The Intersection of Housing and Homelessness

Springfield City Council held a public hearing Monday on whether to send a 3/4-cent sales tax proposal to voters in November. But in a long debate, Council heard many residents who want to see sales tax spending put toward the city’s urgent housing needs.

Last fall, Springfield City Council began a discussion as to whether housing should be one of the key policy positions for Missouri’s third-largest city. On Monday night, they made it official.

On Thursday, officials with Springfield nonprofit The Gathering Tree revealed why they closed down their Revive 66 homeless campground last week. They say the change will ultimately result in more “ultra-affordable housing” in Missouri’s third-largest city.

On Tuesday, the Revive 66 homeless campground in northwest Springfield announced it was closed until further notice, cutting off walk-up shelter access for homeless men in the area.

A local union of people who rent their homes criticized Springfield City Council for considering whether to use more COVID-19 relief money on plans to improve Cooper Park and Killian Park — despite Springfield’s issues with poverty and housing.

At least 10 local residents addressed City Council on the topic of housing at the most recent meeting. Many were advocates with Springfield Tenants Unite seeking local reforms.

Back in September, Branson launched a “lodging safety initiative” to ensure motels and hotels comply with public health and safety rules. The city issued a progress update this week.

In a community where homeowners are now a minority — should housing be adopted as one of Springfield City Council’s official priorities?

A new national study finds rent has never been more expensive — especially for the middle class. In the five-county Springfield metro, some 34,000 households are considered "cost-burdened" as they rent their housing.

Last year, Missouri lawmakers passed a law known as House Bill 1606, seen as controversial because it banned camping on "state-owned lands." On Tuesday, the state Supreme Court struck down the law in a 6-0 ruling.