A gathering planned this morning in St. Louis City Hall's grand rotunda will launch an initiative designed to help people teetering on the edge of homelessness and by rapidly finding housing for those recently evicted from their homes.

St. Louis has received $8.1 million in federal stimulus money and another $300,000 in state funds for this project. Much of it will be directed to people who are capable of keeping a roof over their head. They are working but have hit a financial rough spot that sets them back. With a little advice, support and a modest amount of financial assistance — such as a security deposit or money for past-due electric or gas bills — they can preserve their homes.

Mayor Francis Slay and his administration have devoted considerable attention to homelessness and have had significant successes. What distinguishes this morning's roll out from similar media events is that it marks the start of the project. Case workers and personnel from a wide range of nonprofits who aid the homeless are the stars of the show. They will be fielding applications and assessing the needs and eligibility of families and single people who recently have landed in shelters or are at imminent risk of doing so.

The project is called "Hope Is Moving In," and this morning's demonstration at City Hall is a genuine reflection of its possibilities.

Much public discussion about homelessness centers on strategies for people who chronically live on the street and shuttle in and out of temporary shelters. Many of them have serious health problems that disrupt their lives, such as substance abuse or mental illness. Great strides have been made in moving this population into stable housing with social service support — a process that's not only humane but that also can be much more economical than the repeating cycle of emergency hospitalizations and law-enforcement interventions.

Working people who eke out a living but survive from paycheck to paycheck can be harder to serve in significant ways. They are in constant jeopardy of losing their housing. When they fall behind in rent or are evicted from their apartments, there are not many programs that offer a quick infusion of cash to get them back on their feet and back into housing.

Over the next three years, the new federal and state funds are expected to help rehouse or prevent the homelessness of 10,000 people, as well as to connect them with other social and legal services. Four community schools — Clay, Mullanphy, and Sigel Elementary Schools and Stevens Middle School — as well as the Housing Resource Center at the St. Patrick Center downtown will be service "hubs" where people can receive assistance.

Case workers soon will be making arrangements to make rent, gas and electric bills current and to pay security deposits and the first month's rent. Landlords and utilities that will benefit from these funds should be asked what kind of "hope discount" they are willing to offer these families and individuals.

The case workers should be persistent. If everybody were offered just a little break — in the monthly rental amount or what it will take to clear up an old bill — the funds could be stretched and many more people could be prevented from being put out in the street.

For more information on the program, call 314-657-1704 or visit www.hopeismovingin.com.