Sen. Tan Parker will convene a pivotal homelessness roundtable Dec. 4 in Austin, bringing together stakeholders from across Texas to address the state’s growing homelessness crisis. This working session has even higher stakes as the legislative session approaches, and participants will build on the momentum of the first roundtable in September – attended by senior city leaders from Dallas, Houston, Austin and San Antonio.
The December event will foster collaboration among policymakers, community advocates, service providers, and business leaders as they seek definitive action and envision solutions equivalent to the scale of the problem Texas now faces.
Importantly, the significant presence of business leaders from the DFW Metro is expected to continue, as the business community recognizes the importance of partnering with city and state representatives on this critical issue. Major stakeholders, especially property owners and those with significant downtown holdings, are likely to attend.
Despite years of efforts, and despite limited and laudable success in some cities, major Texas cities continue to fall short in effectively addressing homelessness. According to an independent survey conducted by Dallas stakeholders across two counties, 14 cities, and 104 nonprofit organizations, over $680 million was spent in FY2021 alone to reduce and prevent homelessness. Yet, the crisis persists, underscoring not just a failure of policy but a broader inability to sustain lasting solutions.
“Texans deserve better, and it’s time for the state to intervene with solutions that can withstand shifting political priorities,” said Monty Bennett, Chairman and CEO of the Ashford Group of Companies.
The roundtable will focus on policy and the critical role the state of Texas can play in addressing homelessness. With homelessness impacting every sector of society, the diverse voices at the table highlight the need for a collective impact approach that prioritizes long-term solutions over temporary fixes – including attendees from Dallas including Councilmembers Moreno and Mendelsohn.
“The business community has a critical role in addressing homelessness, not only because it impacts economic growth and stability, but because it’s the right and morale thing to do,” said Bennett, who attended the first roundtable in October.
Discussions at the December roundtable will center on comprehensive, multi-faceted strategies that go beyond traditional housing-first policies. While housing-first remains an essential component, participants focused in the first session on a broader model that incorporates shelter space, mental health services, addiction treatment, and job training in one location. This “no wrong door” approach aims to holistically provide wrap-around services of all kinds, ensuring individuals experiencing homelessness receive the long-term support needed to rebuild their lives and achieve stability.
This convening offers a crucial opportunity to align efforts and develop actionable strategies to tackle homelessness comprehensively, ensuring Texas remains a place where people want to live, work, visit, and invest, while addressing the needs of its most vulnerable populations.
“With the collective will and collaboration demonstrated at these roundtables, Texas can pave the way for meaningful change and create a model for addressing homelessness that other states can emulate,” said Bennett.