ST. LOUIS — Supporters of stalled plans to make life easier for the homeless are trying a new approach.
Unlike previous proposals, which waded into panhandling, public urination and city-sponsored encampments, a new bill from Alderwoman Alisha Sonnier, of Tower Grove East, focuses on making it easier to open a shelter. It also moderates previous efforts to that end: It weakens neighborhoods’ veto power on permits rather than eliminating it.
Sonnier’s plan would require providers to gather signatures on a petition from 25% of the people living within 500 feet of a proposed shelter to get started. Currently, they need a majority.
Once providers reach the new threshold, they could appear at a public hearing and get provisional permits to operate for eight months. After that, the building commissioner would hold a final hearing, hear any concerns about the shelter, and decide whether to grant a full, three-year permit.
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The plan is the latest attempt to address one of the city’s prickliest issues: There aren’t enough shelter beds for all of the people living on the streets. Yet shelters can’t persuade residents to allow them to open up in their neighborhoods. And that leads to people camping on the riverfront, outside downtown businesses, and occasionally, outside City Hall.
Sonnier and Aldermanic President Megan Green tried to eliminate the petition requirement this fall. But they put the plan forward at the same time they were pushing bills to exempt homeless people from the city’s law against public urination and make it harder for the city to break up encampments.
The proposals collapsed amid a wave of opposition: Neighborhood associations bucked at losing their veto power. Business owners said people were already pooping outside their doors, and didn’t need further encouragement. Key progressive aldermen said Sonnier and Green needed to go back to the drawing board.
But Sonnier filed the new bill this week after months of negotiations. And she said Friday she thinks the proposal will address critics’ concerns: There will still be some petitioning required. The public hearings will allow for more public input.
“We just wanted to make a process that’s more community-immersive and accessible,†she said.
A hearing on the bill is scheduled for 11 a.m. Tuesday at City Hall, Room 208.Â