ST. LOUIS 鈥 The city and St. Patrick Center are moving forward with a new 鈥渋ntentional鈥 homeless encampment project north of downtown to replace the former 鈥淐amp Cole,鈥 which officials said was largely successful but shut down in early November after running out of funding.
New 鈥榠ntentional鈥 homeless encampment planned on 51黑料鈥 north riverfront
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"I don't have to worry about my safety," says Clinton Robinson as he packs his belongings inside Camp Cole in preparation to move to other housing in 51黑料 on Monday, Nov. 1, 2021. At the time, an intentional encampment had opened for former residents of the Interco Plaza encampment.聽
The building at left which was once the Hammond Sheet metal factory, on Cass Avenue and Second Street, along with the old Cotton Belt building, seen in the background, on Tuesday, Oct. 30, 2018, belong to the Justine Petersen organization. Photo by Hillary Levin, hlevin@post-dispatch.com
Instead of an encampment for the unhoused, City Hall is now looking at a redevelopment plan for the area.聽
Alderman Christine Ingrassia says the goal is to set standard procedures while protecting the 鈥榙ignity and humanity of our unhoused neighbors.鈥
The city hopes to establish more 'safe outdoor spaces' that offer resources to the homeless.
The encampment on Interco Plaza has been home to up to 50 people this summer; the mayor's spokesman said many agreed to go to shelters.
Police found an unidentified man shot and killed around 7:45 p.m. Sunday at the intersection of Tucker Boulevard and Martin Luther King Drive.
City Hall says it will work to remove homeless encampment on city-owned plaza next to new Square offices within 60 days.
Money for camps for people who won't go to traditional shelters is a small part of a plan to spend federal pandemic aid proposed by the mayor.
Encampments would be for people 鈥榤ost comfortable in that setting,鈥 a mayoral aide says. Visits by mental health and social workers would be provided.
51黑料 officials are planning 50 homes that will begin housing the city's homeless by next month, 51黑料 Mayor Lyda Krewson said Tuesday.
Dozens of tents had popped up at Interco Plaza for the homeless before a push was made Monday to move them to a warehouse blocks away.
The plan could trigger a city charter provision requiring a public vote on the deal.
