The Vacancy Collaborative relies on people just like you to get things done. There are many ways to get involved depending on your interest, skill set, and availability. ​

Subscribe 

For starters, sign up to receive our regular email newsletter.

Dip a Toe In

If you have an hour to spare, try sitting in on one of our many Working Group meetings (4-5 happening every month; view the upcoming meetings). They're open to everyone and cater to different interests.

Working Groups
Photo by Chuck Ramsay for Legal Services of Eastern Missouri
See our message about working groups during the stay-at-home order in response to COVID-19. No in-person meetings are being held at this time.

Want to participate on a regular basis? By joining the regular meetings of a working group you can ease into a level of participation and influence that suits you. 
  • Anti-Displacement
  • Data
  • Marketing
  • Reinvestment
  • Stabilization
  • Prevention
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The Anti-Displacement Working Group identifies ways to help St. Louisans stay in the homes and neighborhoods of their choice. Topics discussed are equitable development, preventing displacement, and the quantity and quality of affordable housing in St. Louis. 

Meets on the fourth Thursday of the month from 6:00-7:30 pm at Legal Services of Eastern Missouri
Contact: stldisplacementwg@gmail.com
The Data Analysis Working Group creates and interprets digital resources to conceptualize the impact of vacancy. Projects include the vacant property portal, demolition tracker, and LRA Homefinder.  

​Meets every other month on the third Tuesday, from 4:30-6:00 pm at UMSL at Grand Center. 
Contact: tara@communitybuildersstl.org
The Marketing and Engagement Working Group focuses on broadening the impact of the Vacancy Collaborative. Topics include neighborhood engagement, communications planning, and marketing. 

Meets on the first Thursday of the month from 12:00-1:30 pm at Saint Louis University Law School. 
Contact: dana.malkus@slu.edu 
The Reinvestment and Reuse Working Group identifies and promotes financial and sustainable solutions to equitably reinvest in vacant property. Topics include alternative land use through greening, small contractor/rehabber development, and financial reinvestment tools.  

​Meets on the first Tuesday of the month from 10:00-11:30 am at UMSL at Grand Center.
Contact: naimgry@yahoo.com for more information
The  Stabilization, Maintenance, and Demolition Working Group is concerned with managing vacant properties comprehensively and increasing the transparency of related processes and policies. Topics include stabilization, maintenance, deconstruction, demolition, and strategic code enforcement.  

Meets on the fourth Wednesday of the month from 11:00 am-12:30 pm at Jubilee Community Church.
Contact: ginnl@stlouis-mo.gov
The Vacancy Prevention Working Group works to reduce new vacancies in the city by educating and connecting residents to tools and advocating for additional resources. Topics include beneficiary deeds, home repair resources, and renter's rights. 

​Meets on the third Thursday of the month from 4:00-5:30 pm at Legal Services of Eastern Missouri 
Contact: stlvacancypreventionwg@gmail.com

Join Your Neighborhood Association

Check out how to join a Neighborhood Association on the Resources for Residents Page

Already a Regular?

Signing the pledge helps us identify our network, but more importantly it allows us to celebrate members of the collaborative and highlight the work and expertise they have dedicated to address vacancy, improve our communities, and build a shared vision for the future.
Check-out who has already taken the pledge, and join this collaborative group.

Donate

The Vacancy Collaborative needs your financial support to sustain its work.

There are many other ways to support broader ecosystem change. Check out our op-ed on the topic or contact us to chat more about the many policy and program ideas that can and already are making a difference.