Dallas City Council To Vote On $2.3 Million Contract To Pay For More Homeless Outreach Services

In order to address the city’s homeless problem, the Dallas City Council will be voting on Wednesday to fund 16 additional homeless outreach workers.

In order to increase homeless outreach services with Housing Forward, the council is expected to approve a $2.3 million contract. Housing Forward is the organization that took the place of the Metro Dallas Housing Alliance.

The decrease in homelessness is due to federal funds from the American Rescue Plan Act. It is also because of a revamp of the organization that arranges care for the homeless through many various non-profits, stated Housing Forward Chair Peter Brodsky.

The most visible issue that most people see are the unsheltered homeless in encampments.

Brodsky noted that many people don’t want to go to a shelter for one primary reason.

“There are a lot of people experiencing homelessness with drug habits. They can not go to congregate shelters because of the rules. If you want to get people off of the streets, you may want to consider low-barrier shelters where drug use is allowed…,” he added.

Brodsky went on to say that what we can’t have here is sanctioned encampments. This is a kind of open-air sheltering that is popular in cities like Phoenix and San Francisco.

The Hope Task Force has reported that 95% of the homeless that reside in encampments desire to live in permanent housing.

Thus, an additional 16 outreach workers will assist in connecting the homeless with residences.