Nonprofits in Dallas and Collin Counties say they have now provided permanent housing to 2,700 people. Housing Forward launched its mission working with nonprofits in 2020.
"Our velocity is picking up every day," says Board Chairman Peter Brodsky. "We're better at finding apartments, we're better at housing people, we're better at creating relationships, we're better at helping people get their documents, all the things that need to happen in order to get someone from a camp or shelter into a home."
Housing Forward has set a goal to help 6,000 people find housing by the end of 2025. The organization says chronic homelessness has dropped 32% and unsheltered homelessness has dropped 14%.
"We serve as that support system," says Joli Angel Robinson. "Our case managers do a tremendous job. I wish people didn't look at our unhoused neighbors as 'less than.'"
Robinson says many homeless do work. When Housing Forward launched a shelter at Fair Park during bad weather last winter, she says a woman who worked at a fast food restaurant would leave for work every day.
"Because of the cost of living, because of the lack of affordable housing available to her, the only option she had was either a shelter or living outside," Robinson says. "I think there's an idea that people have a personal slight. 'It has to be mental health,' or 'It has to be they don't want to be housed,' but really homelessness is indicative of a lot of different issues."
"Nobody woke up one morning and said, 'It's too comfortable in this bed. I think I'm going to go sleep under a bridge,'" Brodsky says.
Brodsky says Housing Forward first sets people up with permanent housing.
"Are people more likely to be able to address their issues, whether it's substance abuse, mental illness, job training or what have you, when they're in a congregant shelter where it's very stressful or when they're in a home?" he says
Housing Forward says the R.E.A.L Time Rehousing initiative brings together different non-profits and the cities of Dallas and Plano to work together and reduce inefficiency. The organization will use an additional $36 million in federal funding to expand its mission.
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