Cape Girardeau’s homeless population growing as area organizations struggle to provide relief

CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. (KBSI) – Almost 6000 people experience homelessness on a single night in Missouri according to the Department of Housing and Urban Development.

Leaving thousands of people in life threatening situations as the temperatures drop in the winter months if their area doesn’t have adequate warming shelters in place.  

Several organizations in Cape Girardeau are pulling together to try to get a homeless shelter for those who have nowhere to go.

Street Level is one of these organizations. Cynthia Durgan is a volunteer organizer at street level.  

“The nonprofits that want to help, the only thing we can do is put people in hotels. This is extremely expensive. It uses up resources that are needed in so many other ways to help people get out of homelessness, says Durgan, getting people out of the weather doesn’t get them out of homelessness but yet our resources are just sucked dry by that. Were very hope full that this plan that the United Way and Salvation Army have developed will meet some of the need. We started out this year thinking there would be 60 unsheltered people to who we would have to get food, and shoes and warm socks and tents. Last night we counted up just the people we know about are 80.” 

The United Way and Salvation Army of Cape Girardeau are proposing a homeless shelter be opened in Cape Girardeau to the Cape City Council. The meeting will take place on Monday, November 6, at 5 p.m. and all are welcome to attend to show support.

The number of citizens without shelter is growing according to the Street Level Organization.

Amber French is the Volunteer Food Coordinator of Street Level.

“Street level organization has been reaching out to the homeless and helping them and I have been volunteering and the past few weeks,” said French. “I’ve been helping a lady who is in her 60s and disabled and in a wheelchair who actually spent five nights outside in a park in the cold.” 

Street Level needs the public’s help to keep providing to those who need it the most.

They accept food, socks, shoes, blankets and tents.

Items can be dropped off at 38 North Fountain Street in Cape Girardeau.

They are open on Wednesdays and Sundays from 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.