The stark reality is that many residents of DeSales-owned properties earn below 40% of the average area median income. Rising rent prices put additional strain on already-stretched bank accounts. The 2021 St. Louis Affordable Housing Report Card (SLAHC) confirms that rents in St. Louis City have increased by 11% between 2016 and 2021. Distressingly, in 2021, there were 25,345 households in St. Louis City and County behind on rent, with an average rental debt of $2,725 per household.
These are our neighbors, struggling to make ends meet and facing potential homelessness.
Unexpected life events can compound the strain felt by rising rents. Without a safety net, rental debt can mount until it becomes an eviction, which can quickly spiral into the subsequent trauma of homelessness. In 2019 and 2020, there were 18,000 evictions in St. Louis City and County, and as vital COVID-19 protections expire, that number is sure to rise.
The DeSales service area is rich in social service resources, yet many of our residents share that they do not know where to turn when faced with a crisis. Even if they are aware of these resources, there are additional barriers to accessing them, such as complex application processes, perceived stigma, and attrition during the referral process.
Rent and utility assistance, financial education, mental health support, physical health resources, employment, and adult education programs were identified as having the greatest need by our residents.
Here to Stay catches residents before they receive an eviction notice. This three-month program pauses a pending eviction by freezing the resident’s rental debt. Meanwhile, the resident meets with a social worker and a financial coach to get themselves back on track. At the end of the program, the eviction is avoided, the resident resumes rent payments, and a sense of control is restored to their life.
With your help this GiveSTL Day, we can give our neighbors the support they need to stay in their homes and thrive.
