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ST. LOUIS 鈥� Officials here plan to put nearly $14 million into tornado relief and new winter shelters for thousands of people displaced by the May 16 storm, Mayor Cara Spencer announced Thursday.

The funding will find housing for tornado victims, help support existing shelters and set up new shelters for hundreds of people at once. Spencer said the city is in talks with several large property owners.

The mayor, flanked by Aldermanic President Megan Green, said officials were working together to fast-track a 鈥渉istoric鈥� investment in winter homeless shelters, an issue she said was her 鈥渢op priority.鈥�

鈥淭hinking outside of where we traditionally have been able to house folks is critical to being successful here,鈥� Spencer said.

The plan is meant to address the city鈥檚 long-troubled efforts to shelter people over winter, a problem exacerbated by the May tornado which ravaged hundreds of homes and displaced thousands of residents. The announcement Thursday far exceeds the city鈥檚 typical winter shelter spending, which usually aims to add about 200 beds, in anticipation that there are as many as 10,000 tornado victims living in damaged homes and vulnerable to the coming cold.

鈥淭his is not just a funding bill, it鈥檚 a lifeline,鈥� Alderwoman Alishia Sonnier, who is sponsoring one of the three spending bills, said during a press conference.

The announcement comes a day after the Post-Dispatch reported officials had a draft plan to spend millions on one shelter for up to 1,000 people and at least two others with as many as 500 beds each that would open as soon as Dec. 1.

Officials said Thursday they had yet to zero in on details about how many new beds would be added and where, and that they were relying on a network of existing shelter providers, nonprofits and volunteers to help make those decisions.

The challenge of housing tornado victims in the winter has loomed large ever since the storm carved its path of destruction from Clayton through Forest Park and across north 最新杏吧原创.

Officials estimated more than 5,000 structures were damaged, and rebuilding could cost more than $1 billion. More than 3,000 received yellow or red tags from inspectors 鈥� warnings to exercise caution or stay out entirely.

In the days after the tornado, many occupants went to shelters, got hotel rooms or moved in with family. But data gleaned from Federal Emergency Management Agency applications and reviewed by city officials suggest thousands of others may have stayed in damaged dwellings, at least initially.

In response, officials have approved plans to make more than 190 public housing units available for tornado survivors, and sought help from private landlords in finding more space. Officials have warned much more may be needed. And residents have called for greater assistance, and quickly.

鈥淲e do hear you,鈥� Alderman Rasheen Aldridge, another bill sponsor, said at the press conference on Thursday.

Green said aldermen plan to fast-track approval of three spending bills totaling $13.7 million by Nov. 7, two weeks from now, and use emergency rules to get the money out quickly. The three bills call for:

• $9.3 million in one-time surplus funds to support emergency shelters over winter, home repairs for tornado victims, rental assistance and other needs.
• $3.36 million in interest from the Rams settlement to support operations at existing shelters, including transportation, outreach and overnight warming buses
• $1 million more in interest from the Rams settlement fund to help tornado victims relocate and pay for housing

The new spending adds to $93 million already allocated or spent on tornado relief, Spencer said.

The mayor also said her office will soon announce a plan for funding from the Rams settlement that will include 鈥渁 considerable investment鈥� in north 最新杏吧原创.

鈥淲e believe strongly and are committed to the recovery of our residents,鈥� she said.