FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 10, 2011
    
U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development honors St. Patrick Center with three Continuum of Care Competition awards
HUD awards to enhance agency’s housing & employment programs  

(St. Louis, MO) The United States Department of Housing & Urban Development today awarded a total of three Continuum of Care Competition awards to St. Patrick Center for the agency’s housing and employment programs.

At a news conference called by the City of St. Louis, St. Patrick Center received a total of $1,268,787 in HUD awards: $304,722 for the agency’s employment program;  $435,301 for the agency’s Project Protect housing program; and $528,764 for the agency’s Rosati Apartments housing complex on North Grand. 

“We don’t care how a person becomes homeless, we just want to eradicate homelessness in our community and St. Louis is taking an aggressive stand against this social ill,” said HUD Field Office Director James Heard.

Also at today’s news conference, City officials gave a five-year progress report on the 10-Year Plan to End Chronic Homelessness, begun in 2005. Achievements include creation of more than 400 new permanent, supportive housing beds and a 20 percent reduction in the number of chronically homeless men and women.

“Our Strategic Plan is a national model but much work remains to be done because one homeless person in our city is one too many,” said St. Louis Mayor Francis Slay.

“We have often found ourselves frustrated by the economy, job losses, evictions and foreclosures, yet we are hitting or exceeding our targets across the board,” added Bill Siedhoff, City Human Services Director.

In all, 17 homeless service providers received 23 HUD awards totaling $8.6 million. 

view the announcement on the KSDK-TV website

MISSION:
St. Patrick Center provides opportunities for self-sufficiency and dignity to persons who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless. Individuals achieve permanent, positive changes in their lives through affordable housing, sound mental health, employment and financial stability.

FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Kelly Peach
Senior Director of Communications
St. Patrick Center
Direct line: 314-802-0687
Cell: 314-581-7126
kpeach@stpatrickcenter.org

Stephanie Perry
Writer/Producer
St. Patrick Center
314.802.1968
Cell 314.853.8886
sperry@stpatrickcenter.org

www.stpatrickcenter.org