Highly publicized homeless veterans housing program hits snags

ST. LOUIS Two months ago, amid much fanfare, Mayor Francis Slay kicked off an effort that put 51 homeless veterans into their own apartments in one day.

After so many years of wrangling with red tape, many of the vets couldnt believe theyd get free rent and utility assistance, until they were dropped off with a set of keys.

One of them, Kevin Stradford, 55, still cant believe it. His power was shut off Wednesday for unpaid bills. Two other veterans in the apartment complex in the 3100 block of Cherokee Street had the same pink slips hanging from their door knobs.

Program managers said five other veterans in the program were expected to have their power turned off.

They are supposed to take care of us up to a year, Stradford said. Ive got no income. They are not living up to their end of the deal. I cant even open my freezer because all my meat is in there. Who is going to pay for that when it goes bad?

Stradford said hed passed along cut-off notices hed received in the mail from Ameren to Gateway 180, the nonprofit agency in charge of case management for the rapid rehousing project hes part of.

Stradford said Gateway 180 told him that it doesnt pay the bills, just submits the paperwork to the city, which receives federal funding for the program.

Kathleen Heinz Beach, executive director of Gateway 180, said Wednesday that the program has been a contractual nightmare because the city is bailing on their agreement to pay the bills.

Its been difficult

The citys former director of homeless services, Antoinette Triplett, came up with the idea to put the vets into apartments. Its easier to provide wrap-around services and case management if people are housed.

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Highly publicized homeless veterans housing program hits snags