ST. LOUIS (KMOX) — The city of St. Louis has a new approach to homelessness this winter: shelters and assistance regardless of temperature. Previously, the city only began providing warming busses and shelter space if the temperature got all the way down to 20 degrees, or 25 degrees if there was snow.
But back in October, Krewson announced plans to provide shelter for the homeless regardless of the temperature outside from December 1 through the end of February, 2020.
This new, continuous service marks a change in approach as city leaders look to help those who need it desperately in the wintertime.
"The temperature threshold is now officially gone," Mayor Krewson's Director of Communications Jacob Long told KMOX News. "Our message for today and moving forward for the bulk of the winter season is to remind folks that shelter availability is now available continuously, every day, every night, and regardless of temperature.
Long says the city and its partners, many of them non-profits, will have a thousand beds available every night from now until March 1. After that, a higher temperature threshold will go into effect.