Department of Human Services and Continuum of Care Strengthen Partnership Through New Agreement

For over 35 years, the City of St. Louis Department of Human Services (DHS) and St. Louis Continuum of Care (CoC) have worked closely to help address the systemic causes of homelessness in our community. As a consortium of over 100 homeless services providers and individuals working under a US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) mandate, the CoC had never codified its essential relationship with DHS.

Under this administration, for the first time in history, both parties have officially signed a memorandum of understanding that outlines this essential partnership and strengthens their collaborative efforts to address homelessness, leading to:

• Clarified roles and responsibilities for increased effectiveness;
• More funding opportunities through national CoC competitions; and
• Greater collaboration to increase housing, sheltering, and services.

Adam Cisroe Pearson, the director of the Department of Human Services, states, “I am excited that DHS and the COC now have a formal relationship that lays out mutually agreed-upon objectives that support the critical systems that get people housed. This is one step in a line of many that will help our city meaningfully address homelessness in the years ahead.”

Kathy Connors, executive director of Gateway 180 and the new COC Board chair, echoes these sentiments, “History has been made with this MOU signing. Now, we can refocus our energy on helping every person in need of housing and services, moving us toward our ultimate goal of ending homelessness.”