Places at Page Receives FOCUS St. Louis Award

St. Louis, Mo. – Places at Page is a proud recipient of the prestigious “What’s Right with the Region Award” from FOCUS St. Louis for 2012.

On Thursday, May 3, 2012, over 500 people joined FOCUS St. Louis to applaud the successes and efforts of 20 individuals and organizations. Places at Page, Places for People’s (PfP) special needs, supported-housing project, was honored in the category of “Improving Racial Equality and Social Justice.”

Places at Page offers a unique supported housing model, balancing residents' desire for independence and privacy with the assurance and assistance offered by 24/7, on-site community support and overnight staff. Residents include a mix of people who were formerly homeless, people who were living in more restrictive institutional settings than necessary, and young adults who are living on their own for the first time.

“To be recognized by FOCUS is a great honor,” said PfP Executive Director Joe Yancey. “This award, we hope, reflects a growing understanding in our community of the importance of this type of housing. We are grateful to the community for embracing the need and benefits of housing that prioritizes independence, balanced with appropriate support for people with serious mental illnesses.”

This year’s ceremony, which was held at the Sheldon Concert Hall, is the 15^th annual celebration of success stories from throughout the greater St. Louis region. The theme of the celebration was to highlight the accomplishments of community leaders who have improved the region through their innovation, hard work, and commitment

“We are proud not only of what Places at Page is now,” added Yancey, “but of the service it will provide to our community for a long time. We believe this housing provides an invaluable opportunity for people to succeed in their personal paths to recovery.”

The building was originally designed by local architect J. Hal Lynch and constructed in 1908 as the Blind Girls’ Home. The Blind Girls Home, now known The Mary Culver Home for the Visually Impaired, moved to its present location in Kirkwood in 1966, and the building at 5235 Page Boulevard was converted to several uses over the next 42 years. In 1984, it was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in recognition of its unique architectural features.

When PfP acquired the building in 2008, it was mostly abandoned, in severe disrepair, and a known locale of illicit activity. However, PfP's leadership, teaming up with ND Consulting, Jeff Brambila, AIA, Architects and Planners of St. Louis, and HBD Construction, recognized its potential to address a critical need for supported housing for people with serious mental illness. Opening in late 2011, Places at Page offers 23 residential units with ample community space, as well as office and meeting space for on-site staff.

Significant renovations included complete interior demolition and renovation, replacement of all major systems, roof and exterior work, installation of an elevator, and landscaping and enhancements to promote accessibility. The 23 apartments include four two-bedroom, 10 one-bedroom, and nine efficiency units.

Places at Page offers a unique supported housing model, balancing residents' desire for independence and privacy with the assurance and assistance offered by 24/7, on-site community support and overnight staff. Residents include a mix of people who were formerly homeless, people who were living in more restrictive institutional settings than necessary, and young adults who are living on their own for the first time.

ABOUT PLACES FOR PEOPLE - Founded in 1972, Places for People is a private, non-profit agency that provides innovative and effective mental health services to nearly 4,000 people annually. Places for People has expertise in serving people with multiple disorders (mental health, physical, substance abuse, trauma) and conducts extensive outreach efforts to serve people who would not seek services due to the severity of their illnesses. In 2011, Places for People merged with Community Alternatives to expand the array of recovery-focused programs and services we can offer to parents of at-risk children, young adults, people with serious mental illness, and refugees who are survivors of state-sanctioned torture. Places at Page opened in November 2011 and was fully occupied by February 2012. The $5.7 million project was funded by a combination of federal and state historic tax credits, low-income housing tax credits awarded by the Missouri Housing Development Commission (MHDC), and private donations.

ABOUT FOCUS ST. LOUIS – A locally-based nonprofit, FOCUS St. Louis is committed to creating regional solutions through community leadership. FOCUS brings people together and helps to find the common ground necessary for progress. With the support and influence of nearly 1,000 members and over 4,000 graduates of our long-standing leadership programs, FOCUS St. Louis serves as a unique regional catalyst for positive community change. FOCUS works for the good of the entire 16-county, bi-state region. Anyone with a stake in the well-being and prosperity of the St. Louis bi-state region is welcome to attend FOCUS events or join FOCUS as a member. For more information, contact Denise Penaacerrada-Kruse, Director of Marketing and Communications, at (314) 622-1250, ext. 117.