Organizations look to help displaced in Cape Girardeau

CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. (KBSI) – Several organizations in Cape Girardeau are pulling together to try to get a homeless shelter for those who have nowhere to go.

“Hotel rooms and motel rooms for our homeless population is a life saving measure but it is not a life changing measure,” said Elizabeth Shelton, executive director for the United Way of Southeast Missouri.

She says that with January around the corner, the cold weather will affect our homeless in Cape Girardeau.

“Until we have a solution in place that addresses homelessness such as a shelter that provides the many wraps around services that address what leads to homelessness,” said Shelton.

The United Way oversees funds for a federal program called the Emergency Food and Shelter Program. They are board members from organizations in the community to determine where the money will go when the government releases the funds.

“The local EFSP board decided to reserve some of these funds for extreme weather conditions,” said Shelton.

The United Way depends on community members for support after a request for an overnight shelter was denied by Cape Girardeau City Council.

The sheltering collaborative continues to actively search for solutions with the support of many other social service organizations, churches, and community members.