Volunteer Mobilization + Nearly $500,000 in Tornado Relief, Grants and In-Kind Support Highlighted at REALTOR® Housing Assistance Fund’s Day of Celebration
The area’s ongoing housing challenges turned even more critical and costly as a tornado ripped through the City of St. Louis on May 16, leaving widespread destruction, damaging thousands of homes, and leaving countless individuals and families displaced. In response, St. Louis REALTORS®—representing 8,000 real estate professionals in the Greater St. Louis area—mobilized volunteers and spearheaded donations totaling nearly $500,000 in tornado relief, grants and in-kind donations in 2025, providing direct assistance to tornado-impacted households and helping nonprofits with recovery efforts and housing initiatives regionwide. Dozens of REALTORS® and area representatives of funded organizations recently gathered during the REALTOR® Housing Assistance Fund’s (RHAF) Day of Celebration to recognize this record-breaking year of generosity and community impact.
St. Louis REALTORS®, together with its members, local partners, Missouri REALTORS® and the National Association of REALTORS®, provided $342,950 in direct housing assistance to tornado victims. A total of 385 applicants received an average of $838 to cover one month’s mortgage payment or rental reimbursement. More than $20,000 in matching funds were given to impacted REALTORS® members, and a part-time recovery liaison was staffed to help impacted residents navigate the application process. They also helped coordinate donation drives and supply distribution, mobilized volunteers and promoted volunteer sign-ups, established the St. Louis REALTORS® office as a drop-off location for donated supplies, co-hosted legal rights workshops, distributed a Storm Recovery Checklist, helped amplify the availability of storm relief resources and more.
The RHAF, which is the 501(c)(3) arm of St. Louis REALTORS®, also raised and distributed $72,000 in storm relief grant funding to seven partnering organizations, including House Everyone STL and Dream Builders 4 Equity. These partnering organizations expressed deep gratitude to the St. Louis REALTORS® for playing a pivotal role in translating compassion into tangible, measurable outcomes for community members in need.
“The $10,000 in grant funding helped House Everyone STL, and our network of 10 partner agencies, deliver both rapid relief and long-term recovery assistance to thousands of residents,” stated Melissa Johnson, Operations and Community Engagement Coordinator for House Everyone STL. “We were able to provide immediate shelter for individuals and families displaced by the tornadoes—particularly women, children, veterans, and survivors of domestic violence—and helped many transition into safe, permanent housing. In collaboration with a host of partners, we also provided over 21,000 bed nights in shelters and helped 17 individuals secure or restore their homes. Beyond housing, the grant helped ensure that no neighbor faced hunger during this crisis. Together, more than 2,200 volunteers distributed over 184,000 meals and emergency supplies to affected families. These efforts not only met immediate needs but also fostered stability, dignity and community resilience during an incredibly difficult time.”
Michael Woods, President and CEO of Dream Builders 4 Equity echoed his organization’s thankfulness to St. Louis REALTORS® for $12,500 in grant funding and for believing in its mission and leadership. “The support was a great help,” stated Woods. “We have tarped and boarded many storm-impacted homes, removed damaged and falling trees, and lead a program where we move residents’ furniture and home items for free to storage units that we pay for, for up to 6 months.”
On top of assisting with tornado relief efforts, RHAF provided $41,000 in additional grant funds to 12 organizations as part of its ongoing, annual support of organizations and agencies that share its mission to assist the homeless and improve the St. Louis community by making quality shelter and good living conditions achievable for as many as possible.
“The $3,500 in grant funding directly supported our 10-week, I Am My Sister program, helping to provide credit-building support, savings coaching, and mental-health empowerment workshops,” stated Ivy Grant, President and Founder of I am My Sister, and local REALTOR®. “Because of this funding, we successfully graduated 26 women in November 2025, equipping them to rewrite financial habits, strengthen confidence, and move closer to homeownership and generational wealth.”
Stacey Sanders, 2025 president of St. Louis REALTORS®, added, “The record level of support this year reflects our ongoing promise to help families rebuild, empower local nonprofits, and ensure every resident has access to safe, stable housing. We are proud to stand alongside our partners and volunteers in continuing to make a lasting impact across the St. Louis region.”
To learn more about the tornado relief efforts of the St. Louis REALTORS® visit https://www.stlrealtors.com/pages/stormrelief/. For more on RHAF, how to donate, or to submit a grant application for 2026 funding consideration, go to https://www.stlrealtors.com/pages/rhaf/.
About St. Louis REALTORS®
St. Louis REALTORS® is the voice of real estate in the Greater St. Louis area, representing 8,000 real estate professionals. St. Louis REALTORS® provides knowledge, guidance, and resources to our members, promotes diversity and growth within our region, encourages professionalism, and protects private property rights.
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For more information, contact:
Kelly Harris
(314) 436-9090