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City of Dallas Allegedly Endorses Local Homeless Camp

Homeless camp under highway
Local homeless camps under highway. | Image by KXAN Photo / Frank Martinez

Last week a local group sent a letter to Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton alleging that the City of Dallas has violated the law for illegally “approving” a homeless encampment. 

The group is Keep Dallas Safe, whose website says it was created in response to what they call the “radical ‘Defund the Police’ ideology” that became especially prevalent during the summer of 2020.

The law they allege Dallas is violating is HB 1925, which prohibits a political subdivision from designating an area for homeless camping unless a plan is submitted and approved by subdivision officials. 

The letter states that the city provides trash services to an unapproved homeless camp located in City Council District 7, near the 2600 block of Louise Avenue. According to the letter, Keep Dallas Safe has notified the city multiple times about the illegal encampment, but nothing has been done.

Further, the group alleges that the homeless inhabitants of the camp were told they could stay there so long as they kept the area clean. 

“The City of Dallas and its officials are clearly in violation,” the letter reads, “it is incumbent on you [Paxton] to take action as you are directed to by law.”

In a phone interview with The Dallas Express, Keep Dallas Safe president Daniel Taylor said Dallas is essentially “complicit in giving tacit approval against the law” by providing trash services to the camp. Taylor says a plan is required to address the situation because one will not be approved unless it offers sufficient resources for the homeless inhabitants. 

Further, Taylor posits that homeless encampments threaten the safety of the homeless and nearby residents. The homeless population, according to Taylor, is at greater risk for becoming a victim of crime than the rest of the population, as violence, prostitution, and drug use often occur in encampments.

Health issues are also said to be linked to homeless camps. Taylor says he knows of a hepatitis-A outbreak traced to homeless camps in the city. 

Taylor acknowledges that there is no permanent solution to homelessness but says it is morally wrong for the city to just let the homeless camp without providing solutions such as mental health resources, job programs, or permanent shelters.   

According to Taylor, a good starting point to address the homeless issue would be a similar policy to the one the city approved last month to address panhandling. Under the new policy, panhandlers are offered resources to alleviate their need for panhandling.

If the resources are rejected, the individual is subject to a community court trial, possibly resulting in a fine. However, instead of paying the fine with money, the violator can pay off the fine through various community service avenues. 

Taylor is excited to see the effects of the panhandling policy and hopes that a similar approach could be enacted for homeless individuals who reject services and resources meant to assist them.

Recently, Dallas has attempted to curb homelessness, making its alleged support for illegal homeless encampments appear contradictory to the city’s recently passed policies. In August, the city approved a $72 million partnership with the Metro Dallas Homeless Alliance (MDHA) to help people experiencing homelessness. 

The program, called the Dallas R.E.A.L. Time Rapid Rehousing Initiative, will provide housing to over 2,000 individuals and families over the next two years. The $72 million is believed to be the largest price tag ever for a program addressing homelessness in North Texas.

The City of Dallas and Dallas County will each contribute about $25 million to the program, while at least $10 million will come from private sources. The initiative will receive an additional $12.4 million from the North Texas housing authority, the City of Mesquite, the City of Plano, and others. Most of the funds provided by cities will be from federal money through the American Rescue Plan.

“It’s all an effort to make the experience of homelessness rare, brief, and nonrecurring,” said Joli Robinson, the president and CEO of MDHA. “It’s the most impactful thing that’s happening at the moment.”

One of the initiatives within the program is a $1,000 incentive offered to landlords to help house people experiencing homelessness. The $1,000 payment will help to minimize the financial barriers associated with renting and streamline the process of leasing an apartment.

Each unit rented out by a landlord who receives the incentive will have a guaranteed twelve-month lease. Individuals placed in units will receive support from about one hundred case managers hired as part of the larger plan.

The caseworkers will provide robust case-by-case management to prevent those individuals from becoming homeless again. The larger plan also calls for data to determine what other services to offer and the most in need populations. 

MDHA data shows that, on any given day, 4,570 individuals sought shelter at homeless facilities in Dallas and Collin County this year, with 90% of the individuals being in Dallas county. Dallas officials have estimated that the city spends about $1 million annually moving homeless individuals out of encampments.

The Dallas Express reached out to council member for District 7, Adam Bazaldua’s office, for comment on Keep Dallas Safe’s allegations but did not receive a response. 

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1 Comment

  1. Orlin

    Dallas Democrats can’t wait to follow the example of LA and turn the city into a sh$thole.

    Reply

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