A homeless camp, with a few tents, was evicted March 23, 2023 at 12:00 PM at Highway I-44 and Hampton Ave., in St. Louis. The encampment was along the westbound on ramp to I-44. The encampment has been there for over two years, and now that it is illegal to sleep on state property, these evictions will become common place in our society. The homeless refuge was torn down by MoDOT.
A very nice gentlemen called this home for around a year, and is sad that he has to leave today. Listen in the video as he talks about the problems he faces everyday which we take for granted. Watch him talk about the problems of homelessness on YouTube.
Homelessness is a serious issue in St. Louis. According to the St. Louis Continuum of Care, on a single night in January 2022, 1,050 county and city residents experienced some level of homelessness. Of those, 34% were unsheltered, meaning they were living on the streets, in abandoned buildings, or in cars.
The majority of those who were homeless in St. Louis in January 2022 were individuals (78%), while 22% were families. The most common reasons for homelessness were lack of affordable housing (45%), job loss (23%), and domestic violence (20%).
Homelessness is a complex issue with no easy solutions. However, there are a number of things that can be done to help address the problem in St. Louis. These include:
- Providing more affordable housing
- Creating more jobs
- Providing more support for victims of domestic violence
- Increasing access to mental health and substance abuse treatment
- Reducing the stigma of homelessness
These are just some of the things that can be done to help address homelessness in St. Louis. By working together, we can make a difference in the lives of those who are struggling with homelessness.
