Talk to a homeless person from Texas for any amount of time, and one will quickly learn Dallas has a reputation as a destination city for vagrants.
Several recently told The Dallas Express that from Garland to Galveston, the homeless know Dallas is a place with little public harassment, a passive police department, and city officials tolerant of panhandling.
At the intersection of West Mockingbird Lane and Ambassador Row, a man named Lewis Brady held a battered cardboard sign reading, “Hungry, anything will help. God bless.”
The bearded 52-year-old said he is originally from Deaf Smith County in West Texas. After spending time homeless in Houston and Amarillo, he heard of Dallas’ attitude towards vagrancy and decided to find out for himself.
“This isn’t a bad city to be homeless in. We are tolerated and pretty much left alone,” he said, adding that employees at a nearby Church’s Chicken restaurant and McDonald’s will often slide them a meal or two.
Across from Brady’s corner is an adult bookstore, where, he claims, young homeless men often approach customers to engage in illicit activities.
“You never see a police officer there,” said Brady, who is perpetually homeless.
Brady and another homeless man live in a homeless encampment near a set of railroad tracks and Director Row. Neither man is afraid of the City’s homeless encampment strategy. Dallas officials claim they will increase clearings of homeless camps after it reviews staff safety protocols.
The homeless interviewed by The Dallas Express said officials with the taxpayer-funded Dallas Homeless Solutions often check in on their well-being. Church groups and social organizations stop by with food and water, especially during the hotter days. Lewis and others said that on good days they can collect $40 to $60, but that “depends” on where you are panhandling.
However, residents of the area are asking why the City isn’t doing more to combat the issue.
Behind Kay’s Restaurant on North Stemmons Freeway, Robbie Hamilton said city council and the police should start cracking down on the homeless problem. While he is sympathetic to their situation, Hamilton is frustrated with seeing the homeless in the neighborhood.
When told the homeless population considers Dallas a welcoming place, Hamilton simply shook his head in even more frustration.
“That is news. That should tell elected officials they need to step up their game when dealing with this issue,” he told The Dallas Express.
Calls to Dallas City Council by The Dallas Express went unreturned over several days.
Our liberal city government officials will do nothing to deal with this problem. There are really only Two options: elect new leaders in Dallas and never give cash to homeless begging on the street. If they aren’t getting cash they won’t stay. Instead support organizations dedicated to help homeless with food and shelter.
Agreed. Voting in a new regime of government would change the environment. Stop giving, period. Vagrant used to be a crime. Loitering used to be a crime. Dallas used to be a beautiful, safe city. Heartbreaking.
This is what happens to a liberal city government…they help destroy it, and then move on to ‘other pastures’ to do the same thing. The only way to get rid of the scum city officials is to vote them out, and make sure fiscally and sound elected city leaders are installed. So thankful I no longer live in Dallas, TX.
I too am you dont live in Dallas.if by liberal you mean compassionate and solution oriented.. Caring about your fellow American and yes that includes homeless Americans. We have no idea the circumstances that preceded. Some are mentally ill. Some are fleeing abuse, and yes some due to addiction. Maybe help w solution, a reasonable helpful idea. Not just so feel better. Sorry makes YOU uncomfortable to see n talk to them. I agree if I want help the homeless the best way is to give to places that can help. Dallas mayor sent email stating that is best way to assist the homeless. I keep water n bananas to hand out or will purchase Dart ticket but I dont do direct cash. Just saying, a little can go a long way.
Well said! Dear God, please don’t let us become San Francisco.
I am not sure why Brady said all that when this will make his situation worse. Now people that don’t want to see homeless people have an argument that the city is not doing enough to help stop the homeless from coming to Dallas.
It is dangerous to have people standing on the road dividers & walking in between cars. If one person falls & gets hit by a car it will fall on the driver & that is unfair.
My thoughts every time I pass one of these people.
Selfish much?
Thank you, Dallas Express, for this report. I’ve been wondering how this has gotten so out of hand. If I see something around where I shop in the suburbs, I call the police & wait until they show up. This approach seems to get results & the area cleans up. Also, complain to businesses that it is not safe enough to spend money in their places. Money talks.
While voting, we need to be praying those elected officials don’t succumb to brides as well. Easy influence is out there to veer people away from getting “policy” and actions done to help this issue. My question is WHY hasn’t there already been a plan created to activate? Monies have been received during pandemic times to get some plan of action off the planning table. This is one department where I am yet to find an open position for hiring. I’ve been homeless and can give solutions.
I lived in the Dallas area for 20 plus years and I know there is plenty of vacant land where Dallas county and the cities can create a managed homeless camp. There are hundreds of millions dollars for billionaire business owners but not a nickle for a homeless campus but yet you people think you are Christians.
They are NIMBY’s. Not In My Back Yard.
If you don’t like something , don’t support it. They will move to where they are supported . Stop giving and making it comfortable for vagrants and they leave for greener pastures. The beggars are there because people support them . Elected officials need votes so they play both sides of the fence. What they say is not what they do . Just like justice . If there’s no consequences there’ll be more injustices. Listen to what the politicians say and pay even closer attention to what they don’t say.
They have now moved into the neighborhoods off Wheatland rd. The stores just let them hang out all day. And between two of them on Polk they have set up a camp. This is out of control and you have kids walking to and from school looking at this mess.
I’m a homeless man who is in Dallas it sucks to hear that homeless people are saying that this a welcome city it make dallas as a whole look bad I’m trying to get back on feet it’s not easy but with any luck i will not continue to be homeless thinking about starting a GoFundMe just to help come up with the money for the security deposit in the first month rent and a apartment