I have had the great honor to work at Gateway 180 :: Homelessness Reversed for three years, so…read moreplease excuse my enthusiasm and pride. Gateway 180 is the largest emergency shelter for women, children and families in Missouri. Located just three blocks from City Museum near downtown St. Louis, this 25-year old agency is dedicated to making sure that homeless families in the shelter are placed into housing within 30 days or less. I recommend that anyone interested in working to end homelessness attend a Gateway 180 "Community Luncheon." These are free (RSVP needed - 314-231-1515) and held on the third Friday of each month from 12p-1pm. These luncheons are for those who want to learn more about St. Louis' fight to end homelessness and Gateway 180's role in that work. You will enjoy meeting like-minded people and having a chance to see first-hand how an organization works collaboratively with leaders and other agencies to strategically address the issue. The organization and its leadership are focused on ending homelessness in our community (not managing it). Gateway 180 has 110 beds and is open 24-hours a day, 365 days a year. Over 300 persons have been placed into housing this year. The organization also has an extensive food program, serving over 150,000 meals annually and providing bag lunches to those in need. At a cost of $22/person per day, the shelter is one of the most efficient in the nation, operating at 30% of the average daily cost of emergency shelter nationally. Its referral and placement rate and average length of stay position the organization as one of the best-performing shelters in the nation. Every child and family deserve a home, and Gateway 180 :: Homelessness Reversed believes that it is better for the child, better for the family, and better for our community when homeless people are rapidly re-housed.

This facility and the people who run it are anything but what the term "good samaritan" implies…read more Women, mostly "minorities," come to this program seeking temporary shelter/refuge from homelessness. The staff are welcoming and inviting during initial intake over the phone and in person. However, after arriving, you find out very quickly that the staff are condescending, immoral, desensitized, show favoritism, display heavy contempt, disdain, and a lack of trust or empathy towards people of color or anyone who stands up for themselves. This homeless shelter for women & children is run more like a halfway house. The staff showed no true desire to help any of the women. The "rules" are all geared towards catering to the building itself, and adhering to rules that conflict with what needs to be done to get out of the program and successfully into your own home or to another place of temporary housing. Actions taken towards getting your own home or even going to work are looked down upon as staff attempt to shove the programs "rules" down guests' throats daily. Examples: staff trying to encourage a guest to work fewer hours in order to be back for a 5 p.m. curfew, and I use "encourage" loosely. A child crying because they couldn't start eating their breakfast before staff barked at the mother that the kitchen was about to close. The kitchen is only open for 6 hours a day, for two hours at a time. Somehow, staff think that makes sense with 10 mothers and 20+ children in the facility. You don't have access to your own food that you buy with your own money. Countless guests were written up for handling business that involved their work, picking up their children, or meetings with landlords to interview for their own home. All of those things were not only frowned upon if it was outside of the 5 p.m. daily curfew, but staff were also verbally rude about it. The manager, hailee fortner, a former heavy drug shooter and addict, who resided in a homeless shelter herself, seemed proud to display the nastiest energy of all the staff, as she attempted to recreate her own shelter experience which she referred to as "that place", but this time exacting vindictiveness and abusing her role as a shelter manager. Intake coordinator katie, a 50+ year old former skate rink employee, felt the need to suck up to her bosses and her new position by trying to have rude confrontational conversations very loudly and disrespectfully in hallways and in front of her bosses offices. Her daily desperate attention seeking behavior became a nuisance to many of the women there. Staff member Ashley, a docile, but active drug user, often showed up to work inebriated, slurring words, sleeping at the desk constantly, sometimes for hours and nodding off at the desk so hard that her body would bang and slam up against it in a very concerning way as she'd lose control of her movements. Grievances did no good, as the very people that you report to are the same people doing the wrong and turning a blind eye towards staff behavior. Staff here take advantage of women and children in vulnerable states while daring them to speak up and stand up for themselves. Of all the homeless shelters in this region of Southeren Illinois and across the river in St. Louis, MO, this shelter is the only one that's ever available. It is because they have a bad rep, with a lot of quests leaving after only one night, because the rules are immoral and the staff are horrible. Staff fail to realize that guests are there because of no housing and extremely hard times..not because we don't have brains. The director angela shows no interest in guests whatsoever, completely ignoring the women's existence, grievances, and complaints. There's so much more to be said. Though, I'll leave it here. For any one who has absolutely no where else to go, and chooses to seek shelter here, do so with a strong mind, a peaceful heart, and with fire within you to get yourself and your children to a safe, happy, healthy, and peaceful home and surroundings and out of this shelter as quickly as humanely possible.

I don't really like second hand stores much, but my husband managed to find some records at a fair…read moreprice. The interior was very tidy and organized and the service was quick and efficient.

This place is a mess. Overpriced garbage! Nothing good. It's all sent to e-commerce and doesn't…read moremake it to floor. Even their clothes belong in the dumpster. Don't shop or donate there! So many other thrift stores that actually help people And their prices are not inflated.

A beautiful worship space in St. Louis where you find community. The Third congregation cares and…read moresincerely loves all who enters. Third Baptist Church is a safe place for its members and neighborhood. On the corner of Grand and Washington show up to make this saying realized; God First , Others Second, & I'm Third! Worship is every Sunday at 11:00am , during the pandemic you can tune in via YouTube or Facebook live! Every third Saturday of the month starting at 9:00am there is a Food Pantry that's serves the community and anyone is welcome.

I prefer the fourth and fifth Baptist Churches, but if you're feeling nostalgic, why not go back to…read morethis third. One of the most impressive and gargantuan massive haunting old churches in St Louis, and from whatever angle you look at it, it looks pretty amazing. It's way out in the west of the city so a lot of people don't even know it exists, especially the tourists who just go downtown. Definitely one of the prettiest buildings in the city. Looks European in style.

This place is amazing. They have helped me though so many things I didn't consider an issue. Here…read morefor those who can't afford traditional therapy. Focused on trauma and abuse they can help you achieve your goals. Call them. You won't regret it.

From the owner: Safe Connections specializes in preventing and ending relationship and sexual violence by providing…read morecomprehensive services before, during and after violence occurs. We deliver violence prevention education services to middle school, high school and college students to help them develop relationships free from abuse. Our Crisis Helpline is answered 24 hours a day, 365 days a year at 314-531-2003. We offer individual and group therapy services to adults and teens dealing with domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, childhood sexual abuse or harassment related to sexual orientation and/or gender identity. All our services are provided free of charge and with no imposed time limits.