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CHAPTER III - STRATEGIES, NEEDS, AND OBJECTIVES

Any analysis of the strategies, needs, and objectives of the City of St. Louis as it enters a new millennium must begin with a look at what the Harmon Administration has termed its "Vital Few." These four objectives include Neighborhood and Economic Development, Educational Excellence, Racial Harmony, and Government Effectiveness. Not surprisingly, these Vital Few objectives correspond closely with the Consolidated Plan program goals as defined by HUD: Decent Housing, a Suitable Living Environment, and Expanded Economic Opportunities.

Successful neighborhood and economic development are the keys to the realization of these goals. As the descriptions of many different programs in this chapter demonstrate, the City is providing the leadership, the organizational structure, policies, and people that will enable St. Louis to achieve its potential and become a "best practices" model. In doing so, the City will become a source of provide for residents and a place where people and businesses can thrive for years to come.

Since the publication of the City's last Five-Year Consolidated Plan, a wide range of new organizations, programs, partnerships, and initiatives have begun, all focused on addressing the systemic problems that affect the community. Among these have been St. Louis 2004, the Area Resources for Community and Human Services, Regional Housing and Community Development Alliance, Caring Communities, Vision for Children at Risk, and many others. Each is significant in the level of collaboration that it has spawned among public and private service providers each is also significant for the potential it brings to providing real, long-term solutions to decades-old issues that plague the region.

What will it take for St. Louis to reach it goals and become the model community it aspires to be? Financial resources, of course, are essential, as are experienced, dedicated people who commit to being part of the solution rather than seeking an easier path in the suburbs or elsewhere. Clear and consistent direction from City government is also important, and the City government needs to align its priorities with those of other government entities, non-profit organizations, philanthropic organizations and even private industry to create effective, winning solutions.

HUD-REQUIRED TABLES

This Chapter examines the needs in the City of St. Louis in thirty-five different areas. These are described in terms of current services that are offered, the needs and challenges that the City faces, recommendations for improvements, and resource requirements.

The analysis is supplemented by tables that are required by HUD. These tables can be found in Appendix G that accompanies this document.

Tables IA, 1B and 1C address homeless and other special populations.

Tables 2A, 2B and 2C that address priority housing and community development needs.

Table 4 addresses priority public housing needs.

Setting priorities is inevitably a subjective exercise. The priorities and recommendations found in this Chapter represent the voices of citizens who attended public meetings and roundtable discussions, completed surveys, responded via the Internet, or utilized some other of the myriad outreach approaches that are described in the Appendix on Citizen Participation. Their interest, and their ongoing participation in the implementation of this Plan, provides the final, and most important, element in the City of St. Louis' quest to achieve its goals.