Homeless Response System Leaders Deliver Ninth Annual State of Homelessness Address
Highlight Drop in Chronic and Unsheltered Homelessness and Successes of the Homeless Rehousing System
Dallas – Today, Housing Forward hosted the annual State of Homelessness Address for Dallas and Collin Counties. The State of Homelessness Address is a time to share year-to-year trends from the Point-in-Time (PIT) count, share overall yearly systemwide data that helps assess the overall health of the system, and talk about future strategies for ending homelessness in our community.
During the State of Homelessness Address, Housing Forward along with the All Neighbors Coalition reported a reduction in homelessness. On the night of the Point-in-Time count, there were 4,244 individuals experiencing homelessness across Dallas and Collin Counties, this is the lowest count in five years. Between 2022 and 2023, there was a 14% decline in unsheltered homelessness. Additionally, they saw a sharp 32% decline in chronic homelessness overall, which signals to the community that the investments Dallas and Collin Counties have contributed and targeted specifically to serve the unsheltered population, are working.
“Evidenced by our data shared today, we have shown just how impactful greater alignment of resources, enhanced partnerships, and a focus on racial equity is in allowing our system to effectively and equitably serve and house more people than ever before.” said Joli Angel Robinson, President and CEO of Housing Forward.
In 2022, as a system, the All Neighbors Coalition increased the number of neighbors they moved into housing by 18% thanks to the increased resources and capacity-building with the Dallas R.E.A.L. Time Rapid Rehousing Initiative which gave us an opportunity to add 80 case managers and other key staff to help further the work. “The Dallas R.E.A.L. Time Initiative allowed us to build a more coordinated system which is producing results. As a community we are taking these learnings and scaling this model to continue making progress in ending homelessness for many of our neighbors.” said Luis Acuna-Pilgrim, Director of Housing Initiatives for Housing Forward.
“Our system’s tremendous work has allowed us to attract new funding and investments in permanent solutions to ending homelessness, including $22.8 million in new HUD Unsheltered funds, $1.25 million from the Bezos Day One Fund, and a 20%increase in programming from our annual HUD Continuum of Care (COC) award. By combining the new resources within the R.E.A.L. Time Rehousing model, we will make progress toward significantly reducing homelessness in Dallas and Collin Counties.” said Joli Angel Robinson.
The All Neighbors Coalition announced the launch of a community-wide expansion of Dallas R.E.A.L. Time. “We are excited to announce that with these new, increased, and existing resources the All Neighbors Coalition is able to expand the current Dallas R.E.A.L. Time Rapid Rehousing Initiative. Under this expanded initiative and with the use of this new funding in Diversion, Permanent Supportive Housing, and increases in our Rapid Rehousing efforts, we will continue to bring together our collective strengths around a new R.E.A.L. Time Initiative goal to serve 6000 individuals and families by 2025. The initiative will now reflect all our collective rehousing activities regardless of funding source, not just those initially funded by the Dallas R.E.A.L. Time Rapid Rehousing Initiative. As such, we are migrating to a new name and shared brand of R.E.A.L. Time Rehousing Initiative to reflect our regional diversion and rehousing efforts in total.” announced Joli Angel Robinson.
The Dallas REAL Time Initiative model has proven to be successful, and by combining the new resources coming into Dallas and Collin Counties within this model the All Neighbors Coalition will continue to make progress toward significantly reducing homelessness in Dallas and Collin Counties.
Link to more information about the State of Homelessness along with a recording of the address, which will be uploaded to the Housing Forward website after the event, can be found here.
