Little Sisters of the Poor

Pros

• The staff at the shelter are amazing.
• They care about residents' needs and prioritize safety.
• They want residents to succeed and find sustainable housing and work.
• The place is a great place to get one's life together.
• The staff are super friendly and the facility is spotless.
• The shelter provides three meals a day and a warm place to live.
• Little Sisters of the Poor are an awesome group helping the homeless and building self-worth.
• The seventh floor is described as almost heaven and gives residents a second chance at life.
• The shelter is a great place that provides care to the less fortunate.
• Residents feel blessed and thankful for the shelter and staff.
• The staff are nice and kind and dedicated to residents' health, comfort, and wellbeing.

Cons

• The room had mold on the walls, mildewed floors, and the building was rat-infested.
• The conditions were abominable, not sanitary nor humane to house people in that way.
• There was alleged racial discrimination, with claims that Black residents faced harsher rules or less help than white residents.
• It wasn't safe to exit the premises due to ongoing drama outside.
• Security staff could be nasty, and the facility needed a deep cleaning.
• The facility had mice.
• Staff were accused of lying, stealing, causing drama, and only caring about themselves.
• The city side of the facility was criticized for treating homeless men like children and was called to be shut down.
• A resident was reportedly thrown out without help or compassion, with no assistance finding housing.
• Ongoing drama outside undermined safety and hindered neighborhood improvement.

Review

This shelter seems to be a lifeline for many, and a battlefield for others. One person arrived yesterday, stayed only about three hours, and captured a landscape of competing truths: the staff are described as AMAZING, genuinely caring, and focused on safety and meeting needs, while the physical conditions inside the building are repeatedly depicted as severely dysfunctional. Across the dozens of inputs, the core message is clear - the staff's humanity and dedication are widely recognized, even as the infrastructure and policies around cleanliness, safety, and fairness come under intense scrutiny.

On the positive side, there is a strong throughline praising the people who operate the shelter. Review after review highlights staff who are empathetic, helpful, and committed to the residents' well-being. Many people credit their case managers with making a real difference in their lives, enabling pathways to sustainable housing and employment, and providing a sense of security and nourishment during a difficult period. Phrases like "AMAZING," "stellar," and "dedicated to our health, comfort, and wellbeing" populate the feedback, underscoring a belief that the place can be a meaningful step toward stability. Several individuals specifically commend contributions from named staff members and volunteers who go above and beyond to support recovery, independence, and healing. For example, there are notes about gratefulness for warm meals, a place to recover from illness or injury, and a space that feels like a second chance - described as "the chance to live again," or "heaven" on the 7th floor for some.

But alongside that praise runs a persistent critique of the environment and the broader conditions in which residents must live. A number of reviews describe mold on walls, mildewed and stained floors, and even blood blotches, painting a picture of a space that is, at times, not sanitary or humane. Rat-infested conditions and mentions of mice add to the sense that, regardless of the warmth of the staff, the physical plant fails to meet basic health standards. Several readers call for a deep cleaning and significant repairs, arguing that the shelter can feel blighted and unsafe when maintenance is neglected. In some accounts, residents emphasize that while the shelter may keep people off the streets, the day-to-day reality inside is far from ideal.

Safety and neighborhood concerns also surface in the reviews. One writer notes being unable to feel safe getting out of the car near the shelter, with ongoing drama outside the premises. Another comments that the "city hope side" of the facility should be shut down because staff are allegedly treating homeless men like children, suggesting a perceived misalignment between care and control. There are complaints about security procedures and interactions with staff that feel harsh or punitive rather than supportive. In several passages, residents describe wanting to protect themselves and their families from disturbances associated with the shelter's presence, illustrating how public-facing safety concerns color people's overall judgments of the place.

Complicating the picture further are allegations around fairness and discretion. A few reviews charge that there are discriminatory practices or unequal enforcement of rules, with one claiming a double standard based on race - specifically around curfews and adjudications for white versus Black residents. Another harshly questions the organization's openness to accountability, arguing that some individuals are deemed "trash" by the owners and treated as if their needs don't matter. While these are serious claims, they appear alongside many accounts of honor, care, and support, leaving a complicated impression about how equity and compassion are balanced in practice.

Even as criticisms accumulate, many voices insist that the shelter remains a crucial and life-sustaining institution. Several posters express deep gratitude for being housed, fed, and supported at times when streets or hospital corridors could have been their only options. The references to "Mary Carol" and other staff who have made a profound impact highlight the extraordinary difference compassionate care can make within an imperfect system. Some reviews describe ongoing engagement with the organization as a positive, life-affirming experience, where residents feel uplifted by the warmth of the staff, even if the building's flaws loom large in others' experiences.

The overall mosaic is one of contrast and complexity. The shelter is repeatedly framed as a place where people can find safety, nourishment, and a path toward independence, thanks to dedicated staff and meaningful programs. At the same time, residents paint a troubling picture of moldy, unsanitary conditions, pest problems, and safety concerns that undermine trust and dignity. The criticisms touch on policy inconsistencies, potential discrimination, and a sense that the most vulnerable are not always treated with the same lens of compassion or fairness. Taken together, these reviews suggest a facility that embodies both the best and the worst of social support systems: a beacon of care and opportunity for some, clinging to its humanity while struggling under the weight of structural and environmental shortcomings for others.

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)