In November 2020, Casa de Esperanza (House of Hope) opened its doors. The 119-unit complex was developed after the City of Fort Worth awarded ‘Fort Worth Housing Solutions’ (FWHS) $9.2 million from federal pandemic relief funds to purchase and renovate the former HomeTowne Studios.
The residents who found their way to Casa de Esperanza did so through the Tarrant County Homeless Coalition. The rooms are fully furnished with kitchenettes, full-sized bathrooms, and access to a dog park, community garden, and case managers.
“It’s really to save lives,” said Tara Perez, Fort Worth’s Directions Home program manager.
“It’s a new model for the city,” said Mary-Margaret Lemons, Fort Worth Housing Solutions president. “It’s been really reaffirming, I guess, to know we got it right and I think collaboration was really the key, though.”
She came up with the idea for Casa de Esperanza about three years ago. Through pandemic troubles, Lemons’ idea finally started taking place in 2020. Around the same time, Tara Perez had the same idea and wanted to see how the city could replicate the Palm Tree Apartments, a 24-unit complex on Race Street for people experiencing homelessness.
“We’ve come to kind of look at this model as like trying to solve three problems at once,” said Perez.
It took two months to renovate the space and start leasing out the rooms once Fort Worth Housing Solutions obtained the property.
Residents at Casa de Esperanza sign a 12-month lease but can stay longer if needed. They can also opt to apply for another housing program or seek housing assistance that allows them to move once their lease is up.
“Success looks different for everybody and we recognize that and we recognize we may have some of those residents for the rest of their life, which is absolutely fine as well,” said Lemons.
The FWHS website states its mission is to “promote economic independence and positive change in the lives of the more than 28,000 individuals we touch on a daily basis.”
