St. Louis, suburbs clash over growing homelessness

JIM SALTER Associated Press Published:

ST. LOUIS (AP) -- The communities surrounding St. Louis have long been accused of using the city's downtown as a dumping ground for homeless men. But as the weak economy and foreclosures push more people onto the streets, overwhelmed city officials say enough is enough.

St. Louis leaders want suburban areas to start taking care of their own.

Homeless advocates point to repeated examples of dumping. They say homeless men sometimes emerge from out-of-town police cruisers that stop at shelters. Others turn up still wearing gowns from suburban hospitals.

Suburban leaders insist the complaints are based on a myth. They say transient people often make their way to the city on their own, not because of a concerted effort to shoo them away.