Dallas officials are reviewing the use of zip ties to restrain homeless residents during a January 22 encampment clearing, raising questions about coordination failures between city agencies.
The operation, conducted one day before a winter storm, has prompted criticism from city council members and outreach workers who say proper protocols weren’t followed.
Elisabeth Jordan, a veteran outreach worker with 12 years of experience, described the scene as deeply disturbing.
“It’s the hardest thing I’ve witnessed in over 12 years with my own eyes because it was so different from what I’ve seen in encampment closures for 10 years,” Jordan said, NBC 5 DFW reported.
Dallas police claim the operation was planned six weeks in advance. However, the City acknowledged coordination gaps between agencies.
“The city of Dallas and Housing Forward remain fully committed to addressing the coordination gaps that led to yesterday’s event,” the City stated in a news release on January 23. “Our agencies will continue working together to strengthen our progress and bring real change on street homelessness.”
Typically, Housing Forward conducts weeks of outreach before any enforcement action. This process aims to connect people with shelter or housing options.
Council Member Adam Bazaldua condemned the treatment of homeless individuals during the operation.
“The first step in mitigating homelessness is restoring dignity, and I can tell you, the way the individuals were treated in our city was not dignified,” Bazaldua said.
Council Member Cara Mendelsohn expressed ongoing concerns about enforcement procedures.
“I do think there are still questions to be asked about how exactly enforcement is being handled and how they proceeded that way and why,” Mendelsohn said, per NBC 5.
The City’s Housing and Homeless Solutions Committee reviewed the incident on Tuesday. Councilmember Gay Donnell Willis noted the absence of expected outreach steps.
“It just seems like there needed to be a step before the zip ties came out,” Willis said.
Kevin Oden, director of Dallas emergency management, told committee members that the goal is to empty encampments through outreach before enforcement begins. He pledged to improve procedures moving forward.
“Making sure every procedure is right, every step is right. Not just till we get it right, but until we cannot get it wrong,” Oden said.
Council members expect clearer answers at next week’s Housing and Homelessness hearing. Jordan hopes the City returns to prioritizing compassionate outreach.
“I’m hopeful that we can return to that compassionate outreach ahead of enforcement and make enforcement again the last step in a process,” she said, NBC 5 reported.