Numerous mistakes have come to light in Dallas City Hall’s effort to establish a facility for the homeless and vagrants in Oak Cliff.
The City plans to convert the former University General Hospital into a “homeless services” center, but as previously reported by The Dallas Express, many local residents have voiced opposition to this plan as the location is directly across the street from Jimmie Tyler Brashear Elementary School and Kiest Park.
Residents were frustrated with the City for its lack of communication regarding the project. Now, even more mistakes have been revealed.
After the city council purchased the site, a community workgroup was formed to advise city officials regarding the project. Workgroup member Darryl Barker said he was disappointed with the process.
“Compared to other neighborhoods in Dallas, we received neither equity nor respect from staff, our councilmember (Casey Thomas), or City Manager T.C. Broadnax,” he said.
Even County Commissioner Elba Garcia, whose district includes this part of Oak Cliff, said she believes this is the wrong location for a homeless facility.
“My recommendation for the property has been affordable single-family housing for sale, keeping some units for women with children,” she said.
While the location sits directly across from Brashear Elementary, the city government has yet to consult with Dallas Independent School District (DISD).
Superintendent Stephanie Elizalde said she needs to be more informed about the proposed project and emphasized DISD’s responsibility to serve their students and be “equally committed to their safety and well-being.”
The site of the project is located in District 3, represented by Councilmember Casey Thomas. Most of the advisors in the community workgroup were picked by Thomas, who chairs the City’s Housing and Homelessness Solutions Committee.
Members of the advisory group allegedly said the frustrating reality of the project was not what they expected.
“The group didn’t have a clear target with a clear direction, and it didn’t feel empowered,” said Paul Carden, workgroup member and vice president of neighborhood development for Heritage Oak Cliff. “Without both the target and power, that doesn’t get you anywhere.”
Cathy Lauer is another workgroup member who lives about a mile away from the proposed homeless facility. She claimed constructive ideas suggested by the workgroup were dismissed as premature by city staff.
“My reaction was that I thought this was exactly what you guys wanted — to help you craft how this property could work,” she said. “As the meetings proceeded, I began to feel it was a bit of a window-dressing exercise. We haven’t offered any advice, certainly none that’s been accepted.”
Christina Bristow resigned from the workgroup on October 13 due to “constant inconsistencies” with the office of homeless solutions and others in the city government.
Bristow said city staff consistently answered questions by saying, “We do not know at this time,” rather than providing a substantive answer.
Councilmember Thomas believes that some members of the workgroup, including those appointed by him, were determined to stop the development of the facility.
“Unfortunately, we didn’t find out until later that some of the members of the workgroup — that’s what they were there to do,” he said.
Before the community meeting on October 27, Thomas met with city staff to lay out four new ideas for whom the shelter could serve: victims of sex trafficking, women fleeing domestic violence, senior citizens, and single parents with minor children.
This flabbergasted many workgroup members who had, for months, suggested that the facility serve other populations, only for those suggestions to be rejected by city staff.
During the meeting, local residents expressed their frustrations with the project directly to Thomas, Broadnax, and others from City Hall, as previously reported by The Dallas Express.
Workgroup members said they had heard nothing since the meeting, but Thomas still expects recommendations from them, which he will present to the Housing and Homelessness Solutions Committee.
Following public complaints, Thomas said he prefers the site now be used for either formerly homeless senior citizens or single women with children.
He added that communication with local neighbors was the workgroup’s responsibility, not the City’s, but workgroup members said it was difficult considering they had little information themselves.
As reported by The Dallas Express, residents spoke out against the proposed facility during a Dallas ISD meeting on November 17.
“We’re on the workforce group,” Bristow told The Dallas Express. “And we’ve been opposed to this from day one.”