Dallas County leaders are considering a new property tax increase aimed at providing long-term funding to address the region’s ongoing homelessness crisis.
Housing Forward, the lead agency coordinating homelessness services in Dallas and Collin counties, along with the All Neighbors Coalition, proposed the measure to the Dallas County Commissioners Court this week. The plan calls for a 2.4-cent increase per $100 of assessed property value. That would cost the average homeowner about $60 a year — roughly $5 a month — while generating approximately $100 million annually for expanded services.
The money would support street response teams to clear encampments, a central intake center, and more staff to connect people with housing or treatment instead of leaving them on the streets or in jail. Housing Forward says more than 10,800 households need help exiting homelessness each year, but current resources can only serve about 4,600. Federal funding covers roughly 90 percent of existing programs and has reached its limit, while one-time local contributions of $20 million from the city and county are set to expire after this year.
Without new local dollars, officials warn of a potential surge in street homelessness and continued high costs for emergency responses, hospital visits, and jail stays.
The proposal was presented Monday to the Commissioners Court’s Continuous Improvement Steering Committee. Some commissioners voiced skepticism and asked for more details on spending and outcomes. The court has until August to decide whether to place the measure on the November 2026 ballot for voters to decide.
LISTEN on the Audacy App
Tell your Smart Speaker to "PLAY 1080 KRLD"
Sign Up to receive our KRLD Insider Newsletter for more news
Follow us on Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | YouTube
