St. Louis is home to numerous organizations dedicated to enhancing the quality of life for its residents. These initiatives focus on areas such as affordable housing, food security, community health, and neighborhood revitalization.
Affordable Housing and Neighborhood Revitalization
Rise Community Development has been instrumental in providing over 5,000 affordable housing opportunities since 1997. By partnering with neighborhood-based organizations, Rise aims to create stable housing for residents earning 60% or less of the Area Median Income, thereby fostering vibrant and diverse communities.
Similarly, the Community Development Administration (CDA) has committed over $250 million towards the Economic Justice Action Plan. This investment has leveraged over $1 billion in private development, focusing on transforming neighborhoods through public and private partnerships.
Food Security and Community Health
Empowered Thriving Communities (ETC) addresses food insecurity by supporting Black residents in the St. Louis Promise Zone. Since 2021, ETC has served over 84,000 people through food pantries, community gardens, urban farms, and farmers markets, while also launching 23 new projects to strengthen food access and community resilience.
In addition, All Hands on Deck St. Louis is a volunteer-driven organization dedicated to alleviating food insecurity and promoting community health. Through their free grocery food SHARE program and neighborhood cleanups, they serve over 450 families weekly, ensuring equitable access to nutritious food and essential resources.
Community Beautification and Sustainability
Brightside St. Louis, the region’s oldest not-for-profit cleaning and greening initiative, has been dedicated to beautifying the city since 1982. Their programs include Project Blitz clean-ups, graffiti removal, and sustainability outreach, all aimed at creating cleaner, greener, and more environmentally sustainable neighborhoods.
These organizations exemplify the spirit of community engagement in St. Louis, working tirelessly to address pressing issues and foster a more vibrant and inclusive city for all residents.