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ST. LOUIS TORNADO EMERGENCY

Direct Cash Assistance Application

The Application is Now Closed

The application deadline was September 30, 2025 at 11:59 p.m. All applicants will be made aware of their application status by October 15, 2025. If your application is accepted, your funds will be provided on a cash gift card that you can pick up on October 18. You will be notified by text and email regarding where to pick up your cash gift card.  

Applicants can check their application status at any time by logging into Submittable (the platform you applied through) and clicking on the “Forms” tab within “My Submissions.” 

Visit this guide for step-by-step instructions with screenshots to check the application status. 

All applicants will be notified by email and/or text message when their application status changes.

 

DONATE HERE

ST. LOUIS TORNADO EMERGENCY

Direct Cash Assistance Application

The Application is Now Closed

The application deadline was September 30, 2025 at 11:59 p.m. All applicants will be made aware of their application status by October 15, 2025. If your application is accepted, your funds will be provided on a cash gift card that you can pick up on October 18. You will be notified by text and email regarding where to pick up your cash gift card.  

Applicants can check their application status at any time by logging into Submittable (the platform you applied through) and clicking on the “Forms” tab within “My Submissions.” 

Visit this guide for step-by-step instructions with screenshots to check the application status. 

All applicants will be notified by email and/or text message when their application status changes.

DONATE HERE

PURPOSE:

Were you impacted by the May 16 tornado? Did you receive a “red sticker” or “yellow sticker” on your house by the City of St. Louis signifying that your home had severe or moderate structural damage? You might’ve been eligible for direct cash assistance from The Northside Resilience Fund. Households that did not receive a damage assessment sticker but experienced significant damage might have also been eligible.

We’re providing $3,000 in direct cash assistance to up to 1,300 North St. Louis City households — renters and homeowners — who were most impacted by the storm.

This emergency funding is meant to give you and your family the flexibility to cover urgent and emergent needs and begin your recovery — on your terms.

If you live in North St. Louis City and your home was severely or moderately damaged, you might have been eligible.

The last day to apply was September 30, 2025, at 11:59 p.m. All applicants will be made aware of their application status by October 15, 2025.

If you would like to check your application status, you can log in to Submittable and view it under the “Forms” tab within “My Submissions.” This guide contains step-by-step instructions with screenshots to check the status of your application. You will receive notification by email and/or text if the status of your application changes.

 

WHO COULD APPLY:

You may have been eligible for The Northside Resilience Fund if you live in a home in the City of St. Louis, north of Delmar Blvd., that received a “red tag” or “yellow tag” damage assessment as a result of the May 16, 2025, tornado. You may also have been eligible if your home did not receive a damage assessment tag.

Eligible households must have met the following criteria:

1. Your household was living in one of the following North St. Louis City neighborhoods at the time the tornado happened:

  • Academy
  • College Hill
  • Fairground
  • Fountain Park
  • Greater Ville
  • Hamilton Heights
  • JeffVanderLou
  • Kingsway East
  • Kingsway West
  • Lewis Place
  • Mark Twain
  • North Riverfront
  • O’Fallon
  • Penrose
  • The Ville
  • Vandeventer
  • Visitation Park
  • Wells-Goodfellow
  • West End

2. Your household was living in a building that the City of St. Louis’ Building Division has assessed for damages and labeled the building with a “red tag” which means “severe structural damage” or “yellow tag”  which means “moderate structural damage” at this building. 

Please note, addressess with a “yellow tag” will undergo further review to assess documented damage and need. Having a “yellow tag” does not guarantee approval.

3. Your household was living in a building that did not receive a damage assessment sticker from the City of St. Louis’ Building Division, but experienced structural damage to your home.

We encouraged residents to apply if they live in one of the neighborhoods above and experienced structural damage to their home, even if their home did not receive a damage assessment tag from the City of St. Louis.

*Important notes:

Both renters and homeowners were eligible to apply. Landlords were not eligible.

Only one cash assistance grant was provided per address. 

If you would like to check your application status, you can log in to Submittable and view it under the “Forms” tab within “My Submissions.” This guide contains step-by-step instructions with screenshots to check the status of your application.  You will receive notification by email and/or text if the status of your application changes.

APPLY HERE

REQUIRED DOCUMENTATION:

The following materials were required to complete an application:

1. Upload a photo ID. Acceptable forms of ID include:

  • State ID
  • Driver’s license
  • Student ID
  • Matricula
  • Passport

2. Upload proof of residency for the address impacted by the storm. Acceptable forms for proof of residency include:

A copy or photo of a document from April, May, or June 2025 that contains your name and the address you were living in at the time of the tornado. We will accept any of the following (you only need to upload one):

  • Gas, electric, internet, or cell phone bill
  • Social security statement
  • Bank statement
  • Statement from public benefits (SNAP, TANF, unemployment)

*Important notes:

As of July 21, 2025, current leases were no longer accepted to prove residency. As of September 23, 2025, paycheck stubs were no longer accepted to prove residency.

We did not accept water, sewer, or trash bills as residency verification.

Proof of residency document must have included your name; address; and a date from April, May, or June 2025.

APPLICATION RESOURCES:

Application Guide: Need help with your application? Check out this guide to help you submit your application.

DOWNLOAD OUR GUIDE

Application Status: Already applied? Check out these steps to help you check your application status.

VIEW THE STEPS

Additional Information about The Northside Resilience Fund: Learn more about The Northside Resilience Fund.

DOWNLOAD OUR HANDOUT

APPLICATION PROCESS:

After applying for The Northside Resilience Fund, check your email and text messages for confirmation of eligibility. You will receive notification within seven business days of submitting your application.

If you receive notice that you are eligible, you will also receive instructions on how to receive your gift card with the $3,000 direct cash assistance. You will need to show a photo ID to receive your gift card.

Gift cards will not be preloaded. Gift cards will have the full value uploaded within 48 hours of pickup. Instructions for using the card, including withdrawing cash, will be provided when you receive the card.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS:

Will physical applications be accepted?

Applications were only accepted online. 

Will the application be available in any other languages?

The application was available in Spanish and Swahili, in addition to English. We are provided translation assistance.

What is the application verification process?

The Invest STL team will review each application (including the proof of identity and residency) and cross-reference information with the City of St. Louis’ damage assessments.

Does this funding impact eligibility for public benefits or is the funding considered taxable income?

The Northside Resilience Fund provides immediate financial relief for households impacted by the May 16, 2025 tornado in the City of St. Louis. This grant is intended to provide emergency disaster relief and, as such, generally may not be considered taxable income and is unlikely to impact eligibility for public benefits. However, individual circumstances may vary. Recipients should consult with a tax professional or their benefits provider to understand any potential implications specific to their situation. The Northside Resilience Fund and its partners are not responsible for any impacts on taxes or benefits resulting from the acceptance of this grant.

Who is administering this fund?

Invest STL, a trusted fund manager with a $6M annual operating budget; experience in holding and dispensing funds; and deep relationships with community members, key partners, and funders. Collaborators include: Action St. Louis, Boniface Foundation, Deaconess Foundation, Franciscan Sisters of Mary, James S. McDonnell Foundation, Missouri Foundation for Health, Rio Vista Foundation, Sow Joy Peoples Fund, Wells Fargo, and others.

How will eligible recipients receive funding?

Eligible recipients will receive a cash gift card with the $3,000 direct cash assistance. Gift cards will not be preloaded; they will have the full value uploaded within 48 hours of pickup. Additional information on gift card pickup timing and location will be provided to recipients. A valid photo ID is required to pick up the gift card.

How do I know if my home is considered “severely damaged” or "moderately damaged"?

If the St. Louis City Building Division put a red or yellow sticker on a home, it means they have classified it as having severe structural damage (red sticker) or moderate structural damage (yellow sticker). We are verifying “red tag” and “yellow tag” status with data provided to us from the St. Louis City Building Division.

Can I apply if my home hasn’t been inspected yet?

Yes, you were able to apply and might have been eligible. The Invest STL team will review each application (including the proof of identity and residency) and cross-reference information with the Ctiy of St. Louis’ damage assessments. If your home is unlivable due to tornado damage, you can request an assessment by the City by completing a form on the St. Louis City website here.

What documents are required to apply?

The application is now closed, but applicants were required to provide proof of identity and proof that they lived at the damaged property. See the “Required Documentation” section for specific forms and documents that will be accepted.

Do recipients have to pay the money back?

No, this is a grant. The $3,000 does not need to be paid back.

Is help available to support with filling out the application?

Yes, help was available to fill out applications through an application guide here and in-person.in person

What if I don’t have access to a photo ID?

The Recorder of Deeds Office is making it easier for residents in affected zip codes to get birth certificates, death records, and marriage licenses — even if your ID was lost in the storm. You can verify your identity using a utility bill, a digital ID, or by working with their staff. Need help from home? Visit https://stlouiscityrecorder.org/ or call (314) 622-4610 to get started.

North St. Louis City households approved

(As of October 2, 2025)

DOLLARS DISTRIBUTED OR IN THE PROCESS OF DISTRIBUTION TO APPROVED HOUSEHOLDS

(As of October 2, 2025)

Interested in contributing to The Northside Resilience Fund? Donate here or sign up to volunteer here.