FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 4, 2010

St. Louis network of homeless service providers respond to Larry Rice’s “Hopeville” message

(St. Louis, MO) Member agencies of the St. Louis City Continuum of Care (COC) today discussed homelessness and the positive steps that are being taken by the COC partnership to build strategies and solutions to assist our homeless and poor neighbors who want to change their lives.

Held in response to Larry Rice’s recent attacks against the City of St. Louis and his perceived lack of homeless services to the residents of a tunnel community he has dubbed “Hopeville”, the multi-agency news conference was held in the lobby of Rosati Apartments on North Grand, a permanent, supportive housing program of St. Patrick Center that has ended chronic homelessness for 26 formerly homeless men and women since its opening in October 2008. 35 agencies had representatives in attendance. Several of them presented key housing successes and brought clients with them who have experienced firsthand the positive impact of working directly with the agencies of the COC.

Steve Campbell, CEO of St. Peter & Paul Community Services and Vice Chair of the COC Board, addressed the mission of the COC, which is to move our homeless and poor neighbors toward permanent housing and end chronic homelessness by 2015.

Karen Wallensak, Director of Catholic Charities Housing Resource Center and Chair of the COC Housing Task Force Committee, discussed the total number of individuals moved from the streets to transitional and permanent housing since the COC’s formation in 2005.

The following other representatives spoke about their agencies, programs, partnerships and populations served: Reverend Kathleen Wilder, Executive Director, The Bridge and Senior Pastor, Centenary UMC; Lara Pennington, Community Development Associate, Queen of Peace Center and COC Advocacy Committee member; Martin Rafanan, Executive Director, Gateway Homeless Services and Chairman of the COC Advocacy Committee; Tina White, Director, Community Health Programs, Grace Hill Neighborhood Health Centers; Sheroo Mukhtiar, Executive Director, Almost Home; Sue Wagener, Executive Director, Covenant House; Tammy Laws, Executive Director, Shalom House and Chair of the COC Service Delivery Committee; Kimberly Beck, St. Louis Regional Social Services Director, Salvation Army; and Dwain Sliger, Manager of Project HERO (Housing, Employment & Recovery Opportunities), a St. Patrick Center program for veterans.

In addition, Virginia Shelton, Co-Chair of the COC Consumer Council Committee, gave a personal testimony of how Catholic Charities assisted her in her homelessness and how that assistance changed her life.

The St. Louis City Continuum of Care coordinates more than 50 non-profit agencies committed to ending homelessness in St. Louis. The COC empowers homeless men, women and their families with opportunities to achieve enriched and independent lives through affordable housing. The COC promotes best practices, shares resources, provides basic human needs and builds awareness to engage stakeholders and the community. For a complete list of COC member agencies, visit www.hopeismovingin.com. NOTE: Rice’s New Life Evangelistic Center has chosen not to be a member agency of the City’s COC.
 
Media Coverage: Homeless service providers fire back at Reverend Larry Rice
Representatives from 35 local homeless service providers responded to attacks by Reverend Larry Rice that they’re not doing enough to help. 
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STLtoday.com: Homeless need housing not land
In the latest round of sparring between city stalwarts and the Rev. Larry Rice over a group of people living in tunnels, social service agencies on Tuesday said there are better ways to deal with the homeless than designating an acre for them to live as a tent community.

KMOX AM: Homeless people crash new conference — ask tough questions
A news conference designed to show how a dozen local charities are doing their part to help the homeless turned confrontational,  when members of a tent community facing eviction from a railroad tunnel showed up.

KSDK TV:

St. Louis Globe-Democrat: Homeless agencies defend their efforts
Agencies that assist the homeless in St. Louis met Tuesday to talk about the steps they’ve taken to address the homeless issue.
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St. Louis Public Radio: Area homeless agencies fight accusations they aren’t helping residents of tent city
Social service providers in St. Louis say they are doing everything they can to help the residents of a tent city in a tunner under Tucker Boulevard.
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KMOV TV: Non-profit against “tent city” for homeless
Representatives from more than 50 non-profit organizations gathered today to say they are against creating a homeless tent city in St. Louis. 
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KMOV TV Reporters’ Blog: Is a “tent city” the answer for the homeless?
There is a battle brewing in St. Louis about how to handle the homeless problem.  
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FOR MORE INFORMATION:
LuAnn Oros
Associate Director, The Bridge at Centenary UMC
314.421.3136 x110
314.238.4056
loros@bridgestl.org

Kelly Peach
Director of Communications
St. Patrick Center
Direct Line 314.802.0687
Cell 314.581.7126
kpeach@stpatrickcenter.org

go to the COC website