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Community effort helping re-establish displaced Heritage House residents

The Urban League's Federation of Block Units is calling for people to sign up to deliver food and help seniors pack and move.

ST. LOUIS — There’s a call for action to help the St. Louis tenants forced out of their Midtown high-rise apartment building earlier this month. 

Burst pipes forced the residential displacement of the entire Heritage House apartment complex. Residents are currently living at the Hilton St. Louis Airport Hotel, which is the second place they've been able to temporarily stay after the flood damage at their units last week. 

They learned Tuesday their temporary housing would expire soon in an unsigned letter. In an unsigned letter to tenants dated Tuesday, the Heritage House Corporation board of directors said that "due to the damage caused by the frigid weather, Heritage House will not be habitable again by residents for some time, likely up to a year or more."

Community groups are now coming to their aid.

"This is stuff I have to have ... food ... clothing,” Eli Levy said pointing to items he recently retrieved after being displaced. 

"Important documents, just important stuff,” Jeremiah Olomu added as he walked toward his hotel room.

Those who live at the Heritage House apartments said they had 15 minutes to retrieve their belongings. 

"We have to be out of here by the 6th,” Levy said.

They said they were provided two meals a day at the first location, but since they've been at the hotel, they said they've had to provide their own food as they navigate where they'll go next.

Olomu said they're trying to figure it out as they go.

"There definitely needs to be a call to action to ensure that they're taken care of,” volunteer Dwight Pollard said.

He is now collaborating with other groups to do something. 

Blossom Wood Day School, which is a private independent school in North County, along with the Cardinal Chapter of the Top Ladies of Distinction came together. 

"We did a collection from the parents for scarfs, socks, hats and also collected money to purchase additional supplies to be delivered," he said. 

The Urban League's Federation of Block Units is calling for people to sign up to help those displaced. 

They're looking for people to help deliver food and help some of the seniors who lived at Heritage House pack up and move to where they'll relocate to next. 

"I just renewed my lease in December for a whole year. For them to tell me I have nowhere to go, I think it’s wrong … I still have to have somewhere to live,” Levy added.

If you'd like to sign up to volunteer with the Urban League, email federation@urbanleague-stl.org or call 314-391-5688.

The city will host housing fairs at the Airport Hilton on Tuesday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and again next Wednesday from 1 p.m. to 8 p.m.

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