St. Louis® Close on Record-Breaking Year of Giving and Community Support

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. The work of four Mid County-based organizations was included.

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.

Stacey Sanders, President, 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."
The RHAF, the 501(c)(3) arm of St. Louis REALTORS®, raised and distributed $72,000 in storm relief grant funding to seven partnering organizations, including $10,000 to Rebuilding Together St. Louis in Brentwood. This organization assisted with the cleanup and repairs necessary to enable senior and veteran homeowners to remain in their homes.

“Rebuilding Together St. Louis has partnered with the St. Louis REALTORS® for 10 years now,” stated Cheryl Reale, development director for Rebuilding Together St. Louis. “They not only financially support our mission but also provide amazing volunteers to help with the necessary repairs which allow our clients to ‘age in place’ with dignity.”

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. This included $2,500 for L’Arche St. Louis, $4,000 for Home Sweet Home and another $10,000 for Rebuilding Together St. Louis, which are all based in Brentwood, and $3,000 for The FAM in University City.

"We are so appreciative of St. Louis REALTORS® for supporting our mission at L'Arche St. Louis,” stated Sam Barrett, Acting Executive Director of L'Arche St. Louis. “This support has allowed us to grow our mission of fostering belonging for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities by building and opening a new home in Brentwood."

Home Sweet Home provided essential furniture and household items to three families who survived the May tornado, Rebuilding Together St. Louis furthered its effort in helping individuals stay in their homes, and The FAM used grant funding to provide a local couple impacted by the tornado with funds to purchase a home.

“In the weeks following the disaster, we received hundreds of referrals for families who had lost everything,” stated Betsy Reznicek, Executive Director of Home Sweet Home. “This funding allowed us to respond quickly—turning empty apartments into furnished, welcoming homes—and gave those families a tangible sense of stability and hope as they began rebuilding their lives.”
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.