CLAYTON — St. Louis County will have a trust fund to help increase the availability of safe and inexpensive housing if the County Council passes legislation introduced Tuesday by Councilwoman Lisa Clancy.

The move comes after years of recommendations from community leaders, residents and the county’s own Affordable Housing Trust Fund Task Force on how to make the county more accessible for vulnerable populations. The bill is co-sponsored by Councilwoman Rochelle Walton Gray, D-4th District.

Initially, the effort would be funded by 12% of the 1% county sales tax on medical marijuana, an amount expected to be less than $12,000 a year, said Clancy, D-5th District. (She later clarified that the amount is projected to be $50,000.) The council’s presiding officer, Ernie Trakas, R-6th District, noted at a council work session that “the original idea from the county executive’s standpoint was, let’s get it started and then look for other revenue sources as we go forward.”

The measure is likely to go to a preliminary vote at the council’s meeting next week, and to a final vote in two weeks. Two area residents praised the measure in comments to the council Tuesday.