ST. LOUIS – Some Soulard locals are growing frustrated, claiming the unhoused are leaving trash behind homes and creating a mess for residents to clean up.
Photos from residents in Soulard show the alley filled with trash. One neighbor stated that on any given day, they will go through dumpsters behind their homes and leave a mess.
Jennifer Jones is one of those neighbors who has seen it happen. She says sometimes the homeless will set up camps at night throughout the week, and it has been a growing concern for her and others.
Jones hopes that with colder temperatures arriving, city officials will step in.
“It’s an issue that’s just ongoing. It’s starting to get cold, and people become more desperate,” she said. “You know, what can we do to help?”
Alderwoman Cara Spencer is aware of the problem and wants city leaders to do more.
“I roped in my new legislative assistant and former alderman, Dan Guenther, to try and really dig down at what can be done. I mean, at the end of the day, the city does not have a plan for the unhoused, and it’s very clear,” Spencer said.
Meanwhile, the city says they are doing everything they can to address the issues.
“This is a growing issue and an emergent crisis…we are working as a region, pulling all these different governments together, funding partners together, non-profits and for-profits, and all these organizations,” Adam Person with the city said. “(We) really talk about how we can bring a more coordinated plan to solve these issues.”
