Efforts seek to address homelessness

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Efforts to help homeless people in suburban areas is widespread.

The Society of St. Vincent de Paul and Catholic Charities have extensive efforts in the urban core to assist individuals and families who are homeless or at risk of homelessness. But they also have an outreach in suburban St. Louis.

In St. Charles County, the Society of St. Vincent de Paul is hard at work through volunteers at a number of parishes. At Immaculate Conception Parish in Dardenne Prairie, for example, they support families who have sought emergency housing at a budget motel in Wentzville. Various churches, including at least one other Catholic parish, assist those who are staying there with their costs and with meals.

The goal, according to a representative of the St. Vincent de Paul at Immaculate Conception, is to link the families with other agencies that can assist them obtain permanent housing.

Catholic Charities Community Services' St. Charles Area Center serves vulnerable homeless and near homeless individuals and families. The center offers direct assistance in conjunction with the St. Vincent de Paul societies of the St. Charles deanery and other help organizations in St. Charles, Lincoln, and Warren Counties. Assistance includes utilities, rent, mortgage assistance, medical assistance and transportation.

Sts. Joachim and Ann Care Service has a number of programs designed to prevent homelessness or assist those who are homeless obtain and remain in stable housing situations. It offers temporary emergency housing, transitional housing, emergency rent/mortgage assistance, home repairs and utility assistance -- all designed to address the causes of the crisis and restore self-reliance.

In St. Louis County, Room at the Inn serves up to 20 people daily, about 200 each year, half of whom are children. In addition to food and shelter, Room at the Inn helps clients identify and correct the underlying causes of their homelessness, regain self-sufficiency and avoid future episodes of homelessness. It is a sponsored ministry of the Sisters of Divine Providence, a community of women religious.