December 21, 2022
Bringing down barriers
Around Town
Optimist Club and Holt Cross Country host annual Turkey Trot race. Pg. 4
Healthy Living Healthy holiday tips. Pg. 5
Flip for Features
Recipe, Movie & Sudoku. Pg. F-1
Submitted photos The Sts. Joachim & Ann Care Service is located at 4116 McClay Road in St. Charles. After receiving assistance from the care service, 87% of its housing clients reported living in safe, stable housing 90 days later. For information, phone 636-441-1302 or email info@jacares.org.
A pilot program from Ameren Missouri will provide past due energy bill relief to help homeless electric customers return to permanent housing By Brett Auten Seven hundred and twelve. That is the number of contacts the Saints Joachim & Ann Care Service’s StreetOutreach team made in the first nine months of 2022 with members of the community who do not have a home. The number of calls the Care Service, located on McClay Road in St. Charles received increased to 4,424 calls screened and connected to resources from January to September. So the care service was as thrilled as anyone to learn of Ameren Missouri’s launch of a pilot program to help unhoused customers return to permanent housing. The new program, New Start Energy Relief, pledges $1.5 million for past due energy bill relief.
It is unique in that it is to help exclusively unhoused electric customers return to permanent housing. Through this program, the company plans to provide $500,000 annually to customers in need, for a total of $1.5 million over the next three years. “It’s a very common problem,” Donna Tobin, Development Manager for Sts. Joachin and Anne, said. “It has definitely become a barrier. Just recently, a 10-year-old unpaid utility bill prevented a client from getting into new housing. The New Start Energy Relief program will provide up to $1,000 for those eligible who are unhoused or have spent time in a homeless shelter in the past year, to reestablish service. Funds may be used to pay off past due energy balances, including
late-pay charges, that are a barrier to a customer’s permanent housing. “We have been working with Ameren for a number of years to help those who are behind, but this is specifically for those who have experienced homelessness,” Tobin said. “These funds are for a very specific group of our clients. Applicants must have had previous electric service, have an outstanding bill and have been unhoused or spent time in a homeless shelter in the past year. We want to make sure there is not confusion about the funds that are available.” Along with Saints Joachim & Ann Care Service, Ameren Missouri has partnered See ‘BARRIERS’ page 2
Serving St. Louis, St. Charles and Lincoln Counties | FREE Online at mycnews.com | Vol. 24 No. 51 | 636-379-1775
CLASSIFIEDS AND HOME & GARDEN. Pg. F-2 /F-3 Moore On Life, Lifestyle & Crossword. Pg. F-4
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