PfP Responds to Storm

The Places for People Outreach Team provides assistance to people who are homeless and most in need – this takes on even more importance on days like Thursday when more than 5 inches of snow fell on St. Louis.

PfP’s Intake and Outreach Director Tony Hilkin said his team works with the PfP Track Team* to provide help to those who need it most when extreme weather strikes.

“The Welcome Center receives more walk-ins and phone calls on days like Thursday, so we do our best at assisting clients with linking to winter shelters, St. Louis’ winter outreach program, and other drop-in centers (warming stations). We also provide more bus tickets and rides on days like Thursday so clients are not exposed to cold and snow.”

Hilkin said that eight clients were transported by PfP staff to various drop-in programs and shelters Thursday afternoon in the midst of the winter storm.

The PfP teams do not wait for people to come to them, even in the worst weather conditions.

“My outreach team makes an extra effort of checking in on any consumers who might be staying outdoors to make sure they have a plan for staying inside. My team met Thursday morning to specifically discuss any clients we were worried about who would need follow up to check in on them” Hilkin said.

Places for People has a special mission to reach those who are homeless and living with untreated mental illnesses.

To read more about the PfP Outreach Team, click here.

*The Places for People Track Team is a special initiative involving a partnership between PfP and the Department of Mental Health to identify and treat people in the St. Louis area who have the highest usage rates of public services with the poorest outcomes.