Little Sisters of the Poor in St. Louis, MO

Pros

• The staff at this shelter is amazing.
• They care about residents' needs being met and have zero tolerance to keep everyone safe.
• They want residents to succeed and find sustainable housing in addition to work.
• Great place to get your life together.
• Great place, great people.
• Little Sisters of the Poor are an awesome group helping the homeless community and building self-worth.
• Super friendly staff; the facility is spotless.
• A great place which provides care to the less fortunate.
• Very nice and kind people work there.
• Everyone on the staff is dedicated to residents' health, comfort and wellbeing.
• The Little Sisters of the Poor are a positive force in the community.
• The care provided at the facility is great.
• When someone wants to be cared for, this place offers a warm, motherly touch.
• It is a nice retirement home and short-term facility offered here.
• The place is nice and clean.

Cons

• The conditions at the shelter are abominable.
• The room provided had mold on the walls, mildewed and blood-streaked floors, and the building was rat-infested.
• It's not sanitary nor humane to house people in these conditions.
• The reviewer claims the Black staff are very messy and uses demeaning language toward them.
• There is alleged racial discrimination, with different rules for Black versus white clients.
• Saint Patrick's was horrible.
• If given the option, the reviewer would give zero stars.
• The facility needs a deep cleaning and security can be nasty.
• The staff lie, steal, cause drama, and only care about themselves.
• The owner treats homeless people as trash.

Review

This community is best suited for adults who need structured shelter, reliable meals, and ongoing case management as they work toward stabilization or a bridge to longer-term housing. The defining strength is the staff's unwavering commitment to safety and meeting residents' needs, with a clear focus on helping people move beyond homelessness. When the purpose is care with a purpose - a place that treats safety as non-negotiable and supports practical steps toward self-sufficiency - Little Sisters of the Poor delivers. For someone seeking a compassionate, mission-driven setting where staff visibly prioritizes health and basic stability, this is a compelling option.

Those who should consider alternatives are individuals who prize pristine living conditions, uniform experiences across every floor, and a consistently predictable care model. The reviews reveal substantial variability in the environment: some wings feel orderly and well-kept, while others contend with mold, pests, and cleanliness problems. For families prioritizing a private, apartment-style senior living experience with steady, uniform treatment and minimal environmental risk, other facilities - or independent living arrangements with services - will likely be more suitable. In short, this option works best when shelter, safety, and staff-driven support outweigh interior maintenance concerns.

The strongest positives - dedicated staff, a safety-first approach, and reliable meals - tend to offset several core drawbacks, at least for residents who embrace the program's broad mission. Staff members who genuinely care about health, comfort, and a resident's path to independence can transform an uncertain situation into a navigable one. The presence of a capable case manager and consistent access to nourishment help stabilize daily life and create a foundation for planning next steps, including housing transitions or rehabilitation. The most uplifting anecdotes describe floors or moments that feel almost like a second chance, where residents find practical help and encouragement that makes ongoing effort feel worthwhile.

Yet the cons are not easily dismissed. Facility conditions are a frequent source of concern: mold in rooms, dirty floors, and rodent issues undermine the very safety and dignity that the staff are striving to protect. Security and neighborhood safety perceptions vary, with some visitors feeling uneasy about outside activity, and several reviews allege inconsistent treatment or overburdened rules on different floors. Reports of drama, perceived favoritism, or even alleged mistreatment by some staff punctuate the experience, reminding that a large, faith-based operation can produce inconsistent day-to-day realities for residents. These factors significantly temper the otherwise strong positives and demand careful scrutiny before committing.

The facility's faith-based, charitable ethos matters a great deal in how care is delivered and experienced. For many, the sense of mercy, community, and genuinely kind interactions provides emotional and practical support that can feel life-affirming in tough times. The praise about "angels of mercy," comforting routines, and staff who go above and beyond illustrates a powerful value proposition when alignment exists between resident expectations and the program's mission. On the flip side, questions about equity and floor-by-floor differences in treatment can erode trust, especially for residents who fear being sidelined or unfairly moved through the system. Weighing these dimensions is essential for families assessing whether this environment matches their loved one's priorities.

Bottom line: if the priority is a safety-first, mission-driven setting that offers meals, case management, and a tangible pathway toward housing stability, Little Sisters of the Poor can be a good fit. If cleanliness and environmental consistency, universal experiences across all areas, and a known, uniformly respectful culture are non-negotiable, explore alternatives and visit competing options with a critical eye. Before deciding, conduct in-depth tours of multiple floors, speak with current residents, and solicit specifics about pest control, cleanliness schedules, security measures, and the exact support available for transitions to long-term housing or additional services. The right choice hinges on balancing the staff's genuine dedication with the lived reality of the building's condition and the resident's long-term goals.

This part of St. Louis, Missouri offers a diverse range of attractions and amenities that cater to different interests and needs. The area is surrounded by several parks such as Fairground Park, Citygarden, and Lafayette Park, providing ample opportunities for outdoor recreation and relaxation. Additionally, there are plenty of dining options including Schlafly Tap Room and Salt + Smoke, as well as cafes like Starbucks for a quick bite or coffee break. For medical care, there are reputable hospitals nearby such as SSM Cardinal Glennon Children's Medical Center and St Louis Children's Hospital. The area is also well-equipped with pharmacies like CVS Pharmacy and Walgreens for convenient access to medications. Transportation options are easily accessible with Amtrak and MetroLink stations nearby. Overall, this part of St. Louis offers a vibrant community with various amenities that cater to a comfortable senior living experience.

Parks

• Fairground Park (1.1 miles)
• Citygarden (2.1 miles)
• Gateway Arch National Park (2.4 miles)
• Lafayette Park (2.7 miles)
• Wohl Recreation Center / Sherman Park (3.1 miles)
• Bar K (3.9 miles)
• Tower Grove Park (4.3 miles)

Restaurants

• Schlafly Tap Room (1.6 miles)
• Rosalita's Cantina (1.7 miles)
• Salt + Smoke (1.8 miles)
• The Over Under Bar Grill (1.8 miles)
• Lumiere Place Casino (1.9 miles)
• Hooters (2.1 miles)
• Three-Sixty Rooftop Bar At The Ballpark Hilton Hotel (2.3 miles)

Hospitals

• VA Medical Center Spinal Cord Injury Program (1.7 miles)
• SSM Cardinal Glennon Children's Medical Center (3 miles)
• The Rehabilitation Institute of St Louis (3.2 miles)
• St Louis Children's Hospital (3.5 miles)
• Metropolitan St Louis Psychiatric Center (3.8 miles)
• Gateway Regional Medical Center (4.4 miles)
• St Alexius Hospital (5.2 miles)

Physicians

• BJC Behavioral Health Service - Dinu Petru Gangure MD (1.8 miles)
• Barnes-Jewish Hospital (3.5 miles)

Cafes

• Starbucks (1.9 miles)
• Starbucks (2.3 miles)
• Starbucks (2.3 miles)
• Blueprint Coff (5.2 miles)
• Starbucks (5.5 miles)

Pharmacies

• Schnucks (2 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (2.3 miles)
• Walgreens (2.6 miles)
• Walgreens (3 miles)
• Globe Drug (3.4 miles)
• Walgreens (4.6 miles)
• Walgreens (5 miles)

Transportation

• Amtrak (2.2 miles)
• MetroLink - Emerson Park Station (4.1 miles)
• Zooline Railroad The Wild (4.7 miles)
• Jet Aviation (6 miles)
• Metrolink North Hanley Station (7.5 miles)

Places of Worship

• Macedonia Baptist Church (4 miles)
• St Ambrose Church (4.6 miles)
• St Johns Lutheran Church (5.5 miles)
• St Ann Catholic School (6.1 miles)

Theaters

• AMC Esquire 7 (6.2 miles)