Festus approves transitional housing for homeless

JEFFERSON COUNTY (First Alert 4) -- Plans are moving forward to provide housing for the homeless for the first time in Jefferson County. The Festus City Council unanimously approved a conditional use permit for the facility Monday night.

The project is a collaboration between the Archdiocese of St. Louis, Catholic Charities and the Sacred Heart Parish of Festus and Crystal City. Father Michael Lydon is the episcopal vicar of the southern vicariate of the archdiocese.

“Many of them are touched by mental illness, by addiction, by poverty, fractured families. But there are some who want to secure their lives and make them more stable. That’s who we hope to help,” he said.

Plans call for replacing the Sacred Heart School with a new building that would house 15 to 20 people, including men, women and women with children. All residents will be vetted before being selected for the program and will receive services to stabilize their lives and each will be assigned a case manager.

Last year, the archdiocese was among the community partners that collaborated to open similar transitional housing centers; Bridge of Hope Lincoln County in Troy and Life’s River in Washington.

“We’ve seen many families come in and individuals who have worked the plan, improved their employment and now are in their own housing. Which is what you want to see,” said Brian Thouvenot with Catholic Charities.

The building is currently occupied by a school for children with autism. It will be torn down and construction will begin on the new building next summer.

Homeless advocates were excited to hear the news about the transitional housing plan.

“I just couldn’t be more excited. This is something we’ve needed for years. This is what we’ve been pushing for years,” said Luke Adams.

Part of the cost of the new building, estimated to be $1 million, will be covered by a $585,000 grant from the Affordable Housing Task Force of the Annual Catholic Appeal.