The St. Louis City Senior Fund aims to make the City of St. Louis an aging-friendly city where older residents can age in place. Established by a voter-supported ballot initiative in November 2016, its mission involves levying and collecting a property tax to fund services for residents aged 60 or older. This initiative supports the vision by providing grants to local nonprofits and government entities, helping older adults continue living in their preferred community setting.
The Senior Fund offers Vehicle Matching Grants specifically designed for organizations that serve St. Louis City residents aged 60 and older. This grant aims to support the purchase of vehicles that are essential for delivering services such as transportation, meal delivery, and home maintenance to older adults. Recognizing the financial challenges organizations face in acquiring new or used vehicles, the Senior Fund provides matching funds typically covering up to 20% of the vehicle cost, with a ceiling of $20,000. Under certain conditions, this matching support can increase to up to 50%, maxing out at $40,000, if the organization demonstrates an urgent need with no alternative funding sources, suffers from a loss of vehicle, or can expand its service capacity significantly with the purchase. The availability of these funds is contingent upon the Senior Fund's budget allocations within the fiscal year.