St. Louis

In 2007, The Peter and Paul Community Center partnered with Street Soccer USA to start the first team in St. louis. Peter and Paul is an ecumenical human service agency committed to providing immediate and transitional housing and supportive service to the homeless, especially those experiencing mental ill, HIV/AIDS and drug and alcohol addiction. By extension, the St. Louis Street Soccer USA program promotes discipline, goal setting, and team building through sports, and offers and innovative method to help clients gain control of their lives and live a more vibrant, healthier lifestyle.

 

Peter and Paul Development Director Keith Deisner and lead volunteer Joe Campanella hold the team practices on Friday evenings during the fall and winter and twice weekly in the spring and summer. All players have a case manager at the agency and have access to substance abuse counselors, a psych nrse, and an occupational therapist. The self-named "Roadies" compete in local amateur leagues and are best known for their spirit in fair play. The team was awarded the Fair Play Trophy at the SSUSA Cup in 2008. IN the spring of 2010 the team played in an awareness match with the Phi Kappa PSI fraternity at the University of Missouri. The leadership of Peter and Paul has developed a program that fits into the mission of their agency and helped raise awareness in the community for the work they do while also giving Street SOccer USA a foundation to build off if in the city. The program has ten regular volunteers and several sponsors, including Soccermaster West County, Chaminade High School, Ritneur High School, and Fischer's Sports.

Goalkeeper Oscar Grandberry was named to the Street SOccer USA National Team for the 2008 Homeless World Cup. Oscar along with 85% of his other teammates have reported a significant life change in either pursued education, recieved their high school diploma of GED, addressing, a substance or alcohol problem, moved into housing, became gainfully employed, or recieved mental health treatment. Other Roadies standouts include Doug Cart and Daniel Blue. Doug Carter was homeless on and off for the past six years in St. Louis. While participating in atransitional housing program at Peter & Paul Community Services, Doug learned about the agency's street soccer team. He nver thought a ball could change his life but three years later he has his own lace, a part-time job, and is pursuing a Missouri Commercial Driver's license in order to supplment his income as a cab driver. Daniel graduated from community collge in 2009 and is now in his own apartment and was just accepted to culinary school.