Dallas County, the Cities of Dallas and Mesquite and non-profits have announced a $70 million dollar project that aims to reduce the homeless population. They say "Dallas Real Time Rapid Rehousing" will help 2,600 people find homes.
The project will use local funding, money from the federal American Rescue Plan and private donations.
"It's going to take all of us to address this critical issue," says Dallas Mayor Eric Johnson. "It's clear we need comprehensive solutions and a concerted effort to stabilize and house people who are experiencing homelessness."
Dallas Real Time Rapid Rehousing will provide a year of rental assistance to 2,000 people. They will also have case managers to help people find "services they need to stabilize their lives, address health issues and find employment."
The other 600 people are considered "chronically homeless" and will receive vouchers for permanent housing. They will also receive medical and mental health assistance.
"We have to provide all people in our city with viable pathways to better lives," Johnson says.
Dallas County Judge Clay Jenkins says the 600 chronically homeless would include domestic violence survivors and people with more significant health issues.
"Part of servant leadership is to recognize the holy and the good in every person and try to spread good and love and compassion to everyone," Jenkins says. "I have a message to our homeless people: We see you; we care about you."
Jenkins says the project will also include tools to "equitably and humanely resolve encampments."
"Unsheltered homelessness threatens the safety of all of our community," he says, saying homeless people often cost taxpayers additional money by going to Parkland for healthcare or jail.
Peter Brodsky, chair of the Metro Dallas Homeless Alliance, says the program will use $10 million in private donations to cover items not included in federal funding, such as furniture, sheets and toiletries.
Brodsky says Dallas Real Time Rapid Rehousing can help those already dealing with homelessness, but he says the program can also provide time to develop a long-term solution to housing and rental costs in North Texas rising faster than wages.
"We need more affordable housing in the City of Dallas. We need more affordable housing all over. It's not just Dallas that struggles with that," Brodsky says. "We need to come up with policies and procedures that will spark more development of that housing."
He says housing for people experiencing homeless should be built for people who earn between zero and 30% of the area's median income.
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