DALLAS (WBAP/KLIF)-Regional governmental and civic leaders announced Wednesday a broad coalition forming to address the increasingly visible homelessness crisis in our community. Leveraging funding and housing vouchers provided by the American Recovery Plan Act (ARPA), the City of Dallas and Dallas County would each contribute $25 million; DHA Housing Solutions for North Texas (DHA), Dallas County and the City of Mesquite would each contribute 100% of the vouchers they receive under ARPA (490, 124 and 41, respectively), worth approximately $10 million; and the nonprofit Metro Dallas Homeless Alliance (MDHA) would spearhead fundraising of $10 million in philanthropic contributions. Agencies in the Homeless Collaborative, Dallas and Collin Counties’ Continuum of Care, would provide direct services to people experiencing homelessness.
The DRTRR program would have several components. Domestic violence survivors, families and individuals with more significant health issues would be permanently housed with the 655 vouchers and offered ongoing supportive services. An additional 2,000 individuals experiencing homelessness would be provided housing with rent paid for 12 months. During that year, case managers would assist clients with services they need to stabilize their lives, address health issues, and find employment. Data from similar Rapid Rehousing programs in Dallas and other cities shows that most people do not return to homelessness after being afforded the opportunity to get back on their feet.
“Too many people, particularly African Americans, experience homelessness in our city and in our region,” said Dallas Mayor Eric Johnson. “This problem has been growing for many years, and it is clear that we have to act now to address the myriad causes of homelessness and implement short-term and long-term solutions that provide people with stability and pathways to better lives. With the help of these federal resources and a commitment from other cities, Dallas County, and our homelessness services providers such as MDHA, we have an incredible opportunity to make a significant impact on this critical issue.”
“It is thrilling to see so many community stakeholders – cities, the County, public agencies, non-profits, and the philanthropic community – uniting to create a bigger impact than any of us could have on our own,” said Dallas County Judge Clay Jenkins. “We are also excited that DRTRR would offer valuable new tools to equitably and humanely resolve encampments by offering people immediate housing as an alternative to unsheltered homelessness. Unsheltered homelessness threatens the health and safety of all in our community, and many experiencing homelessness end up in the Parkland Health & Hospital System emergency room or Dallas County Jail. This historic partnership would increase the quality of trauma-informed care from partner agencies, save taxpayer dollars spent triaging people in crisis, and make Dallas County stronger and a better place to live.”
“In a city as wealthy as the City of Dallas, it makes no sense that we have such a large population of people forced to live on the street,” said Dallas Councilmember Casey Thomas, II, Chair of the Dallas Area Partnership to End and Prevent Homelessness (the DAP). “I call upon all rental property owners to participate in this opportunity offering our neighbors the support they need to live healthy, productive lives. I am also looking forward to my colleagues on the Dallas City Council voting our values as One Dallas through how we invest ARPA dollars to address chronic homelessness faced by our residents.”
“I have spent many years working to address affordable housing and homelessness in our community, and we have never before been able to plan a program of this scale,” said DAP Vice Chair and Dallas County Commissioner Dr. Theresa Daniel. “The funds allocated to the Dallas metroplex in the American Recovery Plan Act provide a once-in-a-generation opportunity to truly put a dent in homelessness in our community, and I am grateful to work with like-minded partners on this issue.”
DHA Housing Solutions for North Texas (DHA) Chairman Jorge Baldor added, “DHA exists to ensure that every person in our community has a roof over their heads. We view this program as an opportunity that would maximize the impact of the vouchers each partner received by pooling our resources.”
MDHA Chairman and Interim CEO Peter Brodsky concluded, “The answer to homelessness is housing, and we cannot let the opportunity to house so many of our neighbors pass us by. In addition to the funding that Dallas, Dallas County, DHA, and Mesquite would contribute, I am grateful to the people who do the really heavy lifting day-to-day – the homeless services agencies in our Continuum of Care. This project is testimony to the power of collective impact, and I am thrilled for MDHA to quarterback an initiative that would improve so many lives.”
The governing bodies of each partner – the DAP, the Dallas City Council, the Dallas County Commissioners Court, the DHA Board of Directors, the Mesquite City Council, the Homeless Collaborative Board and the MDHA Board – will be briefed on the DRTRR in August 2021, with kickoff pending required approval.
