Drew Falvey, an advocate for the homeless, asked St. Louis City Hall “Have we all stopped caring?”

Drew Falvey, co-founder of Lifeline Aid Group, attended a public meeting at St. Louis City Hall to discuss the Unhoused Bill Of Rights and any concerns on Nov. 1, 2023.

TRANSCRIPT:
Good evening members of the board and distinguished guests. My name is Drew Falvey from the central West End under Michael Browning. I’m an advocate for the unhoused and a co-founder of Lifeline Aid Group by 501c3 that helps answer for the unhoused. As someone working closely with the unhoused, I can say that I have never seen such disregard to the unhoused by the city.

I have not witnessed any type of resources of value including funding that goes directly to the homeless. When the city removed the warming bus, it brought on many more problems that we continue to see this very day.

Since the start of COVID, we have halted all rent payments and much more. Now that we are back from COVID, evictions are under-rise. Have we all stopped caring? Throwing people out onto the streets is a trending cycle that I cannot bear to see any longer and it needs to stop now. A basic human right means that the unhoused should be able to use the bathroom safely and legally. So why not bring out accessible public restrooms that are regularly maintained by the city? There needs to be easy access to mental health and rehab programs, keeping them from drug abuse instead of incarceration.

I feel helpless seeing nothing being done to help the unhoused become a part of society by the members that have control of changing the outcome.

There is nothing more that I can say and nothing more that I can do other than continue to watch my clients continue to die by being out in the cold every single day. Do something or don’t do nothing at all. I am watching and everyone else is too. Thank you.