This document summarizes Missouri's solution to developing localized funding streams for programs serving homeless youth. It discusses how several Missouri counties passed ballot initiatives establishing a 1/8 cent sales tax generating millions annually. This funding is overseen by independent boards and has expanded services, reduced rates of issues like teen pregnancy, and led to more sustainable funding and accountability for youth-serving agencies. The document also outlines the steps to conducting a successful campaign to pass such a ballot initiative, including identifying needs, educating the public, building support, and maintaining infrastructure.

1. Putting Kids First: Missouri’s Solution for Developing Localized Funding
Streams
National Alliance to End Homelessness Annual Conference
Funding Strategies for Programs Serving Homeless Youth
Thursday, July 14, 2:30pm-4pm
Presenters:
Pat Holterman-Hommes
Chief Program Officer
Youth In Need
1815 Boone’s Lick Road
St. Charles, MO 63301
(636) 946-5600
phommes@youthinneed.org
Todd Patterson
Public Progress
1529 14th Street NW, 405
Washington, DC 20005
(202) 412-1234
patterson@publicprogress.org
A.Missouri
-mirrors the demographic, economic and political makeup of the
nation (in general) with a mix of urban, suburban & rural culture
-considered a political bellwether state
-Missouri has its two Blue "coasts" of St. Louis and Kansas City
with Red middle and southern areas
-Missouri is in the center of the country, distant from the coast and
the national borders, and the center of U.S. population is in MO
B.Problem:
-Gradual erosion of state funding over the past 10-15 years.
This is also compounded by the fact that Missouri’s funding for
children has consistently been in the lowest 1/3 of all states
-reductions for children’s mental health & substance abuse services

2. -MO has also historically been among the lowest of states for these
services for all ages
-needs of kids & families far exceeds available resources &
support systems
-funding silos: RHY, child welfare, juvenile justice, mental health
-in St. Louis (largest urban area), 3 agencies serving RHY/non-
system involved youth (not sole focus)
-less than 50 beds (shelter & TLP combined) in the entire eastern
MO region
C.Solution:
-Need for a stable, localized funding stream for kids services
-5 ballot tries over 14 years (children’s mental health & children’s
services efforts)
-Passage of Proposition 1: Putting Kids First in Nov. 2004 in St.
Charles
-1/8 cent sales tax
-Generating $5.8m/year for St. Charles Co. since 2005
-Other counties have followed (Lincoln, Franklin)
-2008 St. Louis Co. passed on first ballot, generating $40m/yr
-Total of $55m in the St. Louis region annually
-Overseen by county-appointed independent boards
-Contracts awarded annually, based on performance and utilization
D. Service areas:
- temporary shelter
- transitional living
- teen parent
- respite care
- crisis intervention
- school-based prevention
- home & community-based intervention
- individual, group & family counseling
- outpatient substance abuse treatment
- outpatient psychiatric treatment
E. Results:
-St. Charles & St. Louis (suburban & urban areas)

3. -Added capacity: $2,865,000 for shelter services, which includes
outreach to link homeless youth to services via Safe Place, and $1,840,000
for transitional living services for older youth (St. Charles & St. Louis only)
-integrated service system approach
-Youth Connection Helpline model program collaboration
-Since 2005 in St. Charles, community benefits include reduced
rates of teen pregnancy, child abuse, drop out, runaway, delinquency and
status offenses. Other counties, too soon to tell but we are collecting data
-agency benefits: sustainable funding; don’t have to re-compete;
able to request funding to expand programs or increase unit cost
-accountability for results/outcome driven & evidence-based
F. Conducting a successful campaign:
- Identify the Need. In Missouri counties, a needs assessment was
prepared by independent, legitimate sources.
-Educate the Public. The findings in the needs assessment were
released to the media. Other potential coalition partners were informed of its
findings.
-Construct the Initiative. Determine the content of the initiative and
prepare ballot language.
-Build the Table. Based on the needs assessment, a roundtable of
pertinent, regional organizations and individuals was formed who committed
resources to the effort.
-Do the Research. Poll to determine if the initiative has the early
public support necessary to go forward.
-Raise the Funds. If ample public support exists, begin raising the
resources necessary to mount a successful campaign.
-Develop a Sociopolitical Model. Through modeling, identify
potential supporters and detractors and build grassroots support.
-Implement Messaging. Through print and electronic paid media,
press efforts, and grassroots outreach, convey the persuasive messages to
build support.
-Maintain the Infrastructure. If successful on election day, maintain
the coalition to not only influence the development of the grant-making
authority, but to also protect its integrity as it functions.
-Keep the Public Informed. On behalf of the grant-making authority,
the coalition should play an outreach role by keeping the public up-to-date
on the positive impact being made by the funding stream.