ST. LOUIS – The Catholic Church is helping families needing assistance with affordable housing with a $1 million grant.
In a study by the Archdiocese of Saint Louis, elements such as mass attendance and social outreach efforts, along with other trends and statistics, were seen as important.
“One of the priorities mentioned was affordable housing and homelessness, so that really helped us to see that homelessness is not merely confined to one region,” Archbishop Mitchell Rozanski said.
According to their chart, 33% of families were spending 30% or more of their income on housing. Rozanski hopes the $1 million grant from the annual Catholic appeal can help families in need.
“I know from our St. Joseph housing initiative, probably close to 100 people just in that initiative alone will be able to afford housing. That will give them stability,” he said.
Pam Struckhoff is the executive director of care services at Saint Joachim and Ann, aiding around 3,000 people every year. She says getting people into homes is the top priority.
“This will allow us to double the people that we’re serving throughout our agency, which is going to be awesome because we turn away a lot more than we’re able to assist,” she said. “We try just to make sure that they have the structure and the help that they need to continue to live in their unit and not have to need us again.”
Rozanski said they reach out to everyone of all faiths or no faiths to ensure adequate housing.
Below is a list of resources for those who need assistance:
Assissi House – St. Louis
Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of St. Louis – Lincoln County
Peter & Paul Community Services – St. Louis
Room at the Inn – St. Louis County
St. Joseph Housing Initiative – St. Louis
The Care Service at Sts. Joachim and Ann – St. Charles County, Lincoln County, Warren County
St. Patrick Center – St. Louis
