ST. LOUIS — A new coalition is trying to raise at least $300,000 to help homeowners pay delinquent property taxes to avoid losing their residences in legally required sales over the next year.
The St. Louis Real Estate Tax Assistance Fund hopes to be able to offer qualifying households as much as $3,500 in grants to help cover part of their back taxes. Recipients would have to come up with the remainder.
“The more people we can keep safely in their homes, the stronger our community will be,†said one coalition member, Collector of Revenue Gregory F.X. Daly, at a news conference Monday at City Hall.
The organization hopes to save at least 50 owner-occupied homes that could otherwise be auctioned at a tax sale next year. Daly noted that his office is required by law to file suits to try to collect delinquent real estate taxes.
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Dan Glazier, executive director of Legal Services of Eastern Missouri — another coalition member — said, “without the means to pay off delinquent taxes, legal options ... are often limited.â€
The new organization will begin accepting applications in March at its website, The program will be limited to households with incomes not exceeding 100% of the St. Louis area median income.
There must not be any outstanding mortgage debt against the property and the applicant cannot own any other real estate.
Other coalition partners are Prosperity Connection, a financial services nonprofit, and Park Central Development, which will manage the fund, screen applicants and make tax payments.
Among initial contributors have been the St. Louis Community Credit Union and Daly’s campaign committee, which each gave $5,000. Donations can be made at the coalition
