The Metro STL Coalition for the Homeless is a way for the homeless, those previously homeless, activists and advocates and others from the Metro St. Louis Area to advocate for the civil rights of persons experiencing homelessness. The coalition will represent the regional population as an organizational member of the National Coalition for the Homeless. NCH’s mission and purpose are these:
“To pr
event and end homelessness while ensuring the immediate needs of those experiencing homelessness are met and their civil rights protected. We envision a world where everyone has a safe, decent, affordable and accessible home. We are committed to creating the systemic and attitudinal changes necessary to prevent and end homelessness. We take as our first principle of practice that people who are currently experiencing homelessness or have formerly experienced homelessness must be actively involved in all of our work. Our programs are centered around public education, policy advocacy, and grassroots organizing, and are focused on the issues of housing justice, economic justice, health care justice, and civil rights.”
There is no single organization in the region that has as its mission to organize and educate homeless persons on their right to housing and basic human services. MCH will participate in National Coalition for the Homeless projects that deal with violence and Hate Crimes against the homeless, civil rights abuses, and a fair living wage for workers. MCH will offer local Continuums of Care speakers who are homeless or previously homeless to speak to their members about these issues in their local communities. MCH is a grassroots action organization that will educate and empower its members to speak up for themselves to the local media on issues like the criminalization of the homeless. Homeless and formerly homeless persons will host students and would be advocates on the Homeless Challenge Project. This immersion experience allows persons to walk in the shoes of the homeless for a time and allow the world to see them as homeless, without money in their wallets, a cell phone, or all the comforts of life inside.