Over the past year, FLOURISH St. Louis has been helping to address serious housing issues at the Clinton Peabody Housing Complex. Residents have been battling unhealthy living conditions for years caused by the mice infestations, and the complex management company and St. Louis Housing Authority have been slow to react.
FLOURISH stepped in almost a year ago to help advocate for these residents, championing this issue as part of its ongoing efforts to reduce infant mortality in St. Louis. FLOURISH is pleased to report that significant progress has been made in the past few months:
- The St. Louis Housing Authority has accepted a bid to upgrade their tracking software to better monitor maintenance requests. This measure will be implemented in the coming months to add a layer of accountability, requiring management and the St. Louis Housing Authority to address concerns raised by residents in a timely manner.
- The public demanded for leadership resignations at the St. Louis Housing Authority, McCormack Baron Salazar management company and Board of Commissioners, resulting in the resignation of the Board of Commissioners chair. Mayor Krewson appointed two new members to the Board of Commissioners and a new board chair, and put McCormack Baron on notice that they will face termination if they can’t meet quality standards in their contact.
- The Missouri Association of Health Plans (all three managed care health plans) pledged $50,000 to improve the health of residents and living conditions at Clinton Peabody.
- Senator Claire McCaskill made a request for support to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Secretary Ben Carson on behalf of Clinton Peabody residents. McCaskill also met with the St. Louis Housing Authority, the new management team, the new tenant affairs board (TAB) and toured resident homes.
- FLOURISH and Representative Bruce Franks, Jr. partnered with legal services and the new tenant affairs board (TAB) to host a resident “Know Your Rights” meeting.
- The St. Louis Agency on Training and Employment (SLATE) hosted a health fair for Clinton Peabody residents in early June. Residents received access to a variety of health services – dental exams and cleanings, asthma testing, health counseling, blood screenings, CPR training, smoking cession information and exercise programs.
- FLOURISH convened a stakeholder meeting to assess partner progress and coordinate alignment of key resources to improve living conditions for Clinton Peabody families.
FLOURISH needs continual pressure to monitor and ensure progress. FLOURISH remains ready to activate partners as needed on behalf of Clinton Peabody residents. Staff continues to attend Board of Commissioner meetings and other regional meetings to advocate for improved living conditions and fair treatment for Clinton Peabody residents and other low income, marginalized residents across the region.
If you or your organization wants to get more involved in helping Clinton Peabody, contact Lora Gulley at lgulley@generatehealthstl.org.
