Frustration is bubbling over in Dallas as warming shelters hit capacity.
Pastor Wayne Walker is CEO of the non-profit OurCalling. He says the organization, as well as other non-profits trying to provide warming shelters for the homeless, are frustrated by the lack of support from the city.
"We’ve got hospitals dropping off people at our door all day and all night," Walker says. "And then when they try to drop them off at the city rec centers, they get turned away. So they’re coming more and more to our place."
The City of Dallas opened two overflow shelters and officials say, despite reports, nobody has been turned away. In a statement, the city said:
"The City is operating two additional overflow sites in addition to the shelter space provided by our partners. Everyone is tested at entry, with Covid positive guests being sent to a secondary quarantine site. No one is being turned away from any site. Additional space is being identified for use, should it be needed."
Still, Walker says non-profits aren’t getting the support they need. So, they’re turning to the community.
"We need everyone in the community to participate," Walker says. "Go to our website, help us try to get the job done."
OurCalling will be open once again tonight, and they have space for about 200 people. If they need more space than that Walker says they’ll find a way to make it happen.
"We’re trying to care for anybody who shows up to our facility," Walker says. "These are citizens of Dallas. These are people who need support."
More information about how to help can be found here.
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