Our Impact

During the spring of 2018, by pure happenstance, a Centreville resident wandered into our office for assistance. What happened next, was the result of the persistence, patience, and grace of a community.

In the fall of 2018, Equity Legal Services, Inc. and the Metropolitan St. Louis Equal Housing Opportunity Council partnered together and began holding quarterly and then monthly meetings with Centreville residents who had been experiencing sewage overflows in their bathtubs, kitchen sinks, basements, and yards, as well as ongoing stormwater flooding.

In October 2019, the community and our teams partnered with the local Urban League that has been the hub for a monthly water distribution for Centreville residents.

In May 2021, a Water Box, sponsored by 501cthree Organization, would be rolled out at this same location for the use of Centreville residents and residents in surrounding areas such as Alorton, Cahokia, and East St. Louis.

In 2020, we filed litigation on behalf of two Centreville residents to request relief from the ongoing stormwater flooding and sewage overflows that have been occurring for decades.

In 2021, we filed litigation on behalf of 27 Centreville residents requesting relief for more residents and monetary damages for those who have paid ongoing expenses and experienced continued financial loss due to homes that have been flooded for decades.

During the summer and fall of 2021, we canvassed over 4,000 residents of Centreville, gathering information about their flooding and sewage experiences to help with relief efforts.

With the efforts of the community, team, and our partners, we have leaned on those responsible to clear canals that were not cleared for decades, brought agency and organization stakeholders to the table to be accountable to the community, and thanks to our science team, dedicated resources to determine how to mitigate stormwater flooding in the area.

While these are just a few of the more notable moments of impact, none of this would be possible without the community’s willingness to allow our teams to work with them and the partners who dedicate their time and resources to this community daily.

The Water Box, sponsored by 501cthree Organization that rolled out in May 2021 at the Urban League in Fairview Heights, IL. This Water Box serves Centreville residents as well residents from surrounding areas. The water and jugs are free.

In August 2021, Equity Legal Services partnered with the Urban League to assist with two food distributions, one in Centreville, IL and the other in Brooklyn, IL.