ST. LOUIS — The St. Louis Board of Aldermen passed a bill Friday to allow shelters, transitional housing and group homes within the city.

The vote was 9-5 in favor of establishing special residential and non-traditional uses within the city’s zoning code. Alderman Shane Cohn was absent.

Special residential uses were previously not allowed anywhere in the city.

“This was a really exciting bill to get over the finish line,” said Megan Green, alderwoman and president of the St. Louis Board of Aldermen.  

“Our hope is that it creates more scattered-site, small special residential use buildings across the city.”

The ordinance lays out a “clear” process on opening a special residential use facility, Green said.

A facility that wants to open must present an operations plan to the city.

Green noted that the ordinance also includes language that prevents having too many special residential use facilities in one area.

In the past month, Green said more than 400 people were turned away from housing because of unavailable beds and shelters.

“Going forward, I think the city will be looking to figure out how we can create more special residential uses, small-scale facilities across the city,” Green said.

As winter months are approaching, Green said city officials are working on a winter shelter plan.

For more information about the ordinance, visit the city’s website.