Both Dallas and Collin counties will receive a $22.8 million grant to combat homelessness and vagrancy.
The three-year grant will come from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), which announced on Thursday that it is awarding “nearly $315 million in grants to 46 communities.”
HUD said that the funding will be used to “invest in the expansion of homeless street outreach, permanent housing options, supportive services, and overall system improvements.”
HUD promotes its anti-homelessness efforts through its Continuum of Care (COC) Program, and the lead COC body for both Dallas and Collin counties is the local nonprofit Housing Forward.
Housing Forward was awarded the $22.8 million grant because of its alignment with the Biden Administration’s Plan to Prevent and End Homelessness, which includes racial equity and a “Housing First” approach.
However, data has shown that “Housing First” solutions are not likely to solve homelessness because they ignore underlying causes such as mental illness and drug abuse. A report published last year by the Center on Wealth and Poverty at the Discovery Institute outlined how “Housing First” solutions are “doomed to failure” because they “begin with an inadequate diagnosis of the causes.”
The funding is “historic,” according to the HUD press release.
Housing Forward President and CEO Joli Robinson said, “Our All Neighbors Coalition continues to center the experience of our unhoused neighbors and this funding will further our efforts of expanding housing and services for our most vulnerable population.”
“There are a tremendous number of direct service providers, homeless response system staff, and community partners who made it possible for us to apply for this funding and they will be key in our expansion of diversion efforts and increasing permanent supportive housing solutions,” she continued.
The Dallas Express reached out to Housing Forward for more information on how these funds will be spent but received no response by the time of publication.
In addition to the grant awarded to Housing Forward, the city of Austin and Travis County will be gifted about $7.7 million, and the Texas Balance of State Continuum of Care will receive about $4 million to fight homelessness in rural areas.
“Homelessness is a crisis, and it is solvable,” said HUD Secretary Marcia L. Fudge. “Housing with supportive services solves homelessness. That’s why, for the first time the federal government is deploying targeted resources to meet the needs of people experiencing homelessness in unsheltered settings or in rural areas.”
She continued, “With these grants and vouchers, HUD is filling this gap and giving communities the resources and tools to improve housing and health outcomes for people on the streets, in encampments, under bridges, and in rural areas.”
Homelessness and vagrancy are certainly perceived to be critical issues in Dallas. Polling has shown that 76% of downtown Dallas residents believe that “homelessness is a significant issue” and compared the plight of homelessness to cities such as Austin, Houston, Chicago, and New York City.
A survey conducted by The Dallas Express found that 63% of Dallasites think “homelessness, vagrancy, and panhandling” are “serious problems in Dallas.”
In an effort to deter panhandling, the City of Dallas suggests that residents refrain from giving money directly to people on the street.
“Giving spare change without offering support could make matters worse,” the City said. “Be the solution and GIVE RESPONSIBLY.”
Regardless of the City’s efforts, many vagrants continue to willingly live on the street rather than take advantage of the services offered by the City and local non-profit organizations.
Many Dallas residents favor an alternative approach taken by San Antonio’s successful Haven for Hope — a one-stop shop for homelessness that provides services in a contained geographic area.