The person representing the U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness in Dallas told a city council committee that efforts to decrease the number of people living on the city's streets are effective, but some committee members were doubtful.
Rachel Wilson mentioned that Dallas is doing well in reducing homelessness and stands out among 27 other communities in the U.S. She emphasized the potential for Dallas to end homelessness, and expressed positivity from the federal perspective.
She reported a 34% decrease in homelessness in Dallas over the past year.
Wilson is working closely with the City’s Office of Homeless Solutions. She mentioned her responsibility to represent the federal government through the ALL INside initiative, aiming to reduce homelessness by 25% by 2025 through state and local program coordination .The initiative uses six pillars, including equity, data & evidence, collaboration, housing and support, crisis response, and prevention.
Wilson acknowledged the varying nature of homelessness across the country.
The U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness is also focused on addressing homelessness in Los Angeles, Chicago, Phoenix, Seattle, and the State of California, in addition to Dallas. five areas Chad West (District 1) asked about the most important initiatives for Dallas to reduce the unsheltered population, to which Wilson emphasized the importance of staying the course and continuing investment in the system.
Wilson proposes that maintaining the current direction and investment will yield positive results for Dallas.
During a Housing and Homeless Solutions Committee
Housing Forward meeting in March, CEO Sarah Kahn expressed similar sentiments about the City's efforts to reduce homelessness, stating that the nonprofit is housing more people than ever before. However, Cara Mendelsohn (District 12) questioned the success of Dallas' homelessness programs as asserted by local and federal officials.
Mendelsohn pointed out that Dallas may have the highest homeless population in Texas and raised concerns about the decommissioning of over 400 encampments.
Wilson expressed her aim to improve efficiency and support for Dallas.
Mendelsohn disagreed with the efficiency of the decommissioning process.
In the discussion on Tuesday, Wilson and committee members disagreed on the prudence of providing more temporary housing in Dallas, among other factors related to reducing and preventing homelessness, such as mental health and substance abuse treatment.
Gay Donnell Willis (District 13) mentioned the need for other organizations to share the responsibility as Housing Forward focuses on permanent housing.
Since May 2023, 324 individuals in Dallas and Collin counties have reportedly found housing through
permanent supportive housing , and 2,405 individuals and families have been housed through diversion, according to a report byThe Dallas Express . Wilson stated that providing permanent housing is more effective than temporary solutions, with a retention rate of 94% to 95%, and that investing in temporary housing options can be very costly. He emphasized the need for permanent housing based on data from U.S. studies.
However, Willis mentioned that Dallas residents are seeking alternative options.
She expressed her belief that the council cannot ignore the demands for other options.
Meanwhile, Mendelsohn noted that homelessness has actually increased in Dallas, contrary to expectations of a decrease.
She highlighted the prevalence of homelessness in various areas within the city, expressing concern about the growing issue.
Despite this, Mendelsohn acknowledged understanding Wilson’s perspective.
She appreciated his viewpoint but also emphasized the lack of efficacy in Dallas and the need for new approaches to address the problem.
In Texas, over 77,700 individuals experienced homelessness last year, with 21% of them lacking shelter, as reported by the
Texas Homeless Network .A representative from the U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness informed a city council committee that efforts to reduce the number of people living on the streets in Dallas are showing progress, but some committee members expressed doubt about the effectiveness of these efforts. Rachel, the council liaison, described Dallas as a system that's functioning effectively.
