% utilization rate on average
- Some beds come offline because of maintenance or other issues at sheltering/housing facilities, but providers work quickly to get them back online whenever possible. This inevitably affects the bed count according to the system
Winter Overflow Beds
Agency | Added Winter Overflow Beds |
---|---|
Biddle Housing Opportunities Center | 52 |
Gateway 180 | 15 |
Americorps (operating at 20 degrees and below, Thurs-Sat) | 35-40 |
Wellston Loop Community Development Corporation (operating at 32 degrees and below) | 15 |
Total Funded Winter Beds | 117-122 |
Additionally, Peter & Paul Community Services is expected to bring 40 more City-funded permanent beds online in December 2024, bringing the total number of City-funded beds added this winter to as much as 162.
Shelter Referrals
- United Way’s 2-1-1 is the best resource for finding shelter & resources. To avoid overcrowding, most shelters require a referral from 2-1-1 or GetHelp.
- All outreach partners, including 2-1-1 operators, are trained on GetHelp, an app centralizing data on shelter bed availability.
Supplies
- DHS is actively fulfilling winter supplies orders for verified outreach organizations and partners. Supplies include blankets, hats, socks, cots, and cleaning supplies. Some others may be available depending on inventory.
Daytime Warming Centers
View all daytime warming centers
- List of Senior Centers where waiting rooms can be used for warming centers:
- City Seniors, Inc; Five Star Center; Northside Youth and Senior Service Center; Robert Fulton Development, Inc; Urban League Patch
- Locations and hours of operation can be found on the St. Louis Area Agency on Aging website.
- St. Louis Public Libraries:
- Central, Baden, Barr, Buder, Cabanne, Carondelet, Carpenter, Divoll, Julia Davis, Kingshighway, Machacek, Schalfly, and Walnut Park.
- Locations and Hours of operation can be found on the St. Louis Public Library website: www.slpl.org
Funding
- DHS Winter/Inclement Weather RFP: just under $200,000, which funded two providers. Balance of funding was extended to St. Patrick Center Safe Haven/Grace House to extend operations through March 2025
- DHS coordinating with HESTL on their RFP: Appx $100,000 made available for a privately-raised winter flex fund
Outreach
- Ongoing joint outreach collaboration with the Department of Health’s Behavioral Health Bureau
- Funded outreach partnership with Affinia Healthcare and their Mobile Outreach Unit
- Funded outreach partnership with Places for People
Regional Collaboration
Collaboration with East-West Gateway Council of Governments, Greater St. Louis Inc, and HESTL on the Unhoused.
- DHS coordinated the regional housing summit this fall that convened Continua of Care across two states, public housing authorities, elected officials, and a host of businesses and funders to create a regional strategy that supports the expansion of housing opportunities for the unhoused. This effort was the first of its type in the region, and the DHS is hopeful that the initiative will lead to greater coordination amongst providers and policymakers in the bi-state region.
Related News
-
City of St. Louis Outlines Preparations for Winter Storm
The National Weather Service (NWS) issued a Winter Storm Watch for the City of St. Louis beginning Saturday, January 4 at 6:00 p.m
Press release | Office of the Mayor,Homeless Services,Department of Health,City Emergency Management Agency | 01/03/2025 -
City of St. Louis Releases 2024/25 Winter Plan Providing Shelter for the Unhoused
Through the Department of Human Services, this year’s winter plan funds about 120 inclement weather shelter beds.
Press release | Homeless Services,Office of the Mayor | 11/20/2024