City of St. Louis, Treasurer’s Office Release Finalized Eligibility Criteria for Direct Cash Assistance Ahead of Application Opening

Today, the City of St. Louis Department of Human Services and the St. Louis Treasurer’s Office, in partnership with the United Way of Greater St. Louis, and MoCaFi (Mobility Capital Finance), released eligibility criteria for 9,300 $500 direct cash assistance payments allocated under the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA). The application portal is scheduled to open on December 18, 2021.

“Direct cash assistance will go far in helping families across our city support themselves and put food on the table,” said Department of Human Services Director Yusef Scoggin. “Before applications open, we are urging interested St. Louis residents to prepare and organize the material they will need to apply. We are working as quickly as possible within the program parameters that were proposed and passed by the Board of Aldermen to begin the application process and deliver more than 9,000 St. Louis families the support they need.”

City residents who are at or under 80 percent Area Median Income (AMI) and who have lost income due to the COVID-19 pandemic - cut hours, loss of employment, funeral expenses, and the like - will be eligible to apply. Applicants must be a resident of the City of St. Louis at the time of application and must show proof of residency 12 months prior to the date of the application. Only one individual per household will be eligible for a payment, with priority given to heads of household. A full list of eligibility requirements and Frequently Asked Questions can be found on the City website.

In August, Mayor Jones enacted the first round of American Rescue Plan funding, directing $135 million to improve public health and public safety infrastructure while providing economic relief to residents. RFPs for the funds are ongoing, and a full list can be found on the city’s website.