The 10-Year Plan to
End Chronic Homelessness

We're right on the doorstep
The 10-Year Plan is a new strategy designed to end the cycle in which many homeless are trapped—going from shelter to shelter, food line to food line, in and out of rehab and prison. It’s not only a cycle of suffering, but also one of tremendous cost to taxpayers. Providing food and shelter to help a homeless person survive on the streets is not nearly enough.


The Cycle of Homelessness
Leaving people to navigate a
scattered range of services
perpetuates the problem.

In 2004, City of St. Louis Mayor Francis Slay and St. Louis County Executive Charlie Dooley formally announced a partnership committed to ending this cycle. The result was a plan designed to end chronic homelessness by 2015.

Housing comes first
At the heart of the 10-Year Plan is a farm more economical, proven approach that has dramatically reduced the numbers of chronically homeless in other major US cities. Permanent, supportive housing. By redirecting dollars that are now spent to support life on the streets, and by act ively seeking available funds, we can buy, build and finance affordable housing that will give the chronically homeless the greatest opportunity to live more productive, independent lives—with support from needed services.Breaking Cycle of HomelessnessProviding coordinated services in conjunction with housing offers a long-term solution.

Breaking The Cycle of Homelessness
Providing focused services in conjunction
with permanent housing offers a longterm
solution with reduced costs.


Permanent Supportive Housing
By redirecting dollars that are now spent to support life on the streets, and by actively seeking available funds, we can buy, build and finance affordable housing that will give the chronically homeless the greatest opportunity to live more productive, independent lives –– with support services from the community. As the chronically homeless move to stable, community-based housing they receive services on an ongoing basis that help them return to maximum self-sufficiency and help prevent a return to homelessness. The program requires that residents remain engaged with a case manager who helps them remain in permanent housing.

The 10-Year Plan is a very ambitious strategy, but it is achievable. If such a plan can succeed in other cities such as San Francisco, New York and Los Angeles, where the problem is more severe, then St. Louis’ plan can certainly triumph.

“Helping someone move away from life on the streets is not easy. It requires a comprehensive approach that focuses on securing permanent housing accompanied by necessary support services.”
–– Mayor Francis Slay

To download a complete copy of the St. Louis 10-Year Plan to End Chronic Homelessness in .pdf format, visit:
http://stlouis.Missouri.org/citygov/mayor/Homeless10yearPlan.pdf