On February 12, 2021, the St. Louis Housing Authority partnered with the City of St. Louis Department of Health to host a COVID-19 vaccine event for approximately 200 elderly public housing residents.
“Through partners such as the Health Department, we have been able to provide valuable resources to our residents during the COVID-19 pandemic including free WiFi, food distributions, PPE, COVID-19 testing and now the COVID-19 vaccine. We understand that many of our elderly residents were having difficulty navigating the online registration process, so we took additional steps to ensure that they were given the opportunity to be vaccinated.”
Alana Green, Executive Director of the St. Louis Housing Authority
To register residents for the vaccine event, St. Louis Housing Authority staff contacted every senior aged 65 and older via telephone to gauge interest.
“Our staff made over 1,000 calls, which resulted in every public housing resident over 65 being given the opportunity to participate in the event. In addition, we are available to assist those unable to attend the event with signing up for online registrations and future events.”
Kellyn Holliday, St. Louis Housing Authority Director of Resident and Community Engagement.
“The City of St. Louis Department of Health’s partnership with the St. Louis Housing Authority to conduct this COVID-19 vaccine clinic helped the Department get many of the city’s most vulnerable residents vaccinated. These residents are most at risk of experiencing severe complications if infected with SARS CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. The health department’s prioritization of health equity and justice demand that we continue these types of partnerships and efforts.”
Dr. Fredrick Echols, Acting Director of Health for the City of St. Louis
To make the event possible, the St. Louis Housing Authority also worked with its partners, Southside Wellness Center and Five Star Senior Center, and retained a local cab company to provide transportation, as needed, for seniors to the vaccine event.
About The St. Louis Housing Authority
The St. Louis Housing (SLHA) is a municipal corporation created by state statute, formed in 1939. Its mission is to provide diverse housing opportunities and to enhance the quality of life of the families served. SLHA is funded primarily by federal sources from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).