Dallas Mayor Eric Johnson testified before the U.S. Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs on Wednesday, urging lawmakers to rethink their approach to homelessness and housing affordability.
Drawing from personal experience growing up in low-income housing, Johnson acknowledged Dallas’ successes, including the city’s milestone in ending veteran homelessness by ensuring rapid rehousing. However, he cautioned against common misconceptions that hinder national progress.
Johnson challenged the belief that housing affordability is the primary cause of chronic homelessness, asserting that the crisis is fundamentally a public health issue driven by mental illness, drug addiction, and behavioral disorders. While affordable housing plays a role, he argued that addressing the root health issues is essential.
“We cannot arrest our way out of chronic homelessness,” he warned.
On housing affordability, Johnson emphasized that policymakers often ignore the market-driven nature of housing. He advocated for reducing government barriers and encouraging private-sector homebuilding as the most effective solution to rising housing costs. Dallas has already seen success by cutting permitting times from 68 to just 8 days, expediting development to meet soaring demand.
Rather than expanding federal subsidies, Johnson urged Congress to focus on deregulation and streamlining development processes. “Government itself is not an effective housing developer,” he noted, calling on lawmakers to reframe the national conversation around homelessness and affordability.
His testimony reinforced the message that cities like Dallas need policy shifts, not just funding, to address these pressing issues.