Carondelet Residents Oppose Homeless Shelter

Peter & Paul Community Services wants to convert a former church into a homeless shelter, but needs residents’ approval first

Written by MONICA OBRADOVIC

Anonprofit that wants to convert a vacant Carondelet church into a shelter for homeless men faces a lofty hurdle — getting the Carondelet community on board.

Carondelet residents have largely opposed Peter & Paul Community Services’ plan to house 100 single men in the former Saints Mary and Joseph Chapel off Minnesota in a residential area.

Peter & Paul, which runs the cityowned Biddle Housing Opportunities Center, wants to close its Soulard shelter and open a new, larger shelter in the Carondelet church.

CEO Steve Campbell said the larger space would allow Peter & Paul to house more people during virus outbreaks. At the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Soulard shelter went from 60 beds to 20 to reduce transmission risk.

“Part of our goal is to not have to reduce our numbers when the next variant comes along or, God forbid, the next pandemic,” Campbell told the RFT

The proposed emergency shelter in Carondelet would house 100 beds, provide 24/7 care, counseling and would employ caseworkers to transition residents to permanent housing.

Peter & Paul need 82 signatures, or 51

On The Eve of Freedom, a Missouri Prisoner Passes Away

Was medical negligence to blame?

Written by SHON PERNICE,

JOURNALISM