[00:00:01]
[Special Called Housing and Homelessness Solutions on February 10, 2026.]
FEBRUARY 10TH. IT IS 9.09 AND I WILL CALL TO ORDER THE HOUSING AND HOMELESS SOLUTIONS COMMITTEE FOR THE CITY OF DALLAS.OUR FIRST ORDER OF BUSINESS IS APPROVAL OF THE DECEMBER 9TH COMMITTEE MINUTES.
THERE IS A MOTION AND A SECOND.
ARE THERE ANY CORRECTIONS OR CHANGES? HEARING NONE, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF APPROVAL, PLEASE SAY AYE. ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY.
WELL, WE ARE VERY HAPPY TO SEE EVERYONE HERE AND OUR FIRST BRIEFING ITEM IS THE LADDER PROJECT AND LAURA MILLER, THE HONORABLE LAURA MILLER, FORMER COUNCIL MEMBER AND MAYOR, WE ARE HAPPY TO HAVE YOU HERE AND PRESENT AND YOU'RE WELCOME TO DO IT FROM THERE OR IF YOU WANT TO COME UP TO THE FRONT TABLE, YOU'RE ALSO WELCOME TO DO THAT WHEREVER YOU'RE MOST COMFORTABLE.
COME ON OVER. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE TODAY.
OKAY. AND IF YOU JUST SORT OF TELL THEM TO GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE, THEY'LL ADVANCE IT FOR YOU.
OKAY, AND THEN JUST TAKE THAT MICROPHONE AND MOVE REAL CLOSE.
SO THANK YOU, CHAIR, FOR INVITING ME TO COME TODAY.
THANK YOU FOR THE SUPPORT OF COUNCIL MEMBERS WHO I'VE TALKED INFORMALLY ABOUT THIS IN THE PAST, INCLUDING MY COUNCIL MEMBER, GAYE WILLIS.
THE POINT OF MY BEING HERE, AND THANK YOU TO THE STAFF FOR ALL THE GREAT THINGS THAT YOU ALL ARE DOING.
I KNOW THERE ARE A LOT OF NEW INITIATIVES THAT YOU ALL ARE SUPPORTING, AND I JUST, I SEE IT AND MARVEL AT ALL YOUR WORK.
I WANT TO CONVINCE ALL OF YOU TO FIND A WAY TO ENGAGE THE PRIVATE SECTOR TO TAKE A LOT OF HOMELESS PEOPLE OFF THE STREET THAT COULD BE DONE LITERALLY OVERNIGHT.
AND MY LITTLE ORGANIZATION IS PROOF THAT IT CAN BE DONE.
SO IN 2018, MY CONGREGATION, CONGREGATION SHERIFF ISRAEL, WE INVITED THE HOMELESS CHOIR TO COME AND PERFORM FOR US.
AND MY RABBI ASKED ME TO RAISE $10,000 TO PAY FOR THE EXPENSES FOR THAT.
YOU PUT THEM IN A HOTEL OVERNIGHT.
YOU PAY FOR BREAKFAST THE NEXT MORNING.
AND THEN THEY GO BACK TO THE SHELTERS.
AND SO AFTER IT WAS OVER, IT WAS VERY LOVELY.
MIKE RAWLINGS CAME AND GAVE THE INTRODUCTION.
AFTER IT WAS OVER, I WENT BACK TO MY RABBI AND SAID, YOU KNOW, FOR THAT KIND OF MONEY, WE COULD JUST TAKE SOMEBODY OFF THE STREET COMPLETELY.
SO WHY ARE WE JUST HAVING THEM COME SING? SO MY RABBI STARTED CRYING, AND WE ON THE SPOT CREATED OUR LITTLE PROGRAM OF NINE VOLUNTEERS, ALL OF US IN OUR 60S AND 70S.
WE CALLED IT THE LADDER PROJECT, AND THEN WE SAID WE'RE GOING TO TAKE ONE PERSON.
IF 1,000 CONGREGANT MEMBERS CAN'T TAKE ONE PERSON OFF THE STREETS OF DALLAS AND STAY WITH THEM UNTIL THEY'RE SELF-SUFFICIENT, THEN WE CAN'T SOLVE HOMELESSNESS IN AMERICA.
MY CITY COUNCIL BUILT THE BRIDGE 20 YEARS AGO, AND WE DID IT TO END CHRONIC HOMELESSNESS IN 10 YEARS.
AND HERE WE ARE TODAY WITH GENERALLY THE SAME NUMBER OF PEOPLE ON THE STREET THAT WERE ON THE STREET WHEN I WAS ON THE CITY COUNCIL.
WE TOOK SOMEONE OUT OF THE BRIDGE.
WE INTERVIEWED FOUR PEOPLE THAT WERE PRESENTED TO US AS GOOD CANDIDATES.
WE STAYED WITH THEM FOR TWO YEARS, AND THEY FAILED.
BUT IT WAS SO REMARKABLE TO ACTUALLY GO FROM MEETING THEM IN THE SHELTER TO TAKING THEM OUT AND GETTING THEM A JOB AND GETTING THEM AN APARTMENT AND PAYING ALL THOSE UPFRONT COSTS FOR IT THAT WE DECIDED TO KEEP GOING.
SO TO DATE, WE HAVE TAKEN 50 MEN, WOMEN, AND CHILDREN OFF THE STREETS OF DALLAS AND OUT OF THE SHELTERS, AND 80% OF THEM ARE STILL SELF-SUFFICIENT, WHICH MEANS 80% OF THEM ARE STILL IN TOUCH WITH US.
AND WE ARE STILL THEIR ADVOCATES, NO MATTER HOW MANY YEARS THEY HAVE BEEN IN OUR PROGRAM.
WE HAVE THREE CRITERIA TO BE IN THE PROGRAM.
YOU HAVE TO BE ABLE TO WORK FULL TIME, AND WE WILL FIND YOU A JOB IF YOU DON'T HAVE ONE.
AND WE HAVE CULTIVATED JOBS PARTNERS OVER THE YEARS THAT HELP US TO BRING PEOPLE ON, INCLUDING UT SOUTHWESTERN MEDICAL CENTER, PRESBYTERIAN HOSPITAL, AND THE LEGACY SENIOR COMMUNITIES.
SO THOSE ARE OUR THREE JOB PARTNERS.
WE PAY ALL THE UPFRONT COSTS OF DOING IT.
ALL OF US GET IN THE U-HAUL, AND WE TAKE ALL THE FURNITURE THAT HAS BEEN DONATED BY CONGREGANTS.
WE HAVE STORAGE UNITS FULL OF FURNITURE.
ON MOVE-IN DAY, BY THE TIME WE LEAVE AT THE END OF THE DAY, THERE IS NOT ONE THING THAT PERSON DOESN'T HAVE.
AT THE END OF THE DAY, WE TAKE THEM TO WALMART.
WE SPEND ANYWHERE FROM $400 TO $800 ON THE TOILET PAPER, THE SHAMPOO, THE PAPER TOWEL.
WE FILL THE REFRIGERATOR AND FREEZER FULL OF FOOD.
WHEN WE WALK OUT, THEY WANT FOR NOTHING.
AND THEN WE STAY WITH THEM UNTIL THEY'RE SELF-SUFFICIENT.
AND SOMETIMES THAT'S A VERY SHORT AMOUNT OF TIME, AND SOMETIMES IT'S A VERY LONG TIME.
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COSTS.IT DOESN'T COST MUCH MONEY AT ALL.
WE HAVE SPENT, SINCE 2018, $192,000.
THAT'S FOR 50 PEOPLE IN 26 SEPARATE FAMILIES, WHICH IS ON AVERAGE $3,900 A PERSON, OKAY, WHICH IS NOTHING TO TURN SOMEBODY'S LIFE COMPLETELY AROUND.
BESIDES HAVING TO WORK FULL-TIME, THERE ARE TWO OTHER CONDITIONS FOR OUR PROGRAM.
AND YOU CAN'T LIE TO US BECAUSE WE'VE HEARD EVERYTHING, AND ONCE YOU LIE TO US, THEN THE WHOLE TRUST FALLS APART.
AND NUMBER THREE, YOU CAN'T BE AN ACTIVE DRUG OR ALCOHOL ABUSER BECAUSE WE JUST CAN'T HANDLE THAT.
MOST OF OUR CLIENTS HAVE MENTAL ILLNESS ISSUES, AND WE CAN HANDLE THAT.
WE EITHER SET THEM UP WITH METROCARE OR WE HAVE OUR OWN PRIVATE PSYCHIATRISTS AND PSYCHOLOGISTS WHO WILL MEET WITH THEM IF THEY ARE WILLING.
AND WE DEFINITELY TAKE CARE OF THEM MEDICALLY.
ALL OF OUR FOLKS HAVE MEDICAL AND DENTAL ISSUES, AND WE HAVE PRO BONO DENTISTS THAT DO WORK FOR US.
WE HAVE PRO BONO INTERNISTS, DOCTORS, WHO WILL SAVE THEM FOR SOME THINGS.
A LOT OF THEM HAVE MEDICAID, AND THEN WE PUT THEM INTO THE MEDICAID SYSTEM.
WE HAVE TWO STORAGE UNITS THAT COST US $300 APIECE A MONTH, AND THAT IS THE ONLY OVERHEAD WE HAVE.
SO ALL THE MONEY THAT WE RAISE GOES DIRECTLY TO THE HOMELESS.
MY TAKEAWAY HERE IS, ACCORDING TO THE 2020 CENSUS, THERE ARE ABOUT 3,000 FAITH ORGANIZATIONS IN DALLAS AND COLLIN COUNTIES.
AND ACCORDING TO LAST YEAR'S POINT IN TIME HOMELESS COUNT, THERE ARE ABOUT 3,400 PEOPLE ON THE STREET.
SO THAT MEANS, RIGHT, THAT EVERY CONGREGATION COULD TAKE ONE PERSON OFF THE STREET IF THEY'RE ABLE.
SO IF YOU GO BEYOND THE FAITH COMMUNITY, WHICH WE HAVE TO DO, YOU HAVE TO GO INTO THE PRIVATE SECTOR, ROTARY CLUBS, BOOK CLUBS, COMPANIES, ANYONE CAN DO THIS.
WHEN I DID AN OP-ED PIECE IN MAY IN THE DALLAS MORNING NEWS ABOUT THIS PROGRAM, A RETIRED BUILDER NAMED STEVE HILL CALLED ME ON THE PHONE AND SAID, I WANT TO DO THIS.
I SAID, BUT YOU'RE JUST ONE GUY.
AND HE IS NOW ON HIS THIRD HOMELESS PERSON THAT HE IS PERSONALLY FOLLOWING OUR MODEL, TAKING OUT OF HOMELESSNESS.
SO THIS IS EASY, BUT WHAT HAS TO HAPPEN IS THAT I WOULD LOVE IF THE CITY COULD HAVE SOME KIND OF FORMAL PROGRAM.
MY GROUP WOULD BE WILLING TO TEACH IT BECAUSE WE HAVE THE MODEL AND IT WORKS.
AND IF WE WERE ABLE TO DO THAT AND TO HAVE THE PRIVATE SECTOR ENGAGE AND TAKE PEOPLE OFF THE STREET AS WE DO, IT WOULD LEAVE THE CHRONICALLY HOMELESS THAT WE CANNOT HELP, THAT ARE IN THE TENTS, THAT SOME OF OUR FOLKS DO SLEEP OUTSIDE AND WE CAN GET THEM JOBS AND SAVE THEM.
BUT YOU KNOW WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT, THAT NGOS AND THE CITY NEED TO FOCUS THEIR MONEY ON THE PEOPLE THAT NEED THE MOST HELP AND EVERYONE IN THIS CITY THAT IS WILLING TO WORK, AND MANY ARE, WE CAN GET THEM OFF THE STREET LITERALLY OVERNIGHT.
MY GROUP IS HERE WILLING TO HELP.
WE'RE WILLING TO TALK TO GROUPS AND TELL THEM HOW WE DID THIS.
I THINK THE PRIVATE SECTOR IS GREATLY UNDERUTILIZED, BUT THEY NEED TO HAVE A PLAN.
AND ONCE THEY DO ONE PERSON, THEY WILL CONTINUE TO DO MORE BECAUSE IT'S VERY FULFILLING.
YOU DID A BEAUTIFUL JOB WITH THE PRESENTATION, AND CLEARLY YOUR PASSION FOR THIS IS BORN FROM THE SUCCESS.
AND I THINK SOME OF THE THINGS THAT YOU HIT ON ARE SO KEY.
ONE IS THAT THE FAITH COMMUNITY NEEDS TO BE, I WOULDN'T SAY MORE ENGAGED, BUT PARTNERED WITH BY THE CITY.
SECOND IS I DO THINK THERE'S A ROLE FOR THE CITY IN THIS, AND WE JUST TALKED ABOUT THIS A MINUTE AGO, WHICH IS THAT I THINK WE CAN BE A CONVENER.
I'M NOT SURE WE CAN HAVE A FORMAL PROGRAM, BUT I APPRECIATE YOU EXPRESSING A WILLINGNESS TO SHARE THE EXPERIENCE THAT YOUR CONGREGATIONS HAD WITH OTHERS IN THE FAITH COMMUNITY.
THERE'S SOME OTHER FAITH COMMUNITY PROGRAMS THAT I THINK OTHERS COULD LEARN FROM.
SO THIS COMMITTEE WILL BE HOSTING A ROUNDTABLE SESSION, AND THANK YOU FOR BEING WILLING TO BE PART OF THAT.
SO WITH THAT, WHO HAS QUESTIONS? COUNCIL MEMBER.
[00:10:01]
SO YOU MENTIONED THE DESIRE TO TEACH THIS, TAKE IT FORWARD.HAVE YOU ALL PUT TOGETHER ANY KIND OF CURRICULUM OR PROGRAM THAT YOU COULD GO AND DO THIS, OR ARE YOU JUST AT THE POINT WHERE YOU'VE ACHIEVED HELPING 50 PEOPLE AND YOU'RE READY TO TAKE THIS OUT TO OTHERS? YEAH.
I MEAN, WE'VE WRITTEN UP TEMPLATES TO DO IT.
WE HAVEN'T, THIS YEAR WE HAVE TALKED ABOUT THE FACT THAT WE NEED TO BE GOING OUT AND RECRUITING OTHER FOLKS TO DO IT, WHICH WE HAVEN'T ORGANIZED AT ALL YET.
WHEN YOU HAVE 80% OF YOUR CLIENTS SUCCEEDING, THEY STAY WITH YOU.
SO AS AN EXAMPLE, LAST NIGHT I WAS AT BAYLOR IN THE ICU BECAUSE ONE OF OUR CLIENTS WAS GETTING PULLED OFF LIFE SUPPORT TODAY, AND WE HAVE STAYED WITH HIM THROUGHOUT HIS ILLNESS.
HE WAS LIVING IN A TRUCK WHEN WE FOUND HIM.
SO IT'S A VERY COMPREHENSIVE THING, BUT WE NEED TO GET BEYOND THAT AND DO, AND THAT'S WHY I'M HERE, BECAUSE I DON'T THINK THE CITY NEEDS TO SPEND ANY MONEY OR ORGANIZE ANYTHING.
BUT IF THERE'S A WAY THAT WE CAN ALL LET THE PUBLIC KNOW THAT THIS IS POSSIBLE, PEOPLE, YOU KNOW, THEY GO TO THE STEW POT, THEY FEED, THEY GO TO OUR CALLING AND DROP OFF COATS.
THEY HAVE NO IDEA THAT THEY COULD ACTUALLY TAKE SOMEBODY OUT OF HOMELESSNESS, AND THAT WILL BECOME THEIR FRIEND, AND THEY WILL UNDERSTAND WHY THERE ARE HOMELESS PEOPLE IN THE WORLD, BECAUSE IT'S MOSTLY FINANCIAL AND PARTLY MENTAL HEALTH.
WELL, I'VE BEEN WONDERING ABOUT THE PROGRAM THAT WAS STARTED TWO OR THREE YEARS AGO WHERE WE WERE BRINGING FAITH-BASED ORGANIZATIONS IN, AND IT WAS REALLY TO GET AT A LOT OF ISSUES, THE STREET FEEDING AND THE STREET SOLICITATION AND SOME THINGS THAT PEOPLE THOUGHT WERE GOOD BUT ACTUALLY HAD SOME DETRIMENTAL EFFECTS AND WEREN'T THAT HELPFUL, AND TO JUST CHANNEL THEIR PASSION AND DESIRE TO HELP INTO SOMETHING THAT WOULD BE TRULY FRUITFUL.
AND SO THIS IS A GREAT EXAMPLE.
SO I WOULD LOVE TO SEE US, AND I KNOW I'VE TALKED TO STAFF ABOUT IT A BIT, 2.0, THE FAITH-BASED OUTREACH IN THIS AREA, BECAUSE I LOVE THE WAY YOU'VE COME THROUGH.
I MEAN, YOU'VE GOT YOUR RULES, AND THAT'S BECAUSE YOU FOUND WHAT WORKS.
I MEAN, YOU SAID NGOS CAN FOCUS ON THOSE THAT NEED THE MOST HELP.
THAT'S EXACTLY THE WAY IT SHOULD BE.
ON THE OTHER SIDE OF IT, WE KNOW THAT THERE ARE A LOT OF ONE-OFF HOME REPAIRS AND THINGS LIKE THAT THAT COULD PRESERVE PEOPLE IN THEIR HOMES.
AND THAT'S SOMETHING THAT A LOT OF CHURCHES AND OTHERS ARE DOING, AND I WOULD LOVE TO SEE IT TO THE POINT ABOUT US BEING THE CONVENER, THE CITY BEING THE CONVENER.
I DON'T KNOW IF THIS IS SOMETHING FOR THE CITY TO TAKE ON, BUT I SEE A LOT OF PEOPLE OUT THERE IN THE GALLERY WHO ARE IN THIS SPACE.
AND I THINK THIS IS SOMETHING THAT COULD COME TOGETHER.
BUT I LOVE THE IDEA OF THIS TAKING IT TO THE NEXT LEVEL OF HOW THOSE WHO WANT TO HELP CAN TRULY HELP IN A MEANINGFUL WAY.
SO THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU'RE DOING AND ALL YOUR COLLEAGUES WHO WERE HERE LAST WEEK.
WE REALLY APPRECIATE WHAT YOU'RE DOING.
I JUST HAVE A COUPLE QUESTIONS.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE PRESENTATION.
I THINK IT'S WONDERFUL THE WORK THAT YOU ALL ARE DOING.
AND IF I HEARD CORRECTLY, WHAT YOU WOULD LIKE FROM THE CITY IS TO HELP GET THE WORD OUT.
IS THAT HOW YOU PHRASED IT? YEAH.
I MEAN, TO GET THE WORD OUT, BUT ALSO TO AND MAYBE IT'S A CONVENING, A DAY FOR THE PRIVATE SECTOR TO LEARN HOW THEY CAN TAKE SOMEBODY OUT OF HOMELESSNESS, NOT JUST DO A PIECE OF IT.
BUT THAT'S YEAH, THAT'S WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT.
I WAS JUST CURIOUS IN TERMS OF WHO Y'ALL ARE TRYING TO REACH.
IS IT SERVICE PROVIDERS, POTENTIAL PARTICIPANTS, EMPLOYERS, OR DONORS? WE ARE WE TO MAKE THIS WORK, THE PRIVATE SECTOR, WHETHER IT'S AN INDIVIDUAL OR A BOOK CLUB, HAS TO REALIZE THAT THEY CAN LITERALLY TAKE SOMEBODY OUT OF THE SHELTER HERE AND THEY CAN GET THEM AN APARTMENT AND A JOB AND WATCH THEM SUCCEED.
IT'S NOT JUST THE FAITH COMMUNITY.
I MEAN, I THINK THE FAITH COMMUNITY OBVIOUSLY IS IMPORTANT BECAUSE YOU'VE GOT ONE CHURCH WITH A THOUSAND MEMBERS.
WELL, A THOUSAND MEMBERS, THAT'S A LOT OF RESOURCES.
BUT WHEN AN INDIVIDUAL CAME TO ME AND SAID, I WANT TO DO IT, AND HE'S DOING IT, IT JUST GOES TO SHOW YOU, YOU KNOW, THE PRIVATE SECTOR HAS SO MUCH MONEY AND SO MANY RESOURCES.
SO WHY AREN'T THEY MORE ENGAGED? THEY JUST DON'T KNOW THAT THEY CAN DO THIS.
SO THERE'S NOT NECESSARILY THE GOAL IS NOT NECESSARILY TO INCREASE REFERRALS FOR THIS PROGRAM? NO.
BUT MORE ABOUT BROADER AWARENESS? BROADER AWARENESS SO THAT MORE PEOPLE CAN DO THE PROGRAM.
ALL THE CASEWORKERS IN TOWN, THEY KNOW THE PROGRAM.
I GET CALLS AND EMAILS ALL DAY LONG.
WE CAN'T TAKE ANY MORE PEOPLE.
I MEAN, WE'RE OVERWHELMED WITH PEOPLE.
SO IT'S TIME FOR OTHERS TO STEP UP.
[00:15:01]
AND I CAN START TO KIND OF CREATE A WAY TO GO OUT AND TALK TO FOLKS.BUT THE CITY IS THE CITY, AND THE CITY WOULD BENEFIT HUGELY FROM THIS, JUST ENGAGING THE PRIVATE SECTOR.
SO I THINK I MEAN, I'M HAPPY TO MEET WITH STAFF AND BRAINSTORM ABOUT HOW TO GET THE WORD OUT, BUT IT'S JUST A FREEBIE.
IT DOESN'T COST YOU MILLIONS OF DOLLARS.
IT JUST IS A MATTER OF COMMUNICATION.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR RESPONSES.
I'M HAPPY TO HELP HOWEVER I CAN, AND I HOPE STAFF FEELS THE SAME WAY.
WELL, I JUST WANT TO HIGHLIGHT A COUPLE OF THINGS YOU SAID.
FIRST IS I APPLAUD YOU FOR SAYING YOU HAVE AN 80% SUCCESS RATE BECAUSE YOU'RE STILL IN TOUCH WITH THEM.
THAT'S ACTUALLY THE GOLD STANDARD MEASUREMENT OF WHAT IS A SUCCESSFUL OUTCOME IN HOMELESSNESS.
WE HAVE OTHER NONPROFITS THAT SAY, WELL, WE DIDN'T HEAR THEY'RE HOMELESS AGAIN, SO THEREFORE IT MUST BE SUCCESS, WHICH WE KNOW IS NOT TRUE.
THEY COULD HAVE MOVED, THEY COULD HAVE DIED, THEY COULD BE HOMELESS AND NOT BACK IN THE SYSTEM, BUT THE WAY YOU'RE MEASURING IT IS THE MOST DIFFICULT, THE HIGHEST LEVEL OF CONFIDENCE OF WHAT YOU'VE MEASURED.
SECOND IS I THINK WHAT THIS PROGRAM DOES IS HIT THE MOST TRAGIC ELEMENT OF HOMELESSNESS, WHICH IS THE LONELINESS.
PEOPLE NO LONGER HAVE A CONNECTION TO ANYONE IN THE COMMUNITY, AND WHAT YOU'RE ASKING THE CONGREGATIONS TO DO IS OPEN UP THEIR ROLODEX AND LEVERAGE THE RELATIONSHIPS THEY KNOW PROFESSIONALLY THAT CAN HELP PEOPLE, WHETHER THAT'S DOCTORS AND DENTISTS.
AS YOU POINTED OUT, EMPLOYERS THAT THEY MAY KNOW OR HAVE INFLUENCE OVER.
AND SO BEING ABLE TO CREATE THOSE CONNECTIONS AND PATHWAYS FOR PEOPLE TO BE SUCCESSFUL, BUT ALSO TO HAVE A PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP WITH THEM AND TO CARE ABOUT WHAT HAPPENS.
I'M PRETTY TOUCHED THAT Y'ALL ARE WORKING WITH SOMEBODY WHO'S IN THEIR FINAL DAYS.
MANY TIMES SOMEONE WOULD JUST TURN THEM OVER TO HOSPICE AND SAY, YOU KNOW, THERE'S NOTHING WE CAN DO HERE.
SO, AGAIN, I THINK THAT'S WHAT'S SPECIAL ABOUT THE FAITH COMMUNITY IS THAT THE MISSION IS NOT JUST LET'S GET YOU BACK TO EMPLOYMENT.
AND SO THANK YOU FOR CONTINUING TO TALK ABOUT IT, WHETHER IT'S THROUGH OP-EDS OR COMING TO OUR MEETING A COUPLE OF TIMES.
AND AS I SAID, WE WILL HAVE A CONVENING OF THE FAITH COMMUNITY.
THERE ARE SOME OTHER PROGRAMS, AND PERHAPS THERE'S THINGS THAT YOU MIGHT EVEN WANT TO ADD.
SO I'LL JUST SAY TO THE COMMITTEE, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE MIGHT BE ABLE TO OFFER IS, LET'S SAY A CONGREGATION SAID, WELL, I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE A TINY HOUSE ON OUR PROPERTY FOR THE HOMELESS PERSON FAMILY THAT WE'RE GOING TO MENTOR.
AND WE WOULD LIKE TO HAVE IT ACTUALLY ON SITE.
SO WHEN THEY COME FOR CHURCH ON WEDNESDAY, YOU KNOW, SALLY'S BRINGING A CASSEROLE AND ALL THOSE KINDS OF THINGS CAN HAPPEN.
WELL, WHERE DOES THAT TINY HOUSE COME FROM? IS THERE ZONING ISSUES? ALL OF THAT.
PERHAPS THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE COULD HELP THEM WITH AND PROVIDE IF THEY'RE WILLING TO MAKE A COMMITMENT ON THE OTHER SIDE.
SO I THINK THERE'S A LOT OF DIFFERENT THINGS.
THERE'S A PROGRAM CALLED OPEN TABLE THAT YOU AND I WERE TALKING ABOUT IS OUT OF ARIZONA THAT IS A SIMILAR MODEL TO WHAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT.
IT WAS VERY SUCCESSFUL BUT DIDN'T QUITE CATCH FIRE, WHICH IS I THINK WHAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT, IS TAKE THIS GOOD IDEA THAT'S WORKING REALLY WELL IN YOUR CONGREGATION AND LET'S GET THIS SPARK OUT TO EVERYONE.
AND I WOULD JUST SAY ALSO I THINK AS WE'RE THE CITY AND US OPERATING IN SILOS AND THINGS, SO I'M GLAD TO HEAR THAT THE CITY IS ON BOARD AND STAFF IS ON BOARD.
BUT I JUST ALSO WANT TO KIND OF ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THE DRIVERS OF OPPORTUNITY HAVE ALREADY KIND OF CONVENED A GROUP THAT INCLUDED FAITH-BASED ORGANIZATIONS AND NONPROFITS THAT MAY BE ALSO A GOOD PLACE TO START BECAUSE THEY'RE WORKING AND HAVE THEIR ATTENTION AS WE SPEAK NOW.
SO CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG ON THAT, BUT I KNOW THAT THEY'VE BEEN WORKING.
AND SO THAT MAY BE ANOTHER PLACE TO OVERLAP SOME OF THESE CONVERSATIONS.
WELL, WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE NEXT MONTH.
THERE ARE A COUPLE OF OTHER PRESENTATIONS, BUT AS YOU KNOW, SINCE WE STARTED MEETING IN OCTOBER, WE'VE HAD A COUPLE OF SPECIAL MEETINGS.
THE IDEA HAS BEEN TO BRING SOME OF THESE SUCCESSFUL PROGRAMS AND IDEAS LIKE THE LADDER PROJECT HERE TO TALK ABOUT WHAT ARE THEY DOING? HOW ARE THEY DOING IT? WE'VE HAD, I DON'T EVEN KNOW HOW MANY SPEAKERS AT THIS TIME, BUT WE'RE NEARING THE END WHERE THEN WE CAN TALK ABOUT WHAT ACTIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS WE'D LIKE TO HAVE.
SO IF YOU HAVE A SPEAKER THAT YOU THINK WOULD BE PARTICULARLY IMPORTANT, PLEASE LET ME KNOW.
THE NEXT ITEM IS ENCAMPMENT SERVICING PROCEDURES AND DISCUSSION ON CITY OF DALLAS HOMELESS ENCAMPMENT POLICY.
[00:20:04]
SO KEVIN'S GOING TO DO THE BRIEFING THAT WAS POSTED, AND THEN I'M HOPING WE'LL HAVE A DISCUSSION AFTERWARDS.GOOD MORNING, HONORABLE CHAIR AND MEMBERS.
I'M THE DIRECTOR OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AND CRISIS RESPONSE HERE AT THE CITY AND JOINED BY MY PARTNER, DIRECTOR OF HOUSING AND COMMUNITY EMPOWERMENT, MR. THOR ERICKSON.
TODAY'S BRIEFING IS A SHORT AND FACTUAL OVERVIEW OF THE CITY'S CURRENT ENCAMPMENT SERVICING PROCEDURES, TRYING TO FOCUS SPECIFICALLY ON PUBLIC PROPERTY.
THIS IS THE ROUTINE OPERATIONAL PROCESS THAT OUR TEAM, DALLAS STREET RESPONSE, FOLLOWS EVERY DAY.
THIS BRIEFING IS BEING PROVIDED AT THE REQUEST OF THE COMMITTEE FOLLOWING OUR NOVEMBER DISCUSSION ON ENCAMPMENT SERVICING.
THE PRESENTATION TODAY IS FOR REFERENCE AND FOCUSED ON OUR CURRENT OPERATIONAL PROCEDURES.
WHAT I'M OUTLINING TODAY IS THE STANDARDIZED PROCESS THAT WE FOLLOW FOR ROUTINE SERVICE REQUEST RESPONSE.
AS ADDITIONAL CONTEXT, PRIOR TO STANDING UP DALLAS STREET RESPONSE TEAM LAST FALL, I REPORTED TO THIS COMMITTEE IN JUNE THAT ENCAMPMENT-RELATED SERVICE REQUESTS AND COMPLAINTS HAD INCREASED ROUGHLY 45 PERCENT OVER THE PAST SEVERAL YEARS AND UNDERSCORES WHY CONSISTENT AND COORDINATED PROCEDURES MATTER.
SINCE STANDING UP THE DALLAS STREET RESPONSE TEAM IN OCTOBER, DALLAS HAS SEEN THE TREND OF INCREASED SERVICE DEMAND STABILIZED CONSIDERABLY.
IN OCTOBER, THE CITY RECEIVED 01,475 SERVICE REQUESTS RECEIVED RELATED TO ENCAMPMENTS.
THAT REPRESENTS OUR BASELINE MONTH.
IN NOVEMBER, WE RECEIVED 558 SERVICE REQUESTS.
IN DECEMBER, 705, AND IN JANUARY, 684.
CONSIDERABLE MONTHLY DECREASES COMPARED TO THE SAME MONTH THE PREVIOUS YEAR IN SERVICE REQUESTS.
OUR TEAM ALSO DEVELOPED OUTREACH AND ASSESSMENT ACTIVITY FOR EACH LOCATION WE VISIT.
WE'VE RANGED FROM 209 TO 394 ASSESSED LOCATIONS OVER THOSE FOUR MONTHS.
AND AFTER REMOVING DUPLICATES AND CONSOLIDATING MULTIPLE REPORTS FOR THE SAME SITE, WHAT THIS HAS LED TO IS THE OPERATIONAL VOLUME THAT THE DALLAS STREET RESPONSE TEAM IS REALLY RESPONDING TO MONTH OVER MONTH.
IT HAS BEEN A RANGE OF ROUGHLY 100 TO 180 CONFIRMED ENCAMPMENTS ADDRESSED MONTHLY FROM ALL OF THOSE SERVICE REQUESTS BECAUSE MANY OF THE REQUESTS WE RECEIVE ARE NOT ACTUALLY ENCAMPMENTS.
THEY DO NOT INVOLVE INDIVIDUALS OR INDIVIDUALS WHO CANNOT BE LOCATED OR THEY RELATE TO OTHER ISSUES NOT ASSOCIATED WITH ENCAMPMENTS.
SO JUST SOME HELPFUL CONTEXT AS WE START THIS PRESENTATION.
SO THE PURPOSE OF THIS PRESENTATION IS THREEFOLD.
AND FIRST IS TO OUTLINE THE ENFORCEMENT TOOLS THAT EXIST UNDER STATE LAW AND CITY ORDINANCE.
THAT WAS A REQUEST OF THE COMMITTEE FOLLOWING OUR NOVEMBER BRIEFING.
SECOND IS TO WALK THROUGH THE CURRENT OPERATIONAL AND ENCAMPMENT SERVICING PROCESS WE USE.
AND THEN THIRD IS TO RECEIVE ANY COMMENTS OR FEEDBACK FROM THE COMMITTEE.
THIS IS THE NEXT SLIDE THAT YOU'LL SEE IS A SUMMARY OF EXISTING LAWS AND A DESCRIPTION OF THEIR PROCEDURES IN PLACE.
SO THIS SLIDE PROVIDES A HIGH-LEVEL REFERENCE TO THE AVAILABLE ENFORCEMENT TOOLS THAT MAY, I STRESS, MAY APPLY IN ENCAMPMENT-RELATED SITUATIONS.
AT RECENT FEDERAL CASE LAW, INCLUDING THE CITY OF GRANTS PASS V. JOHNSON IN 2024, PROVIDED SOME CLARIFICATION ON THESE ITEMS. AND THEN JUST TO QUICKLY HIGHLIGHT AT THE STATE LEVEL, THERE ARE CRIMINAL TRESPASS STATUTES UNDER TEXAS PENAL CODE 30.05.
THERE IS TEXAS PENAL CODE 4805, WHICH ADDRESSES PROHIBITED CAMPING ON PUBLIC PROPERTY.
AND THEN I WILL POINT TO THE DALLAS CITY CODE HAS THREE SECTIONS THAT WE FREQUENTLY REFERENCE.
SECTION 31-13, WHICH IS SLEEPING IN PUBLIC PLACES.
SECTION 31-13.1, WHICH IS PROHIBITING UNAUTHORIZED OR TEMPORARY SHELTERS ON DESIGNATED PUBLIC PROPERTIES.
AND SECTION 32-13.1, WHICH IS PROHIBITING OVERNIGHT CAMPING IN PARKS WITHOUT A PERMIT.
[00:25:02]
AGAIN, I'M PROVIDING THIS SLIDE AS A REFERENCE OF SOME LEGAL AND ENFORCEMENT TOOLS THAT ARE AVAILABLE AND FREQUENTLY CROSS OUR PATHS.OPERATIONALLY, THOUGH, ENFORCEMENT IS NOT OUR LEAD APPROACH.
OUR PROCESS STARTS AND BEGINS WITH ASSESSMENT, ENGAGEMENT, AND SERVICE CONNECTION.
AND I'LL START TALKING ABOUT THAT ON THE NEXT SLIDE.
THE ENCAMPMENT SERVICING PROCESS THAT WE FOLLOW BEGINS WITH INTAKE AND ASSESSMENT.
SO STAFF RECEIVE OUR SERVICE REQUESTS PRIMARILY THROUGH 3-1-1, THROUGH 9-1-1, AND THROUGH OTHER EXTRAORDINARY REQUESTS THAT LEAD TO STAFF INITIATING A SERVICE.
OUR TEAM INSPECTS THE SITE, DOCUMENTS THE CONDITIONS AND OCCUPANTS, AND IDENTIFIES ANY IMMEDIATE HEALTH OR SAFETY RISK WITHIN THE 3-1-1 SYSTEM.
SO SINCE OCTOBER, AGAIN, WE HAVE DONE OUTREACH AND ENCAMPMENT ASSESSMENTS.
IN NOVEMBER, WE WERE AT 209 LOCATIONS.
WE'VE RAMPED THAT UP AS WE'VE IMPLEMENTED THIS PROCESS TO 394 LOCATIONS ASSESSED IN JANUARY.
BUT JUST BECAUSE WE ASSESS A LOCATION, DO NOT TAKE THAT AS THERE IS AN ENCAMPMENT THERE.
WE CONFIRMED 96 ENCAMPMENTS IN NOVEMBER AND, AGAIN, 180 IN JANUARY AS WE'VE RAMPED UP THIS PROCESS.
WHAT THIS REFLECTS TO ME IS IMPROVED REPORTING ACCURACY AND A MORE CONSISTENT APPROACH TO OPERATIONS.
FOLLOWING A QUESTION THAT WE BROUGHT IN NOVEMBER, ENCAMPMENTS CAN INVOLVE A SINGLE INDIVIDUAL OR MULTIPLE INDIVIDUALS AND MAY SPAN MORE THAN ONE PROPERTY AREA.
THESE SITES OFTEN INCLUDE TENTS, BEDDING, CLOTHING, FOOD, AND OTHER BELONGINGS.
AND AT THIS FIRST STAGE, OUR RESPONSE IS CLASSIFIED BASED ON WHETHER THE LOCATION IS ON PUBLIC OR PRIVATE PROPERTY.
IF IT IS PRIVATE PROPERTY, CODE COMPLIANCE IS NOTIFIED BY OUR TEAM.
THEY NOTIFY THE OWNER AND ESCALATE VIOLATIONS AS APPROPRIATE.
IF IT IS FOUND TO BE A PUBLIC PROPERTY, MY TEAM EVALUATES THE CONDITIONS TO DETERMINE THE NEXT RESPONSE, RESOURCES, AND TIMELINE.
THIS SLIDE POINTS TO INTERVENTION AND NOTICE.
SO OUR STAFF ENGAGE WITH THE OCCUPANTS OF THE SITE IF IT IS CONFIRMED TO BE AN ACTIVE ENCAMPMENT, ASSESS THEIR NEEDS, AND OFFER SERVICES.
SO OVER THE FOUR-MONTH PERIOD I'VE BEEN REFERENCING, OUR SHELTER AND HOUSING REFERRALS RANGED FROM 49 IN NOVEMBER, WHEN WE REALLY STARTED, TO 111 PLACEMENTS IN JANUARY.
DURING THAT SAME PERIOD, OUR LOW PERIOD OF ISSUING NOTICES TO VACATE OR CLOSING THE ENCAMPMENT RANGED FROM 33 IN DECEMBER AS OUR LOW, OUR HIGH WAS 74 IN NOVEMBER.
OUR RECENT INVESTMENTS, WE BELIEVE, IN SHELTER-TO-HOME WILL CONTINUE TO ASSIST US IN PLACING FOLKS AS WE ASSESS AND SITE THESE LOCATIONS.
I THEN WANT TO TALK BRIEFLY ON WHAT HAPPENS AFTER THE NOTICE AND INTERVENTION PERIOD EXPIRES.
THERE MAY BE ENFORCEMENT THAT IS REQUIRED.
WHAT I WANT TO GIVE YOU ARE THE NUMBERS OF LAW ENFORCEMENT REFERRALS THAT OUR TEAM HAS MADE OVER THE FOUR-MONTH PERIOD.
AND NOTE THAT IT'S GONE DOWN CONSIDERABLY SINCE WE STARTED IN OCTOBER.
I DO WANT TO RECOGNIZE AND THANK DALLAS POLICE AS WELL AS DALLAS MARSHALS FOR WHAT THEY ASSIST US WITH DAY IN AND DAY OUT.
IN OCTOBER, THERE WERE 67 LOCATIONS WHERE WE HAD TO MAKE A LAW ENFORCEMENT REFERRAL.
AND THE WAY WE CLASSIFY THAT IS WE'RE NOT ABLE TO GET VOLUNTARY COMPLIANCE OR THE ENCAMPMENT KIND OF RESOLVE ITSELF JUST THROUGH OUR TEAM'S MEANS.
THAT DROPPED TO 27 IN NOVEMBER, 19 IN DECEMBER, AND 8 IN JANUARY.
SO THE EFFORT AND THE PROCESS, FROM OUR PERSPECTIVE, SEEMS TO BE WORKING ON THE FRONT END.
AND THEN WHEN ENFORCEMENT OR WHEN LAW ENFORCEMENT IS NECESSARY TO COME, ONE, THEY'RE AVAILABLE AND WILLING TO HELP US, WHICH IS VERY HELPFUL TO THE PROCESS.
BUT THE OUTCOMES ARE WHAT WE EXPECT THEM TO BE.
THEY'RE CONTINUING TO GO DOWN.
ON THAT SAME VEIN, THE CLEANUPS THAT WE'VE HAD TO PROCESS AS A DEPARTMENT HAVE ALSO VERY MUCH STABILIZED OVER THAT FOUR MONTHS.
SO IN OCTOBER, WE DID 51 CLEANUPS.
CLEANINGS FOR US ARE TYPICALLY CONDUCTED WITH THE TRANSPORTATION AND PUBLIC WORKS OR OUR CONTRACTED SUPPORT.
AND THEN I WANT TO ANSWER THIS QUESTION CAME UP IN NOVEMBER.
IF THERE IS AN ARREST AT ONE OF THESE LOCATIONS FOR ANY REASON RELATED TO THE ENCAMPMENT, OUR OFFICERS DO HANDLE THE PROPERTY.
THEY INVENTORY THE PROPERTY AND
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PROVIDE STORAGE PER STATE LAW.NEXT SLIDE WILL COVER MONITORING AND DOCUMENTATION, WHICH IS OUR LAST STEP.
SO AFTER SERVICING, MONITORING IS CRITICAL.
OUR TEAMS REVISIT SITES REGULARLY TO PREVENT REESTABLISHMENT AS EARLY RETURNS BY US CAN HELP TO STOP THE CYCLE OF REENCAMPMENTS.
AND THEN THE MOST IMPORTANT THING I FOUND IN TAKING THIS ON IS DOCUMENTATION.
SO WE HAVE REALLY DONE, I THINK, A GREAT JOB OF USING THE 311 SYSTEM TO ITS MAXIMUM POTENTIAL.
WE'VE BUILT OUT ADDITIONAL REPORTS AND TOOLS THAT THE STAFF ARE USING.
THAT ENABLES ME TO GIVE THE COMMITTEE AND THE PUBLIC BETTER DATA AND INFORMATION.
AND I STILL BELIEVE THERE'S MORE WE CAN BE DOING ON THE DOCUMENTATION SIDE THAT WE'RE WORKING ON AND PUTTING IN PLACE NOW.
SO IN CONCLUSION, THE FRAMEWORK I'VE GONE THROUGH IS WHAT WE APPLY ACROSS THE VOLUME OF SERVICE REQUESTS WE AVERAGE EACH MONTH.
OCTOBER, OCTOBER, WE LOOK AT AS OUR OPERATIONAL BASELINE AFTER STANDING UP THE DALLAS STREET RESPONSE TEAM.
SINCE THEN, WE'VE SEEN DRASTIC REDUCTIONS AND STABILIZATION IN THE NUMBER OF SERVICE REQUESTS.
WE'VE SEEN INCREASED OUTREACH ENGAGEMENT AND STRONG EVIDENCE OF EFFECTIVE SOCIAL SERVICE REFERRALS, AS WELL AS A DECLINING RELIANCE ON ENFORCEMENT ACTIVITIES.
RECENT DISCUSSIONS ABOUT ENCAMPMENT OPERATIONS HAVE REINFORCED FOR ME AND OUR TEAM THE IMPORTANCE OF CONSISTENT COORDINATION, CLEAR COMMUNICATION, AND ALIGNED PROCEDURES ACROSS ALL OF OUR PARTNERS THAT LIVE IN THIS SPACE.
ONE OF THE THINGS IN RESPONSE THAT WE'RE CONTINUING TO DO IS WORK ACTIVELY WITH HOUSING FORWARD AND ALL OF OUR OPERATIONAL PARTNERS TO FURTHER REFINE THE PROCEDURES AROUND ROUTINE SERVICE REQUESTS AND THEN BETTER DEFINE OBJECTIVE AND EXIGENT CIRCUMSTANCES FOR HAZARDOUS ENCAMPMENTS AND COORDINATED RESPONSES TO THE PERSISTENT LOCATIONS.
WE BELIEVE THAT ALL OF THIS WORK REPRESENTS THE VALUES OF CONNECTING, COMMUNICATING, AND COLLABORATING AS ONE SYSTEM WHILE MAINTAINING THE OUTREACH-FIRST APPROACH THAT YOU'VE HEARD ABOUT TODAY.
I WANT TO THANK THE COMMITTEE FOR INVITING ME BACK AND WELCOME THE OPPORTUNITY FOR ANY FEEDBACK OR QUESTIONS THAT YOU MAY HAVE.
VERBALLY, YOU SHARED A LOT OF DATA THAT'S NOT IN THE PRESENTATION.
IF I CAN ASK YOU TO TAKE WHAT YOU HAVE WRITTEN IN FRONT OF YOU AND TURN IT INTO A MEMO, ESPECIALLY WITH ANY OF THE NUMBERS THAT YOU'VE SHARED, IF IT'S NOT ALREADY IN THE PRESENTATION, IF YOU COULD SEND THAT OUT TO THE COMMITTEE OR THE FULL COUNCIL ON FRIDAY, THAT WOULD BE WONDERFUL.
WE'RE GOING TO START WITH QUESTIONS, AND VICE CHAIR VALERI, IF YOU HAVE SOME, GO FOR IT.
THANK YOU SO MUCH, AND THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION.
AND I'M GOING TO ECHO WHAT CHAIR SAID ABOUT NUMBERS.
PERCENTAGES, THEY DON'T MATTER.
WE NEED TO SEE THE RAW NUMBERS.
IS IT A WAY THAT WE CAN GET RAW NUMBERS, THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE THAT YOU ARE SEEING, THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE THAT YOU'VE REFERRED TO HOUSING FORWARD OR ANY OTHER SERVICE PROVIDER THAT'S BEING USED, AS WELL AS A TRACKING, THE NUMBER OF HOW YOU TRACK? WHAT I'M ASKING FOR IS A STORY.
HOW MANY COME IN? HOW MANY ARE MAINTAINED? WHERE THEY GO? AND HOW MANY ARE BACK OUT ON THE STREET AFTER YOU REACH THEM AND CONTACTED THEM? SO, YOU CAN GIVE ME RAW NUMBERS AND PERCENTAGE, AND THEN THE TRACKING THAT'S USED.
WHEN YOU'RE SAYING MORE DOCUMENTATION NEEDS TO HAPPEN, I AGREE.
THE IDENTIFICATION OF A PROCESS, I TOTALLY AGREE.
WHEN YOU'RE SAYING THAT YOU HAVE SERVICE REQUESTS DECLINED, IS THE SERVICE REQUEST DECLINED BECAUSE YOU HAVE NO MORE HOUSING, NO MORE UNHOUSED RESIDENTS THAT YOU'RE IN COMMUNICATION WITH, OR IS IT BECAUSE NO SERVICE REQUESTS ARE BEING OPENED? I CAN TELL YOU THAT THERE ARE LOCATIONS IN MY DISTRICT, DISTRICTS THAT CHAIR GRACIE AND I SHARE, THIS LOCATION WHERE CHAIR RESENDEZ AND I SHARE.
AND THERE'S LOCATIONS THAT ARE JUST STRAIGHT OUT IN DISTRICT 8 THAT WE CLEAN, WE SEE, BUT WE
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SEE THEM AGAIN AND AGAIN AND AGAIN.AND SO, HOW ARE WE TRACKING THOSE? WHAT IS THE PROCESS? WHAT'S THE METHODOLOGY? AND HOW ARE WE MAKING SURE THAT WHAT WE'RE CLEANING STAYS CLEAN? SO, GIVE ME THAT STORY.
I KNOW YOU HAVE A TEAM THAT I HAVE WORKED WITH.
THEY ACTUALLY COME TO MY OFFICE AND WE STRATEGIZE.
IT WOULD BE GREAT IF THEY WERE HERE TO SHARE THE STORY BECAUSE THE STORY THAT THEY HAVE TO SHARE IS ONE THAT ALSO WORKS.
AND HOW IT WORKS IS ONLY IF WE SHARE IT AND WE DUPLICATE IT AND WE MAKE IT SOMETHING THAT IS HAPPENING ALL OVER THE PLACE.
AND THANK YOU FOR THIS PRESENTATION.
AND AGAIN, I'M JUST GOING TO CONCUR WITH THE NUMBERS.
IT LOOKS LIKE FROM THE NUMBERS THAT YOU READ OUT, THINGS ARE MOVING IN A POSITIVE WAY.
AND I SAW IT RIGHT HERE, PARTICULARLY FOR THE NEED FOR ENFORCEMENT.
I THINK YOU SAID, I THINK I HAD OCTOBER OF 67, NOVEMBER 27, DECEMBER 19, AND JANUARY WAS 8.
AND IS THAT, WHAT DOES THAT INDICATE, I GUESS? LET ME START THERE.
WHAT I WOULD SAY IS, LET'S FIRST TALK ABOUT THE REDUCTION IN SERVICE REQUESTS.
BY NO MEANS IS THAT A WE'VE WON STATEMENT.
WE'RE STILL RECEIVING 600 TO 700 SERVICE REQUESTS A MONTH THAT WE HAVE TO ADDRESS.
BUT IT'S NOT THE 1,500 WHERE WE STARTED.
WHAT THAT ALLOWS US TO DO IS BE FASTER, RIGHT, AND GET FROM SITE TO SITE TO SITE BECAUSE THERE'S LESS VOLUME.
WE HAVE TO HIT EVERY SINGLE SERVICE REQUEST LOCATION.
SO, FEWER ALLOWS US TO BE MORE MOBILE AND ADDRESS SITES QUICKER.
AS I'VE INDICATED, I'LL TAKE JANUARY AS AN EXAMPLE.
WE CONFIRMED OF THE 394 LOCATIONS THAT WE NARROWED DOWN THE WHOLE POPULATION OF SERVICE REQUESTS TO, 180 OF THOSE LOCATIONS HAD AN ENCAMPMENT.
AND WE ENDED UP DOING 35 TOTAL CLEANINGS ON THOSE 180 PROPERTIES.
AND WE ENDED UP MAKING EIGHT REFERRALS TO LAW ENFORCEMENT FOR ASSISTANCE FOR FOLKS THAT WOULD NOT SELF-RESOLVE THOSE ENCAMPMENTS.
SO, WHAT THAT TELLS ME IS, IS THE OVERWHELMING NUMBER OF THOSE 180 ENCAMPMENTS WE WERE ABLE TO SELF-RESOLVE, RIGHT? EITHER WE WERE ABLE TO TAKE PEOPLE FROM AN UNSHELTERED STATE TO ANOTHER SAFER LOCATION, A SHELTER, AN INTAKE CENTER, WHATEVER IT MAY BE.
OR FOLKS, YOU KNOW, MOVED ON FROM THE LOCATION.
AND SO, ALL OF THESE THINGS, THERE'S NO, IN MY OPINION, HAVING BEEN IN THIS SPACE FOR A SHORT TIME, BUT TRYING TO TAKE IN AS MUCH AS I CAN.
THERE'S NO ONE STAT THAT TELLS YOU EVERYTHING.
THERE'S ALL THESE LITTLE INDICATORS THAT CAN PAINT A PICTURE OF WHETHER THINGS ARE STABLE, IF THEY'RE GETTING WORSE, OR IF THEY'RE GETTING BETTER.
AND WHERE I WOULD SAY WE'RE AT TODAY IS FROM OUR TEAM AND OUR MISSION IN THIS, WE SAW A RAPID PERIOD OF BETTER OUTCOMES AND NOW KIND OF A STABILIZATION OF A PACE THAT I THINK WE CAN OPERATE AT SUCCESSFULLY MONTH OVER MONTH.
EXCELLENT. THANK YOU FOR THAT.
I DO HAVE ONE RECOMMENDATION, AND I'M GOING TO GET BACK TO MY QUESTION IN A MINUTE.
BUT I JUST THOUGHT ABOUT THIS AS YOU WERE SPEAKING.
I WOULD BE CURIOUS, AND MAYBE YOU MENTIONED IT AND I JUST MISSED IT, BUT THE ENCAMPMENT TYPES WOULD BE AN INTERESTING ONE.
AS WE'RE ANTICIPATING AND TRYING TO ADDRESS THIS, THE OTHER SIDE OF THAT IS I THINK WE'RE RIGHT NOW IN A DEFENSIVE STATE WITH THE NUMBERS MOVING IN A POSITIVE WAY SO THAT WE CAN POTENTIALLY MOVE INTO MORE OF A PREEMPTIVE STATE.
AND WHERE I'M GOING WITH THAT QUESTION IS, ONE, DO WE TRACK THE ENCAMPMENT TYPES? AGAIN, YOU ALL CAME OUT WITH US IN DISTRICTS 8 AND 3 TO LOOK AROUND, AND WE HAD EVERYTHING FROM BEHIND VACANT PROPERTY TO ABOUT 11 FOLKS LIVING IN THE WOODS OFF THE HIGHWAY KIND OF THING.
SO DO WE TRACK THE TYPE OF ENCAMPMENTS? WE DO. WE DO. THE PROPERTY TYPE, WHAT'S GOING ON ON PROPERTY. IS IT A CREEK? IS IT AN OPEN FIELD? THOSE SORTS OF THINGS.
WE TRACK THAT. THE OTHER THING THAT I WILL JUST ADD, AND I THINK I MENTIONED THIS IN MY REMARKS, BUT I WANT TO STRESS THE NEXT LEVEL OF IMPROVEMENT THAT I SEE US PUTTING INTO PRACTICE, AND THIS
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WILL OCCUR VERY QUICKLY.THERE ARE REALLY THREE TYPES OF ENCAMPMENTS, RIGHT? THERE'S THE ROUTINE, WHICH IS A SERVICE REQUEST WE RECEIVE THAT THROUGH TYPICAL CITY MEANS WE CAN RESOLVE IT.
THERE ARE EXIGENT CIRCUMSTANCES. THERE'S A LOT OF CRIME GOING ON. THERE ARE HAZARDS. IT'S RIGHT NEXT TO A SCHOOL, A NEIGHBORHOOD.
LIKE, WE'VE GOT TO GET ON THAT ENCAMPMENT AND GET IT CLEANED UP IN 24 HOURS OR LESS.
WE HAVE TO HAVE OBJECTIVE MEASURES TO DO THAT, AND SO THOSE ARE THINGS WE'RE WORKING FOR SO THAT WE CAN RAMP THAT UP.
AND THEN THE THIRD THING IS THE HOT SPOT, AND I THINK THAT WAS THE OVERWHELMING THING FOR ME COMING IN IS EVERYBODY DEFINES EVERYTHING AS A HOT SPOT.
AND SO WHAT WE'VE DONE IS WE'VE STARTED A WEEKLY CALL WITH MY TEAM, WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT, WITH HOUSING FORWARD, WITH OTHERS, WHERE WE'RE TALKING ABOUT WHERE ARE THE PLACES THAT ARE GENERATING THE MOST 911 CALLS, THE MOST 311 CALLS, THE MOST COMPLAINTS TO OUR SOCIAL SERVICE FRIENDS.
AND WHAT RESOURCES DO WE HAVE SO THAT WE CAN BUILD OUT A CUSTOMIZED WAY, SIMILAR TO WHAT WE DID DOWNTOWN, BUT NOW IT'S TIME TO TAKE THE DOWNTOWN MODEL CITYWIDE.
AND NOT EVERYTHING CAN BE A HOT SPOT. I CERTAINLY WISH WE HAD THE RESOURCES AND THE ABILITY TO DO THAT, BUT WE ARE USING EVERYTHING WE'VE GOT AVAILABLE TO WORK AS COORDINATED AS POSSIBLE ON THOSE SITES.
AND I'VE ACTUALLY GOT ADDITIONAL PLANNING FOR THAT THAT'S GOING TO TAKE PLACE, I BELIEVE, NEXT WEEK SO THAT WE CAN GET ON WHAT IS OUR NEXT SITE THAT WE'RE GOING TO JOINTLY WORK TOGETHER AND START THAT PROCESS.
AND THANK YOU. AND THEN FOR THOSE SITES, DID YOU ALSO SAY FOR ONCE YOU CLEAN THEM UP, WHAT'S THE AVERAGE, I DON'T KNOW HOW TO SAY THIS, WHAT'S THE PERCENT BY WHICH THEY RETURN AND BECOME AN ENCAMPMENT AGAIN? SO AGAIN, IF WE KNOW, I THINK YOU MENTIONED A NUMBER OF ENCAMPMENTS, I FORGET WHAT THAT NUMBER WAS, 100 AND SOMETHING ENCAMPMENTS, I BELIEVE YOU SAID.
AND OF THOSE 130, IF WE GO IN AND CLEAN UP, YOU KNOW, 80% OF THOSE ENCAMPMENTS, HOW MANY OF THEM WILL RETURN? AND THEN DO WE KNOW WHAT TIMEFRAME IT WOULD TAKE FOR THEM TO RETURN? AND THEN THE LAST ONE IS GOING TO ASK THIS TOO, SO I CAN BE DONE.
AND THEN THE LAST ONE IS, DO WE KNOW THE NOTICEABLE PATTERNS? SO IF WE CLEAN UP THIS ONE, TYPICALLY WE KNOW THEY'RE PROBABLY GOING TO MOVE OVER HERE.
AND ARE WE USING, AND I'VE BEEN WORKING, MEETING WEEKLY WITH RISK TERRAIN MODELING THROUGHOUT MY DISTRICT AND TRYING TO UNDERSTAND, ONE, THEY'RE HERE.
IF WE CAN CLEAN THEM UP, WE KNOW IF THERE'S 10 IN HERE, 50% OF THEM ARE GOING TO ACCEPT SERVICES.
THEY'RE GOING TO GO, THESE 50% ARE GOING TO MIGRATE SOMEWHERE ELSE.
THEY'RE MOST LIKELY TO MOVE HERE BECAUSE OF THIS, THIS, AND THIS, SO THAT WE CAN START AS A COUNCIL MEMBER.
I WANT TO BE ABLE TO NOT ONLY, I KIND OF NOW KNOW I CAN DRIVE AND LOOK AND SEE, OOH, THAT WOULD MAKE A GOOD PLACE TO, YOU KNOW, FOR AN ENCAMPMENT.
AND KNOWING THE PATTERNS, NOW THAT I'VE SEEN IT AROUND, I GUESS THAT'S PROBABLY NOT THE RIGHT WAY I SHOULD HAVE SAID IT, I THOUGHT IT WAS, BUT YOU UNDERSTAND WHAT I'M SAYING.
ANTICIPATING WHERE THEY CAN GO AND THEN WHAT ARE SOME MEASURES WE CAN PUT IN PLACE TO KIND OF BE PREEMPTIVE ABOUT THAT.
SO THAT WAS A LOT, BUT YOU UNDERSTAND WHAT I'M GOING TO GO.
WHAT I'LL, WHAT I'LL RESPOND WITH IS HOW WARM MY HEART IS HEARING RISK TERRAIN MODEL BEING REFERENCED ON THAT SIDE OF THE TABLE AND NOT THIS SIDE.
WHAT I WOULD ALSO SAY IS, IS THAT WE'RE, WE VERY HEAVILY USE THOSE PRINCIPLES, RIGHT? AN ENCAMPMENT OCCURS IN A LOCATION AND REOCCURS IN A LOCATION DRIVEN ENTIRELY BY PROPERTY TYPE AND WHAT'S ALLOWED ON THE SURROUNDING PROPERTIES.
AND SO THAT'S WHY IT'S, YOU HAVE THE HUMAN SERVICE SIDE ON THE FRONT END.
YOU MAY HAVE ENFORCEMENT ON THE BACK END, BUT ALL THROUGHOUT IT, THERE MAY BE OTHER TOOLS WE USE WITH CLEANUPS OR CODE OR OTHERS WHERE THE CONVENIENCE STORE NEXT DOOR, WE KNOW THEY ALLOW LOITERING.
SO MAYBE WE COULD, WE COULD CLEAN THAT UP AS WELL TO MAKE THAT PLACE LESS DESIRABLE.
WE USE THINGS LIKE FENCING AND OTHER MEANS TO MAKE IT LESS DESIRABLE FOR SOME LOCATIONS, BUT OVERWHELMINGLY OUR MONITORING IS GETTING IN A CAR AND GOING BACK QUICKLY AND REPETITIVELY AND NOT ALLOWING THE PLACE TO BE REDEFINED, THE USE OF THE PLACE TO BE DEFINED FOR US.
IF IT'S, IF IT'S A PUBLIC PLACE, WE SHOULD, IT SHOULD HAVE A DEFINITION THAT WE SET AND THAT WE MAINTAIN.
I JUST HAD A COUPLE OF LIKE BROADER QUESTIONS THAT I KNOW SOME COMMUNITY MEMBERS ARE CURIOUS ABOUT.
FOR EXAMPLE, LIKE WHEN ENCAMPMENTS ARE ON OR ADJACENT TO PRIVATE PROPERTY, WHAT SPECIFIC RESPONSIBILITIES FALL ON THE PROPERTY OWNER VERSUS THE CITY? UM, YEAH, SO I'M AN
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AMATEUROLOGIST IN CODE COMPLIANCE SERVICES, BUT I'LL TALK HIGHLY ABOUT THE PROCESS.SO WE GET THE SERVICE REQUESTS OVERWHELMINGLY FOR HOMELESS ENCAMPMENT, INDEPENDENT OF PROPERTY TYPE.
UH, WE GO OUT AND WE FIRST, LIKE I MENTIONED, DETERMINE PUBLIC OR PRIVATE PROPERTY.
IF IT IS A PRIVATE PROPERTY, UH, WE WORK WITH THE CODE, UH, REPRESENTATIVES OR INSPECTORS IN THAT AREA.
THEY COME OUT AND VERIFY IF THERE IS ANY SORT OF, UH, VIOLATION THAT'S OCCURRING ON THE PROPERTY AND THEY GO THROUGH THEIR WORKFLOW, UM, WITH PROPERTY OWNERS LEADING UP TO ANY SORT OF ESCALATED ENFORCEMENT.
THEY HAVE, UH, OUR INVOLVEMENT DOES NOT STOP THERE.
WE STILL, UH, OCCASIONALLY NEED LAW ENFORCEMENT FOR TRESPASSING ON PRIVATE PROPERTY.
IF THE OWNER, UH, WANTS THAT REMOVED OR CLEAN UP, UM, OR OUTREACH ON THAT FRONT END.
SO IT'S REALLY JUST ADDING THEIR WORKFLOW TO THE EXISTING PROCESS, UM, WHEN IT IS AN ISSUE OF PRIVATE PROPERTY.
I KNOW A LOT OF PRIVATE PROPERTY OWNERS, PARTICULARLY BUSINESS OWNERS, YOU KNOW, GET REALLY FRUSTRATED WHEN THEY HAVE TO, YOU KNOW, SEEMINGLY DEAL WITH THE ISSUE THEMSELVES.
AND I'M, I'M WONDERING IF THERE ARE ANY PROGRAMS OR FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE AND ANYTHING, UH, YOU KNOW, CITY LED AVAILABLE TO, TO HELP OWNERS DEAL WITH TRASH OR BIOHAZARDS OR DAMAGE FROM ENCAMPMENTS.
UM, YEAH, SO GENERALLY WE, THE, THE CODE COMPLIANCE DEPARTMENT, I'M SPEAKING FROM FIRSTHAND, UH, AND GIVING YOU MY, MY READ ON THE THING.
UM, IF AN OWNER WANTS TO DO THE RIGHT THING AND IT'S MAKING THE STEPS GO THE RIGHT WAY, UH, CODE WILL, WILL GENERALLY WORK WITH THEM HAS BEEN MY EXPERIENCE.
UM, TO, TO, TO PIGGYBACK KIND OF OFF OF, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER GRACIE'S POINT THOUGH, YOU KNOW, MY TEAM, WE TRAIN THEM IN CRIME PREVENTION THROUGH ENVIRONMENTAL DESIGN.
UM, BUT MORE ALONG THE LINES OF, YOU KNOW, WHY IS THIS LOCATION, THE PLACE THAT PEOPLE ARE HANGING OUT? WHAT IS IT ABOUT THIS LOCATION? AND ARE THERE THINGS THAT WE CAN DO TO FURTHER EDUCATE PROPERTY OWNERS ON, UH, HOW TO, AGAIN, REDEFINE THEIR PLACES FOR THE CORRECT USE OF THAT, THAT PLACE.
UM, AND WE'RE ALWAYS HAPPY TO HELP PROPERTY OWNERS, AS LONG AS THERE'S A PARTNERSHIP IN THAT AND WE'RE, WE'RE MOVING TOWARDS AN END GOAL.
UM, THAT'S, THAT'S ALWAYS GOING TO BE THE BEST OUTCOME WE CAN HAVE AS A BETTER EDUCATED PROPERTY OWNER.
AND THEN MAYBE THE CITY SUPPLEMENTING A LITTLE BIT HERE OR THERE.
OKAY. SO THEN LIKE NO SPECIFIC, LIKE FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE OR CITY FUNDED CLEANUP PROGRAM OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT.
I WILL GET WITH CODE AND WE'LL MAKE SURE IF THERE IS SOMETHING THAT, AGAIN, I, I DON'T KNOW ALL OF THEIR SPECIFICS, BUT WE WILL BOTH GET WITH YOU AND MAKE SURE THAT WE ANSWER THAT QUESTION.
AND THEN IF WE NEED TO PROVIDE MORE TO THE COMMITTEE, WE WILL.
OKAY. AND THEN ONE, ONE, ONE MORE, MADAM CHAIR, UH, ASIDE FROM CALLING 9-1-1, WHAT TOOLS ARE AVAILABLE TO HELP OWNERS ADDRESS TRESPASSING? YOU MENTIONED, YOU MENTIONED, YOU MENTIONED THAT, UH, AND CAMPING ON, ON THEIR PROPERTY WITHOUT PUTTING THEMSELVES OR EMPLOYEES AT RISK.
UM, AS ALWAYS, WE'RE, WE'RE MORE THAN HAPPY TO GO OUT AND ASSESS PROPERTIES WITH PROPERTY OWNERS AND SAY, HERE'S THE THINGS THAT WE CAN DO TO, UH, ONE, LET'S STABILIZE THE, THE PROPERTY NOW, LIKE IN THE ENCAMPMENT OR THE BEHAVIOR YOU DON'T WANT ON THERE.
WE HAVE TOOLS TO DO THAT. UM, AND THEN CAN WE DO AN ASSESSMENT THAT HELPS YOU, THE PROPERTY OWNER, BETTER UNDERSTAND THINGS YOU CAN DO ON YOUR PROPERTY TO PREVENT REOCCURRENCE? UM, WE HAVE SEVERAL TOOLS AVAILABLE TO US.
WE'VE HAD SEVERAL PROPERTY OWNERS THAT, YOU KNOW, WE, WE TELL THEM THE SIMPLE FIX OF LIGHTING THAT CAN MAKE A HUGE DIFFERENCE ON THAT DARK CORNER OF THE PROPERTY WHERE, UH, WHERE THE BEHAVIOR PERSISTS AND IT CLEANS IT UP FOR A VERY LOW COST.
IT'S JUST THE WAY YOU LOOK AT, UH, PROPERTY TYPE AND THE ACTIONS THAT TAKE PLACE ON THOSE PROPERTIES. AND WE'RE ALWAYS WILLING AND ABLE TO MAKE THAT. YOU CAN DO THAT THROUGH 311. UH, THE OTHER THING THAT WE FREQUENTLY GET REQUESTS THROUGH IS THE NON-EMERGENCY NUMBER. UM, THAT IS, UH, 214-744-4444. LOTS OF FOURS.
AWESOME. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THOSE RESPONSES.
SURE. UH, YOU HAD A FOLLOW-UP QUESTION.
THE INFORMATION THAT YOU'RE GOING TO SHARE WITH DR. NERVA RESENDEZ, CAN YOU SHARE IT WITH ALL OF US? OR ACTUALLY, ANYTHING THAT YOU'RE SHARING, CAN YOU JUST SHARE IT WITH ALL OF US SO THAT WE ALL HAVE THE SAME INFORMATION AT THE SAME TIME? YES. SO, SO TWO THINGS ON THAT. ABSOLUTELY. AND THEN, UH, THE SECOND IS, I THINK THAT WE ARE AT A POINT WHERE OUR MONTHLY OUTCOMES REPORT IS MATURE ENOUGH THAT IF, IF THE BODY, INTENDS FOR THAT OR WISHES FOR THAT TO BE A MONTHLY ITEM, SIMILAR TO HOW WE DO DASHBOARDS AT PUBLIC SAFETY, I'M CERTAINLY WILLING TO HAVE THAT AS A STANDING ITEM SO THAT THE COMMITTEE CAN GET IN. IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS OR
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FOLLOW-UP, YOU CAN HOLD US TO ACCOUNT.YEAH, I THINK THAT THAT WOULD BE GREAT. IT ACTUALLY TELLS A STORY AND KEEPS US OUT OF WHAT'S REALLY GOING ON. YOU CAN ACTUALLY TELL A STORY BY NUMBERS WITHOUT HAVING TO SPEAK. THANK YOU.
YES, I THINK WE WOULD LIKE TO HAVE THAT. AND, UM, LET'S GO THROUGH IT AND SEE WHAT ELSE MIGHT NEED TO BE ADDED TO IT. AND LET'S HAVE IT AS A STANDING REPORT.
THANK YOU. UH, I WANT TO GO BACK TO THE PRIVATE PROPERTY ISSUE.
SO IT SOUNDS LIKE SOME OF THIS FALLS UNDER CODE, WHICH YOU'RE NOT NECESSARILY ABLE TO SPEAK TO.
BUT IF YOU'RE A PRIVATE, I MEAN, IF YOU'VE GOT A BUSINESS AND YOU'RE GETTING VIOLATIONS OR HAVING SOME, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE PRESENT ON YOUR PROPERTY, I MEAN, AND YOU UNDERTAKE CALLING SECURITY OR GOING TO THAT EXPENSE, I MEAN, THEY'RE NOT GOING TO TAKE THE SAME APPROACH THAT, UM, YOU KNOW, HOUSING FORWARD OR SOME OF THE OUTREACH TEAMS WOULD TAKE.
AND SO HOW DO WE, WHERE'S THAT INTERSECTION OR HOW DO WE BRIDGE THAT? UM, IS THERE A PLAN FOR THAT? SO I'LL GIVE YOU, I'LL GIVE YOU A VERY, UM, SPECIFIC EXAMPLE, UH, TWO SPECIFIC EXAMPLES. I'LL, I'LL TRY TO BE, UM, VAGUE WITH THE LOCATIONS. UH, IN NORTHWEST, THERE'S AN APARTMENT THAT WE ARE WORKING WITH THEIR PROPERTY OWNERS, UM, WHERE AN ENCAMPMENT IS, IS TAKING PLACE IN A CREEK NEAR THAT APARTMENT COMMUNITY.
UM, WE SPENT MANY HOURS WORKING WITH THE OWNER, UH, FOR THEM TO ARRANGE THE CLEANUP. UM, WE HELD OFF ON DOING VIOLATION WHILE THEY DID THAT BECAUSE THEY UNDERSTOOD WHAT NEEDED TO BE DONE, BUT THEY ALSO REQUESTED US TO BE THERE TO HELP MAKE SURE THAT THE ENCAMPMENT IS EMPTY WHEN THEY HAVE THEIR CLEANUP CREW IN PLACE.
SO THAT'S ONE EXAMPLE OF WHERE WE'VE ASSISTED PRIVATE PROPERTY TO HELP THEM, UH, DO THINGS, BUT ALSO USE OUR RESOURCES TO ASSIST. UH, THE SECOND IS WE HAVE, WE HAVE BUSINESSES ALONG THE STIMMONS CORRIDOR, UH, WHERE WE FREQUENTLY, UH, ASSIST WITH, UH, GETTING ENCAMPMENTS OFF OF PROPERTY, BUT THEN DOING FOLLOW-UP AND ROUTINE PATROL, UM, CHECKING IN WITH THEIR HIRED SECURITY AND OTHERS FOR ANY ISSUES THAT POP UP, UM, AND ADDRESSING THOSE PROACTIVELY.
I ALWAYS LOOK AT IT AS IT'S, IT'S, IT'S A PARTNERSHIP WITH PROPERTY OWNERS. WE WANT PROPERTY OWNERS THAT WANT TO DO THE RIGHT THING, BUT MAY NEED THE CITY TO DO A LITTLE BIT OF HELP.
AND I'VE, I'VE, I'VE TAKEN THAT LESSON FROM CODE AND, UH, FROM OUR COMMUNITY PROSECUTION DIVISION ON, ON HOW TO APPROACH THOSE TYPES OF, UH, INSTANCES.
SO DO YOU FEEL LIKE CODE IS EDUCATED ON WHEN THEY'RE WORKING WITH A PROPERTY OWNER OVER A SITUATION TO LINK THEM TO YOUR TEAM SO THAT IT CAN WORK THAT WAY? SO I GUESS I WOULD ANSWER THAT FROM MY EXPERIENCE IS YES.
UM, WE WERE VERY INTENTIONAL IN MAKING SURE THAT, UH, ALL OF THE FOLKS THAT ARE ASSIGNED BY DIVISION IN THE CITY FROM MY TEAM AND FROM OTHERS, THEY'RE TALKING, THEY'RE COLLABORATING BECAUSE OFTENTIMES THE SAME PROPERTY THAT I'M GETTING A SERVICE REQUEST ABOUT, UM, OR HOMELESS ENCAMPMENT CODE MAY BE GETTING SERVICE REQUESTS FOR, UH, LITTER OR WASTE OR OTHER THINGS.
AND SO IT ONLY MAKES SENSE FOR OUR TEAMS, UH, TO BE LINKED AND NOT DOING FIRST IN FIRST OUT, BUT, BUT TRULY TRYING TO SOLVE ISSUES COLLABORATIVELY.
AND, UM, UM, I I'D SAY THE OTHER THING IS DIRECTOR CHRISTIAN AND HIS TEAM AND MY LEADERSHIP TEAM, WE ALL TALK AT LEAST WEEKLY AND MOSTLY IT'S ABOUT TACTICAL THINGS OF HOW WE CAN CONTINUE TO WORK BETTER TOGETHER.
OKAY. WELL, BUILDING ON THAT COMMUNICATION WHEN, UH, I MEAN, WE HAD SOME UNFORTUNATE HEADLINES AROUND, UM, UH, AN ENCAMPMENT AND, AND THE WAY THAT PEOPLE WERE TREATED AND HOW MAYBE THERE WAS A DISCONNECT.
WELL, THERE WAS A DISCONNECT, UM, BECAUSE WE KNOW WHETHER IT'S ON PRIVATE PROPERTY OR PUBLIC PROPERTY THAT, YOU KNOW, THAT METHOD IS NOT GOING TO GET YOU TO THE OUTCOME WHERE WE WANT TO STAND SOMEONE UP AND GET THEM ON A BETTER PATHWAY.
SO HOW IS THAT SUPPOSED TO WORK? SO THE, THE, THE MODEL THAT, UM, WE'RE WORKING THROUGH ON, I WANT TO STICK THE HOTSPOTS.
UM, SO HOTSPOTS WOULD BE THE LARGE ENCAMPMENT THAT THE CITY HAS SPENT MANY HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS, MAYBE SOME CASES, MILLIONS OF DOLLARS CLEANING UP, CLEANING UP AGAIN, CLEANING UP AGAIN, BUT, BUT THERE'S ALWAYS THE RETURN.
UM, I KNOW THAT THAT PROCESS HAS HAD MANY DIFFERENT NAMES OR ITERATIONS OVER THE YEARS.
THE PROCESS THAT, UM, WE'RE DEVELOPING AND THAT IF IT PLEASES THE COMMITTEE THAT WE CAN COME BACK, UM, IN, IN PROBABLY AS EARLY AS MARCH OR APRIL AND DISCUSS FURTHER INVOLVES A SHORT PLANNING PHASE.
WHO'S INVOLVED? WHERE ARE WE GOING? HOW DID WE PICK THIS LOCATION? ARE WE OBJECTIVELY LOOKING AT THIS LOCATION VERSUS OTHERS? UM, AND DO WE HAVE THE RESOURCES TO START DOING OUTREACH? IT THEN INVOLVES A FOUR
[00:55:01]
TO SIX WEEK PERIOD OF OUTREACH WHERE WHEN IT COMES TO CLEANUP DAY, THE INTENDED OUTCOME IS THERE'S NO ONE THERE.IT'S JUST CLEANUP, RIGHT? BECAUSE DISPLACEMENT DOES CREATE ISSUES, UM, ACROSS THE STREET, DOWN THE WAY OR OTHER THINGS.
IT DOES OCCUR, UM, BUT WE WOULD LIKE TO SEE NO ONE AT A LOCATION FOLLOWING THAT FOUR TO SIX WEEK PERIOD OF OUTREACH AND GETTING FOLKS OUT OF THE ENCAMPMENT AND INTO, UM, SHELTER OR OTHER PLACES.
WE AFFECT THE ENFORCEMENT AND THEN WE DO THE CLOSURE AND THE MONITORING.
I THINK THAT THE CITY'S BIGGEST STEPS HAVE BEEN ON THOSE, THOSE BACK PIECES OVER THE LAST, YOU KNOW, FOUR TO SIX MONTHS.
UM, AND I LOOK FORWARD TO THE TEST OF DOING THAT IN FUTURE LOCATIONS, ALL THE WAY FROM THE PLANNING TO THE CLOSURE AND SEEING WHAT WE CAN ACCOMPLISH AS A SYSTEM TOGETHER.
IT JUST SEEMS LIKE THERE NEEDED TO BE A STEP OF BEFORE THE ZIP TIES CAME OUT, YOU KNOW, HAVE, HAVE SOME, UH, THESE OTHER STEPS THAT YOU'VE LISTED.
HAVE THEY BEEN UNDERTAKEN? AND SO IT SEEMS LIKE WE'VE GOT TWO ENTITIES UNDER THE CITY'S UMBRELLA THAT MAYBE A PHILOSOPHY NEEDS TO BE GREATER IMPARTED TO THE LAW ENFORCEMENT SIDE TO UNDERSTAND THAT, YOU KNOW, WE WANT TO BE SURE THAT ALL OF THESE CHECKPOINTS HAVE BEEN MET BEFORE WE START TAKING THAT STEP.
UM, SO THE, THE, THE, JUST TO RESPOND BRIEFLY, THE, THE STATEMENT THAT THE CITY MANAGER AND HOUSING BOARD PUT OUT, I REALLY LOOK AT IT TWO WAYS.
ONE, THERE WERE, THERE WERE ACCURACIES TO THE STATEMENT.
UM, BUT SECONDLY, I LOOK AT IT AS AN EXPECTATION OF LEVEL OF WHERE WE'RE SUPPOSED TO BE.
UM, AND SO THAT IS WHAT WE'RE CHASING DOWN AND BEING, UM, VERY RELENTLESS ABOUT MAKING SURE EVERY PROCEDURE IS RIGHT.
UM, NOT JUST TILL WE GET IT RIGHT, BUT UNTIL WE CANNOT GET IT WRONG.
UM, AND I LOOK FORWARD TO PERHAPS BRINGING BACK TO THE COMMITTEE WHERE WE WIND UP ON THAT.
AND THEN Y'ALL HOLDING US TO ACCOUNT AND TRACKING PROGRESS ON FUTURE LARGE SCALE OPERATIONS SUCH AS THAT.
UM, I'M GOING TO START WITH ASKING YOU A QUESTION THAT WE ASKED YESTERDAY AT PUBLIC SAFETY.
AT WHAT POINT IS IT DPD DOING ENFORCEMENT? AND WHAT POINT IS IT THE MARSHALS DOING ENFORCEMENT? AND HOW DO YOU DETERMINE THAT? THAT'S AN EXCELLENT QUESTION.
SO GENERALLY DAY TO DAY, MY TEAM HAS MARSHALS ASSIGNED WITH THEM.
UM, SO THAT TENDS TO BE ON THE ROUTINE SIDE AND ALSO WHEN THE FRONT END EFFORTS OF VOLUNTARILY MOVING, GOING TO SHELTER, WHATEVER IT MAY BE, UM, ARE NOT SUCCESSFUL.
THE MARSHALS ALSO ACCOMPANY THE TEAM ON CLEANINGS.
FOR THE DALLAS POLICE DEPARTMENT, THEY TEND TO ASSIST OUR TEAM ON THE LARGE SCALE HOTSPOT TYPE OPERATIONS AND HAVE BUILT OUT, UM, THEIR INFRASTRUCTURE.
SO THE INCIDENT THAT, UM, DEPUTY MAYOR QUITTON-WILLIS WAS JUST TALKING ABOUT THAT WAS WIDELY COVERED, THAT HAPPENED THE DAY OF THE POINT IN TIME COUNT.
WHY WAS THERE REMARKABLE ENFORCEMENT THE DAY OF THE POINT IN TIME COUNT? WELL, I DON'T, I DON'T LOOK AT, AT ALL THOSE TWO THINGS.
ARE YOU SAYING IT WAS A COINCIDENCE? THOSE, I CAN ASSURE THAT THOSE TWO THINGS ARE NOT LINKED, BUT I ALSO SAY THAT, UM, AGAIN, I POINT BACK TO WHAT HAS BEEN PUT OUT, IS THAT THERE IS OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO COORDINATE AND COMMUNICATE ALL OF THOSE THINGS BETTER, UM, SO THAT THOSE TYPES OF QUESTIONS AREN'T ASKED ON THE BACK END.
BUT I DO AGREE, IT'S A FAIR QUESTION.
WELL, THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE QUESTIONING THE TIMING OF ENFORCEMENT.
I'LL TELL YOU THAT WHEN I DROVE QUITTON-LBJ, THE DAY OF THE POINT IN TIME COUNT, IT WAS REMARKABLE.
FOR THE FIRST TIME IN YEARS, THERE WAS NOBODY THERE.
TWO DAYS LATER, BACK TO THE WAY IT'S BEEN.
THIS MORNING, BACK TO THE WAY IT'S BEEN.
BUT FOR THE POINT IN TIME COUNT, NOBODY WAS THERE.
AND SO I THINK WE ALREADY KNOW WE'RE GOING TO SEE SOME VERY UNUSUAL RESULTS THAT ARE NOT REFLECTIVE OF WHAT'S ACTUALLY HAPPENING.
I'M JUST GOING TO PAUSE AND ASK THE COMMITTEE MEMBERS A QUESTION I JUST ASKED MY VICE CHAIR, WHICH IS, IN YOUR DISTRICT, WITHOUT NUMBERS, DO YOU THINK HOMELESSNESS HAS DECREASED OR INCREASED SINCE YOU'VE BEEN IN OFFICE? AND WHAT WAS YOUR ANSWER? WELL, I HAVE A LOT OF WOODED AREAS, SO I CAN'T ANSWER THAT BECAUSE WE FIND
[01:00:01]
THAT AS WE DEVELOP, WE FIND MORE ENCAMPMENTS.THE DEEPER WE GO INTO THE WOODS OR THE PLACES THAT ARE UNDEVELOPED, PEOPLE TEND TO USE AS A PLACE TO RESIDE.
SO I SEE THAT IN MY DISTRICT, THERE'S NO CHANGE.
BECAUSE JUST LIKE YOU SAID, THERE'S A LOCATION ON 67 AND CAMP WISDOM, RIGHT UNDERNEATH THE FREEWAY.
WE KEEP CLEANING IT, AND WE CLEAN IT ON THURSDAY, ON SUNDAY.
IT'S LIKE THAT, THE WAY IT IS.
SO, I CAN'T ANSWER THE QUESTION WHETHER THERE'S MORE OR LESS, BUT IT LOOKS LIKE THE STATUS QUO.
AND CHAIRMAN GRACIE, HOW WOULD YOU CHARACTERIZE IT IN YOUR DISTRICT? INTERESTING QUESTION.
FIRST OF ALL, I SAY THANKS TO THE TEAM FOR COMING AND CHECKING US OUT.
I KNOW YOU ALL HAVE BEEN THERE.
I KNOW WE'VE BEEN TO THE ENCAMPMENTS.
BUT TO ACTUALLY HAVE THE FULL ENTIRE JOHN AND SARAH AND THE TEAM COME OUT AND REALLY ADDRESS THE ENTIRE AREA.
SO THIS IS, I THINK, FOR ME, I THINK THIS IS THE FIRST TIME WHERE WE'VE GIVEN A FULL-SCALE ATTENTION TO ALL OF OUR AREAS.
AND I THINK WE HAVE A GRIP ON WHERE THEY ARE.
AND WE'VE DISCOVERED NEW AREAS.
SO, AGAIN, I DON'T KNOW IF THEY'VE BEEN THERE OR IF, YOU KNOW, THEY'RE NEW OR NOT.
BUT WHAT I DO KNOW IS I THINK FOR THE FIRST TIME, AT LEAST SINCE I'VE BEEN IN OFFICE, I HAVE A GOOD GRIP ON WHERE THE ENCAMPMENTS ARE.
AND I THINK WE HAVE A DECENT STRATEGY ON HOW TO ADDRESS IT.
IF THERE'S NEW FACES OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT, PERHAPS THERE MAY BE SOME NEW HOMELESS FOLKS THAT HAVE COME AROUND.
BECAUSE I DRIVE AROUND AND I LOOK TO SEE.
AND THOUGH I DON'T KNOW ALL OF THEM BY NAME, I TRY TO GET TO KNOW THE NAMES AND WHERE THEY SLEEP AT NIGHT.
SO, FROM THERE, I HAVEN'T SEEN MANY NEW FACES.
BUT, AGAIN, IT COULD BE THAT THEY WERE JUST IN UNDISCOVERED PARTS OF THE DISTRICT.
AGAIN, LIKE COUNCILWOMAN BLAIR SAID, WE HAVE A LOT OF WOODED AREAS.
AND WE ARE, THIS IS THE FIRST TIME WHERE WE ACTUALLY, WE GOT OUT IN THERE.
SO, WOULD YOU SAY IT'S ABOUT THE SAME, THEN? IS THAT WHAT YOU'RE? I DON'T KNOW.
I'LL SAY WE HAVEN'T RECEIVED THE ATTENTION IN THE PAST TO REALLY KNOW.
SO, I'M SAYING THAT I'M GLAD WE'RE GETTING THE ATTENTION SO THAT WE CAN.
COUNCILMEMBER SANDERS, WERE YOU ABLE TO CHARACTERIZE YOUR DISTRICT? I THINK STAFF HAS DONE A GOOD JOB RESPONDING TO CONSTITUENTS IN DISTRICT 5.
WHEN THEY REACH OUT TO MY OFFICE AND THEN I REACH OUT TO STAFF, THEY'VE BEEN PRETTY RESPONSIVE.
YOU KNOW, OVERALL, THERE'S STILL, OBVIOUSLY, ISSUES THROUGHOUT THE CITY, INCLUDING IN SOUTHEAST DALLAS.
BUT I'M GOING TO CONTINUE TO DO WHATEVER I CAN TO WORK WITH STAFF TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ADDRESS ALL OF THAT.
SO, WOULD YOU SAY IT'S ABOUT THE SAME, THEN? I'VE ALREADY RESPONDED.
COUNCILMAN WILLIS, HOW WOULD YOU ANSWER? WELL, I MEAN, I'M NOT REALLY INTERESTED IN THE QUALITATIVE SIDE.
WE CAN BE QUANTITATIVE ABOUT THIS.
SOME DAYS I SEE THINGS AND I'M LIKE, WOW, THAT'S REALLY CLEAR.
AND OTHER DAYS I SEE SOMETHING THAT POPPED UP THAT WASN'T THERE BEFORE.
SO, I THINK I'D RATHER GET ON TO THE NEXT ITEM WHERE WE'RE TALKING ABOUT HOMELESSNESS AND HOUSING POLICY SO WE CAN GET AT HOW WE DRIVE THAT NUMBER DOWN.
WE'RE GOING TO MOVE ON TO MY NEXT QUESTION.
THE NEXT THING I WANT TO ASK YOU ABOUT IS, DO YOU BELIEVE THAT THE CITY IS COMPLIANT WITH HOUSE BILL 1925 THAT SAYS NO ENCAMPMENTS ON PUBLIC LAND? SO, I APOLOGIZE.
ARE YOU REFERENCING THE PENAL CODE 4805, THE CAMPING BAN? SO, I THINK THAT THE EFFECTIVE QUESTION FOR ENFORCEMENT IS REALLY WITH DPD.
HOWEVER, I'M SHARING MY, WHAT I HAVE SEEN AND WHAT WE HAVE WORKED THROUGH IS THAT WHEN I'VE NEEDED DPD TO BE A PARTNER TO US AND WHEN WE'VE NEEDED LAW ENFORCEMENT TO DO THE THINGS THAT ARE NEEDED ON THE ENFORCEMENT SIDE, THEY HAVE STEPPED UP AND DONE THAT.
I THINK THAT CERTAINLY DOWNTOWN IS A GOOD EXAMPLE AND NOW IT'S TIME TO TAKE THAT SAME MODEL CITYWIDE.
[01:05:02]
YOUR MODEL FOR HOTSPOTS INCLUDES FOUR TO SIX WEEKS OF OUTREACH TO FOLKS.DO YOU BELIEVE THAT THAT IS RESOLVING ENCAMPMENTS ACCORDING TO THE LAW? SO, THE LAW DOES, AGAIN, I'M NOT AN ATTORNEY OR AN OFFICER, SO PLEASE FORGIVE ME, BUT THE LAW DOES REQUIRE PRIOR TO ENFORCEMENT INTERVENTIONS TO TAKE PLACE.
MY BELIEF, BASED ON BEING IN THIS SPACE FOR THE TIME I'VE BEEN IN IT, IS THAT IT DOES SEEM TO TAKE THAT FOUR TO SIX WEEKS FOR AN INDIVIDUAL TO GET THEIR DOCUMENTS, TO BE READY TO GO INTO SHELTER, TO GET PLACED INTO SHELTER.
IS IT POSSIBLE THAT THAT TIMELINE SHRINKS? I WOULD SAY THAT BASED ON THE INVESTMENTS THAT I'VE SEEN FROM THIS BODY AND RECENTLY FROM THE COUNTY, THAT IF THE PERSONS WE'RE SERVING ON THE STREET BEGIN TO UNDERSTAND THAT SHELTER CAN DO THE SAME THINGS WE COULD DO IN THAT FOUR TO SIX WEEKS AND THAT'S THE PLACE TO GO WHEN YOU GET HOUSED OUT OF SHELTER.
I THINK THAT PERHAPS THAT FOUR TO SIX WINDOW COULD SHRINK, BUT THIS IS WHERE WE'RE AT TODAY, AND I RELY ON THE EXPERTS AROUND ME TO HELP MAKE THOSE FRONT-END DECISIONS TO MAKE SURE WE'RE DOING RIGHT, TO CLOSE THE PLACE EFFECTIVELY, AND AGAIN, NOT JUST KIND OF SWEEP EVERYTHING FROM ONE SIDE OF THE STREET TO THE OTHER, BECAUSE THAT HASN'T ACCOMPLISHED ANYTHING THAT I'VE BEEN ABLE TO FIND IN OUR DATA.
BUT ACTUALLY, YOUR COMMENT IS THAT YOU HOPE THAT WHEN YOU COME BACK FOR THE CLEANING, THAT THE PEOPLE ARE GONE, AND THAT THAT MEANS THAT EITHER THEY'VE ACCEPTED HOUSING THAT YOU MIGHT HAVE AVAILABLE IF THEY'RE READY FOR, THAT THEY MIGHT HAVE GONE TO SHELTER, BUT ALSO THAT THEY MIGHT HAVE JUST LEFT.
AND YOU WERE PART OF A VIDEO WHERE, INDEED, YOU'RE SHOWING AN ENCAMPMENT WHERE THERE'S REPEATED OUTREACH, SOME PEOPLE WENT TO HOUSING, SOME PEOPLE WENT TO SHELTER, AND SOME PEOPLE DID JUST PICK UP AND MOVE TO A DIFFERENT ENCAMPMENT.
YEAH, THAT'S CORRECT. THOSE ARE THE OPTIONS THAT PEOPLE HAVE AVAILABLE TO THEM.
SO, I THINK, YOU KNOW, WHERE MY TEAM LIVES, WE'RE IN THE KIND OF THE PROPERTY USE BUSINESS.
YOU KNOW, HOW IS THE PROPERTY BEING USED? IS IT BEING USED AND DEFINED IN A WAY IT SHOULD BE? AND IF NOT, WHAT CAN WE DO TO CHANGE IT? THERE ARE MEMBERS OF OUR TEAM, THE BROADER TEAM, THAT ARE FOCUSED ON THE HUMAN SIDE OF THAT AND THE BEHAVIOR-CHANGING BUSINESS, RIGHT? SO, ON THE FRONT END, THE POSITIVE, AND ON THE BACK END, THE ENFORCEMENT. ALL OF THOSE COMPONENTS HAVE TO WORK TOGETHER IN A LOGICAL FLOW OF ORDER FOR US TO EXPERIENCE SUCCESS.
THERE IS NO ADVIL EFFECT TO DOING THIS WORK, RIGHT? THERE HAS TO BE, AT THE MOST DIFFICULT OR COMPLICATED AREAS, A FLOW THAT ENDS WITH PERSONS NOT MOVING FROM THIS STREET TO THAT STREET.
OTHERWISE, WE'RE BACK TO SQUARE ONE.
SO, THE QUESTION I'M REALLY GETTING AT IS THIS. IS IT THE CITY'S STAFF'S POSITION THAT A RESIDENT SHOULD CALL 3-1-1 FOR AN ENCAMPMENT, AND THEY SHOULD THEN WAIT FOUR TO SIX WEEKS FOR THAT TO BE RESOLVED? NO, THAT IS NOT THE EXPECTATION.
THE EXPECTATION FOR A 3-1-1 CALL, PARTICULARLY FOR THE ROUTINE, THE 180 ENCAMPMENTS THAT WE SERVICED IN JANUARY, IS THAT WE ARE FOLLOWING THE PROCEDURE I LAID OUT, AND WE'RE GETTING THAT DONE FOR THESE LARGE-SCALE ENCAMPMENTS.
BUT WHAT IS THE RESOLUTION PERIOD? I BELIEVE WE HAVE, AND I CAN GET YOU MORE SPECIFICS ON TIMELINE, BUT I BELIEVE WE HAVE LIKE SEVEN DAYS TO DO AN INITIAL RESPONSE AND THEN 21 DAYS TO CLOSE IT OUT.
MY EXPECTATION OF THE TEAM IS THAT, AND WHY WE'VE KIND OF CHANGED THE WAY WE DO 3-1-1S, IS THAT WHILE I GET 689 SERVICE REQUESTS IN JANUARY, NOT ALL SRS ARE CREATED EQUAL.
I THINK PART OF THE REASON WHY WE'VE SEEN A REDUCTION IS BECAUSE WE'VE STARTED DOING ALMOST LIKE A PRIORITY SYSTEM OF WHERE ARE THE ENCAMPMENTS, WHICH ONES DO WE NEED TO GET TO FIRST, SECOND, THIRD, AND DOING IT THAT WAY.
WHEN YOU'RE TALKING SPECIFICALLY ABOUT THE FOUR- TO SIX-WEEK WINDOW, THOSE ARE HOTSPOTS.
I THINK THAT WE HAVE THE CAPACITY AND THE CAPABILITY TO TAKE ON A COUPLE OF THOSE SIMULTANEOUSLY.
WHAT IS THE EVERYWHERE SOLUTION IS, AGAIN, I BELIEVE THE INVESTMENTS MADE BY THIS BODY, BY THE COUNTY AND OTHERS, TO HOPEFULLY CHANGE THE PERCEPTION OF WHAT A SHELTER CAN DO FOR A PERSON AND MAKE IT MORE DESIRABLE FOR OUR TEAM TO SHOW UP, GET A PERSON
[01:10:01]
TO SHELTER, AND THEN THERE'S A WORKFLOW THERE THAT MOVES THE PERSON INTO HOUSING.IF WE CAN CHANGE THAT BEHAVIOR AND MINDSET, I BELIEVE WE WILL CONTINUE TO SEE GREAT SUCCESS IN THE OUTCOMES WE'RE LOOKING TO ACCOMPLISH.
THE ROUTINE YOU'RE CHARACTERIZING RIGHT NOW IS SEVEN DAYS FOR ASSESSMENT, 21 DAYS FOR RESOLUTION.
THAT'S YOUR ROUTINE ANSWER, WITH THE HOTSPOT ANSWER BEING FOUR TO SIX WEEKS.
SO, DO YOU BELIEVE THAT IS SATISFACTORY FOR A RESIDENT WHEN WHAT THEY'RE OFTEN GOING TO ENCOUNTER IS THAT NOW IT'S CLEAR, BUT BY NEXT WEEKEND, IT'S BACK THE WAY IT WAS, AND WE'RE GOING TO START ALL OVER WITH ANOTHER 28-DAY PERIOD? SO, THE SLA PERIOD, THE SEVEN DAYS AND THE 21 DAYS, IS CERTAINLY NOT THE EXPECTATION OF HOW LONG IT SHOULD TAKE OUR TEAM TO REACT.
AND WHAT I WOULD SAY IS, IS THAT WHEN WE'VE GONE FROM 01,500 SERVICE REQUESTS WHERE WE HAVE TO PHYSICALLY GO TO EACH ONE, DOWN TO 680, WE'RE ABLE TO BE FASTER, MUCH, MUCH FASTER.
WHEN WE TAKE AND USE THE DATA TO OUR ADVANTAGE TO FIGURE OUT DUPLICATES, OF WHICH WE PROBABLY GET ABOUT 20% OF THE SR'S SERVICE REQUESTS RECEIVED ARE DUPLICATES.
THAT HELPS THE TEAM BE FASTER, QUICKER, GET THINGS SCHEDULED FOR INTERVENTION, FOR CLEANUP, FOR ENFORCEMENT, WHATEVER IT TAKES.
AGAIN, THE PROCESS THAT WE'RE FOLLOWING, IN MY VIEW, IT'S WORKING FOR WHAT I SEE, BUT THEN ALSO IN THE DATA.
THERE ARE STILL THINGS WE NEED TO DO FROM A PERCEPTION STANDPOINT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE MEETING THOSE EXPECTATIONS AS WELL, AND WE CAN'T FORGET THOSE EXPECTATIONS.
BUT THE THING YOU JUST MENTIONED IS ACTUALLY THE PROBLEM.
I'M HAVING A VERY DIFFICULT TIME HAVING PEOPLE IN DISTRICT 12 SUBMIT A 311 BECAUSE THEY DO.
IT'S CLEARLY A DUPLICATE BECAUSE THEY IMMEDIATELY GET CLOSED OUT, AND THEN THEY DRIVE BY IT AGAIN.
IT'S STILL THERE, BUT IT'S BEEN CLOSED OUT.
IT HAS NOT BEEN RESOLVED, AND NOW, 28 DAYS LATER, IT'S GOING TO BE RESOLVED, AND THEN IT'S BACK TO THE SAME THING A WEEK LATER.
WHAT I CAN TELL YOU IS I SPEND THE BULK OF MY TIME PICKING APART PROCESS, AND HOW CAN WE IMPROVE WHAT WE'RE DOING TO BE FASTER AND MORE EFFECTIVE, AND SOME OF THE THINGS THAT 311 CAN DO, BUT WE HAVEN'T BUILT OUT YET OR HAVEN'T DONE IT THAT WAY ARE CERTAINLY THINGS THAT ME AND MY TEAM ARE WORKING WITH THE 311 TEAM, WITH CODE AND OTHERS TO HELP BECAUSE I CAN DEFINITELY EMPATHIZE WITH A RESIDENT THAT TAKES TIME OUT OF THEIR DAY TO CALL IN A 311.
THEY PICK THIS SR, BUT IT REALLY SHOULD BE THAT SR, AND THEY SEE IT CLOSED OUT OR THEY SEE IT TRANSFERRED.
THOSE ARE ACTIVE THINGS THAT WE'RE DOING AND WORKING TOWARDS, AND I TOTALLY UNDERSTAND IT, AND I EXPECT THAT WE'LL BE ABLE TO CONTINUE TO IMPROVE IN THAT VEIN.
BUT FOR YEARS, WE HAVE SAID TO YOU AS COUNCIL MEMBERS THAT THE FRUSTRATION LEVEL FOR RESIDENTS WHO HEAR THAT THEIR 311 HAS BEEN CLOSED OUT FOR AN ENCAMPMENT THAT THEY CAN VISIBLY SEE IS STILL THERE, THE ANSWER HAS BEEN, WELL, IT'S A DUPLICATE, BUT OF COURSE, THAT'S NOT WHAT IT SAYS.
IT'S NOT, THIS IS A DUPLICATE, WE'RE ALREADY WORKING ON IT, AND WE'RE GOING TO MERGE IT, SO NOW YOU'RE GOING TO HEAR WHAT'S HAPPENING.
IT'S JUST CLOSED OUT, AS IF IT DOESN'T MATTER, AND THEN YOU'RE ALSO SAYING YOU'RE PRIORITIZING THEM BASED ON 311, BUT THERE'S NO REASON FOR THEM TO CONTACT BECAUSE IT REALLY ONLY TOOK THAT ONE, EVERYBODY ELSE'S NOISE, AND THEY ARE WASTING THEIR TIME.
SO THERE'S SOME MIXED MESSAGING, AND IT'S A VERY FRUSTRATING ISSUE FOR OUR RESIDENTS WHO DO WANT TO ASSIST YOU IN LOCATING WHERE THERE'S ISSUES, BUT THEY DO WANT RESOLUTION BEFORE 28 DAYS, AND THEY ALSO WANT TO KNOW THAT IT'S BEING WORKED ON, NOT THAT IT'S IMMEDIATELY CLOSED.
I MEAN, THIS IS AN ONGOING PROBLEM.
WHEN YOU'RE DOING THE OUTREACH, DO WE HAVE EMERGENCY SHELTER SPACE TO OFFER PEOPLE? THAT'S A DIFFICULT QUESTION TO NAIL DOWN BECAUSE THOSE THINGS DO CHANGE, RIGHT, DAY BY DAY BASED ON AVAILABILITY.
TODAY, DO YOU HAVE EMERGENCY OUTREACH? DO YOU HAVE EMERGENCY BEDS? YES, TODAY I HAVE SOME SPACES AVAILABLE THAT WE USE TO TRANSPORT PEOPLE TO SHELTER, YES.
HAS THERE BEEN STAFF CONSIDERATION OF ADDITIONAL SHELTER SPACE SO THAT WE ALWAYS HAVE CONFIDENCE THAT WE CAN SAY TO ANYBODY WHO'S IN CAMP, WE HAVE SHELTER SPACE FOR YOU TODAY? YEAH, SO DIRECTOR ERICKSON MAY
[01:15:02]
ADD, BUT FROM MY PERSPECTIVE, YES, THAT WAS WHY IT WAS POSED TO THE BODY.AND, YOU KNOW, YOU'RE MAKING MY TEAM'S LIFE A LOT EASIER BY MAKING THOSE INVESTMENTS AND TURNING OVER SHELTER BEDS BY DOING HOUSING OUT OF SHELTER.
SO I WOULD SAY THAT WE ARE VERY MUCH ON THE RIGHT TRACK WITH THAT.
HOW MANY SHELTER BEDS DO YOU HAVE AVAILABLE TODAY? OKAY.
AT ANY GIVEN TIME, BASED ON THE PHONE CALLS I CAN MAKE, WE CAN GET ANYWHERE WHAT WE AVERAGE ON A DAILY BASIS IS ANYWHERE FROM PROBABLY FIVE TO EIGHT ACCEPTANCES THAT ARE IN THAT GO INTO SHELTER, AND WE TRANSPORT THOSE FIVE TO EIGHT THAT ACCEPT.
AND I'VE NOT HEARD OR HAD MANY ESCALATIONS TO MY LEVEL WHERE OUR FIELD STAFF WEREN'T ABLE TO WORK WITH JUST ARBITRARILY THROWING OUT THE BRIDGE OR AUSTIN STREET OR WHEREVER TO BE ABLE TO GET FOLKS IN.
SO YOU'RE SAYING OVER THE LAST SEVERAL MONTHS, YOU HAVEN'T HAD AN INSTANCE WHERE THERE'S SOMEONE WHO'S WILLING TO ACCEPT SHELTER THAT YOU HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO OFFER A SHELTER BED TO? AND I DON'T HAVE ANY SPECIFIC INSTANCES ON TOP OF MINE.
IN FACT, WHAT I'LL SAY IS, TO GIVE YOU A SPECIFIC EXAMPLE, WE WERE HAVING ISSUES IN THE DEEP NIGHTS DOWNTOWN WITH FOLKS THAT DID WANT TO GO IN.
WE QUICKLY GOT ON THE CALL, WE WORKED WITH HOUSING FORWARD, WE WORKED WITH DDI, THE BRIDGE AND OTHERS.
AND JUST THROUGH THAT COORDINATION, WE WERE ABLE TO CREATE 15 BEDS OR 15 SPACES IN THE OVERNIGHT HOURS WHERE OUR TRANSPORT TEAMS THAT EXIST IN THOSE HOURS ARE ABLE TO ENGAGE FOLKS, TAKE THEM IMMEDIATELY TO THE BRIDGE AND GET THEM IN QUICKLY WITHOUT ANY REAL BARRIERS BEING PUT IN PLACE TO THEM.
FOR THE STORAGE YOU'RE PROVIDING FOR HOMELESS THAT ARE INVOLVED WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT, WHERE IS THAT BEING STORED AND HOW IS THAT BEING STORED? SO HIGH-LEVEL ANSWER, BECAUSE I THOUGHT MY PROCEDURE, GENERALLY THAT IS TAKEN TO THE PROPERTY ROOM AND FOLLOWS THEIR GENERAL ORDERS.
SO IT'S GOING TO DPD'S PROPERTY ROOM? YES, THAT IS, AGAIN, AS I UNDERSTAND IT, SO WE MAY HAVE TO CLARIFY, THE STANDARD ORDER OF PROCESS THAT DPD TAKES IF THERE IS AN ARREST AND THERE'S POSSESSIONS RETRIEVED.
YOU HAD INDICATED THAT YOU'RE RESPONDING TO THE ENCAMPMENTS BASED ON 311.
IS THERE ANY PROACTIVE ADDRESSING OF ENCAMPMENTS? OH, YES, 100%.
WE KNOW THROUGH GOING TO AMPLE COMMUNITY EVENTS, WORKING WITH THE COUNCIL, WORKING WITH OUR PARTNERS, THAT THERE ARE LOCATIONS THAT MAY NOT BE CREATED FOR 311S.
THE CITY MANAGER CHALLENGES ALL OF US AS LEADERSHIP THAT IF WE SEE ISSUES IN THE CITY, WHETHER IT'S TRASH OR OTHERWISE, TO REPORT IT.
AND SO WE TAKE THAT SAME MINDSET TO OUR FIELD STAFF, THAT IF YOU SEE IT AS AN ISSUE, LOG IT, STOP, EVEN IF IT TAKES YOU LONGER TO GET FROM POINT A TO POINT B, LOG THOSE ISSUES AND LET'S GET IT ADDRESSED.
IN DISTRICT 12, THERE WERE TWO LOCATIONS THAT WERE REPEATED ENCAMPMENT LOCATIONS.
YOU PUT UP FENCING, AND I'M GOING TO TELL YOU IT'S BEEN COMPLETELY EFFECTIVE.
THERE'S BEEN A MONUMENTAL CHANGE IN BOTH THOSE LOCATIONS.
AND SO I WANT TO COMPLIMENT YOU ON THAT, AND I WANT TO MAKE SURE YOU KNOW HOW EFFECTIVE IT'S BEEN.
YOU PROBABLY CAN TELL BECAUSE I HAVEN'T CALLED YOU ABOUT IT.
THE NEXT QUESTION I HAVE HERE IS, IS EVERY PERSON THAT YOU COME INTO CONTACT WITH ENTERED INTO HMIS? THAT ASSUMES THAT EVERY PERSON WE COME IN CONTACT WITH WANTS TO BE ENTERED IN HMIS.
SO I WOULD SAY THAT WHERE THERE ARE INDIVIDUALS THAT VOLUNTEER THAT LEVEL OF INFORMATION, AND THERE'S A PATHWAY TO DO IT.
WE HAVE OBVIOUSLY ACCESS TO THAT SYSTEM, BUT THEN WE ALSO WORK VERY, VERY CLOSELY WITH HOUSING BOARD AND THEIR TEAM BECAUSE I SEE A LEVEL OF EXPERTISE AND FAMILIARITY WITH THAT SYSTEM.
THAT'S ANOTHER THING THAT PERHAPS WE COULD BE DOING A BIT OF A BETTER JOB WITH.
I MYSELF STRUGGLE TO NAVIGATE FROM POINT A TO POINT B THE FEW TIMES I HAD BEEN IN THAT SYSTEM SEVERAL YEARS AGO.
SO I WOULD SAY IF AN INDIVIDUAL WANTS TO BE IN,
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IF THERE'S A WAY TO GET THEM IN, WE HAVE ACCESS TO THAT AT THE STAFF LEVEL.BUT THEN WE ALSO HAVE PARTNERS THAT ASSIST US DAY IN AND DAY OUT.
SO WITHOUT PUTTING THEM IN HMIS, WHICH I BELIEVE WE'RE SPENDING A COUPLE MILLION DOLLARS A YEAR TO SUPPORT THROUGH THE LEAD AGENCY, HOW DO WE KNOW HOW MANY HOMELESS WE HAVE? BECAUSE THAT'S THE NUMBER THAT'S FREQUENTLY REPORTED.
AND I WOULD SUBMIT TO YOU IT IS NOT A VOLUNTARY EFFORT WHETHER YOU WANT TO BE PART OF HMIS.
THEY SHOULD BE PUT IN REGARDLESS, EVEN IF YOU DON'T HAVE THE EXACT NAME.
IF YOU'RE CALLING SOMEBODY BOB AND BOB'S UNDER THE BRIDGE AT LBJ AND FORREST, THEN PUT IN WHAT YOU KNOW AND KEEP ADDING TO IT.
BUT WE HAVE TO BE DOCUMENTING THE EFFORTS THAT WE MAKE AND PEOPLE THAT WE KNOW EXIST THAT CLEARLY NEED ASSISTANCE, THAT WE'RE ALREADY SPENDING TIME AND EFFORT ON, AND THEN WE'RE NOT EVEN PUTTING THEM IN THE SYSTEM.
AND WE ARE ARTIFICIALLY LOWERING OUR NUMBERS.
AND I'M NOT SURE WHAT THE POINT OF THAT IS.
BECAUSE THE PEOPLE OF DALLAS CAN SEE.
THEY CAN SEE WHAT'S HAPPENING.
THEY HEAR FROM THE PROVIDERS THAT THEY HAVE NO BEDS AVAILABLE, THAT THEY'RE FULL, THAT THEY HAVE SERVED MORE PEOPLE EVER LAST YEAR THAN THEY HAVE EVER SERVED BEFORE.
SO HOW CAN THE SHELTERS BE FULL WITH THEM SERVING THE MOST EVER, AND THE PEOPLE SEE PEOPLE OUT ON THE STREETS, UNDER THE BRIDGES, AT THE CREEKS, IN THE WOODS, AND THEN WE SIT THERE AND SAY, BUT WE HAVE A REDUCED NUMBER OF HOMELESS.
SO MY ANSWER TO THAT WOULD BE, AND I'M SOMEWHAT EDITORIALIZING FROM MY POSITION ON THIS ANSWER.
I LOOK AT A NUMBER OF INDICATORS AS TO WHERE WE'RE AT AND WHERE WE TEND TO BE TRENDING TOWARDS.
I DON'T KNOW THAT THERE'S ANY ONE SINGLE NUMBER THAT DAY IN AND DAY OUT TELLS US WHERE WE'RE AT.
I ALSO WOULD SAY THIS, THAT IF INDICATORS ARE SHOWING A POSITIVE TREND OF WHAT WE'RE DOING, THAT'S THE TIME WE PUSH HARDER.
WE'RE TRYING TO SEE HOW MUCH IMPACT WE CAN MAKE AS A TEAM AND WITH COORDINATION WITH OUR PARTNERS, AGAIN, ON THE FRONT END AND ON THE BACK END.
AND I UNDERSTAND IF, YOU KNOW, I SIT UP HERE AND SAY SERVICE REQUESTS ARE DOWN AND SOMEONE'S DRIVING BY, YOU KNOW, STREET A AND STREET B AND THEY SAY, WELL, THIS PERSON IS ALWAYS THERE.
HOW CAN YOU RECONCILE THE TWO? I TOTALLY GET THAT. AND I TOTALLY UNDERSTAND THAT.
AND THAT'S WHY WE SHOW UP DAY IN AND DAY OUT. WE FOLLOW THESE PROCESSES.
THERE'S A LOT OF INVESTMENT TO MAKE.
I THINK THAT THAT HAS BEEN HANDLED, YOU KNOW, FROM MY PERSPECTIVE BY THE COUNCIL AND OTHERS TREMENDOUSLY WELL.
WE'VE BEEN GIVEN A VISION AND A TREMENDOUS MISSION THAT WE HAVE TO BE ON OUR GAME DAY IN AND DAY OUT TO ACCOMPLISH.
AND I THINK THAT IN THIS SPACE, LIKE WE'RE ALL TRYING TO, IN SOME WAYS, PUT OURSELVES OUT OF BUSINESS.
BUT YOU HAVE TO TRUST THE PROCESS OF WHAT YOU'RE DOING IN ORDER TO GET THE OUTCOMES THAT YOU WANT.
OKAY. BUT WHEN YOU TELL US THAT YOU'RE LOOKING AT A NUMBER OF INDICATORS AND YOU'RE LOOKING AT THE DATA, BUT THEN YOU'RE LITERALLY NOT LOGGING IN PEOPLE THAT YOU'RE TALKING TO, THE HMIS, YOU'RE NOT LOOKING AT CORRECT DATA.
AND THAT'S THE PROBLEM. WE KNOW WE SERVED 1,800 UNIQUE INDIVIDUALS FOR INCLUENT WEATHER SHELTERING.
01,800. BUT LAST YEAR, WHAT DID WE SAY IN THE POINT IN TIME? 1,300 WERE CHRONIC.
SO ARE YOU TELLING ME THAT WE HAVE 500 MORE THAT WERE WILLING TO COME TO FAIR PARK FOR INCLUENT WEATHER SHELTER? THERE'S A MISMATCH. THE NUMBERS ARE MUCH LARGER, BUT WE'RE NOT SHOWING THAT BECAUSE WE'RE NOT EVEN PUTTING THEM IN THE SYSTEM.
SO JUST BRIEFLY, WHEN WE BRIEFED, BECAUSE I DID GO BACK AND DO THIS, AND THIS IS ANOTHER INDICATOR.
WHEN WE BRIEFED THE COUNCIL, I BELIEVE IT WAS IN NOVEMBER, REGARDING WINTER WEATHER SHELTER, WE PROVIDED DATA FOR TOTAL UNIQUE ENCOUNTERS AS WELL AS THE PEAK CENSUS AT NIGHT FOR THE WINTER WEATHER SHELTER SEEMINGLY AT THE SAME EXACT TIME LAST JANUARY.
THEY WERE AT APPROXIMATELY 02,300 UNIQUE INDIVIDUALS SERVED, AND I BELIEVE THE MAX WAS SOMEWHERE AROUND 1,300.
THIS YEAR, WE WERE AT ABOUT 01,800 UNIQUE INDIVIDUALS SERVED, A HUGE REDUCTION COMPARING APPLES TO APPLES IN TIME TO TIME.
AND THEN OUR PEAK OVERNIGHT WAS
[01:25:01]
RIGHT AROUND 1,100, SOMEWHERE IN THERE.BOTH OF THOSE NUMBERS ALIGNED TO LIKE A 13% REDUCTION IN SERVICE FOR THE SAME THING HELD ONE YEAR LATER AT THE SAME LOCATION, ACTUALLY FOR A LONGER DURATION OF TIME.
SO WHEN I SAY THERE'S INDICATORS, THOSE ARE THE TYPES OF THINGS WE'RE LOOKING AT AS COMPARING APPLES TO APPLES.
SO SHIFTING TO THE PRIVATE PROPERTY, THIS IS ACTUALLY MY LAST QUESTION FOR YOU.
WHAT REALLY WASN'T STRESSED IS THAT IF A PRIVATE PROPERTY OWNER DOES A CTA, ISN'T THERE A DIFFERENT LEVEL OF COOPERATION WITH CODE AS OPPOSED TO IF THEY REFUSE TO DO A CRIMINAL TRESPASS? YEAH, SO IF THERE'S A CRIMINAL TRESPASS AFFIDAVIT, THAT PARTICULAR PROCESS DEALS WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT AND NOT, THE CODE COMPLIANCE DOESN'T AFFECT THOSE OR DEAL WITH THOSE.
THAT'S A LAW ENFORCEMENT RELATED ISSUE.
BUT DO YOU THINK THAT CODE WILL PROVIDE LENIENCY WHEN THE BUSINESS AGREES TO FILL OUT A CTA AND TRESPASS SOMEBODY VERSUS WHEN THEY SAY, WE'RE NOT GOING TO DO IT? I THINK THERE'S A VERY DIFFERENT RESPONSE.
MY EXPERIENCE HAS BEEN, IF THERE ARE RECOMMENDATIONS MADE TO A PROPERTY OWNER AND THE PROPERTY OWNER IS MAKING GOOD FAITH EFFORT AND ACTUALLY DELIVERING ON IMPLEMENTING THOSE RECOMMENDATIONS, THEN THE CITY WORKS WITH THE PROPERTY OWNER.
THAT'S BEEN MY EXPERIENCE GOING BACK TO TIME AT DPD, TIME AT INTEGRATED PUBLIC SAFETY, AND NOW IN MY ROLE HERE AT EMCR.
KEVIN, THANK YOU FOR ALL THE WORK THAT YOU'VE BEEN DOING FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP.
WE'VE DEFINITELY SEEN IMPROVEMENTS IN THE DOWNTOWN CBD AREA WITH THE STREET-TO-HOME EFFORTS.
THE RECENT TECH STOP FENCING THAT HAS GONE UP DOES NOT GO UNNOTICED.
I'M GOING TO TOUCH FIRST ON 311, AND I KNOW THAT SOME OF THAT IS OUTSIDE OF YOUR SCOPE, SO IT'S GOING TO REQUIRE TO WORK WITH DAISY THERE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE GETTING THE DATA.
TO CHAIR MIDDLETON'S POINT IS WE KEEP SAYING WE'RE A DATA-DRIVEN CITY, AND WE'RE ASKING NEIGHBORS TO INPUT ENCAMPMENTS WHEN THEY SEE THEM, AND IT'S IMPORTANT TO COLLECT THAT DATA.
YOU AND I AND THE TEAM HAVE BEEN WORKING DILIGENTLY ON THE CEDAR BRANCH CREEK, WHERE THERE'S BEEN HUNDREDS OF 311 REQUESTS.
THE EFFORTS ARE POSITIVE, BUT LET'S TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT GOING BACK AFTER ENCAMPMENTS HAVE BEEN CLEANED UP, AND THAT'S THROUGH THE MONITORING PERIOD.
SO TO HELP ME UNDERSTAND THE MONITORING PERIOD, I JUST GOT A CALL AGAIN YESTERDAY THAT AN ENCAMPMENT HAS POPPED BACK UP, AND SO HELP ME UNDERSTAND THE RESOURCES FOR MONITORING.
OBVIOUSLY, WE CAN'T HAVE SOMEONE THERE 24-7.
IS IT AN ISSUE ABOUT MANPOWER? WHAT OTHER THINGS CAN WE BE DOING ON MONITORING? YEAH, SO I APPRECIATE THAT QUESTION.
SO, SPECIFICALLY, WE PROVIDE THE LIST OF CLEANINGS EVERY SINGLE WEEK, LIKE, TRANSPARENTLY OF WHAT HAS OCCURRED.
AS PART OF STANDARD PROCESS OF THE TEAM, WHICH INVOLVES MULTIPLE DEPARTMENTS, THERE IS A FOLLOW-UP SITE VISIT.
THERE IS A FOLLOW-UP PERIOD OF SITE VISITS, AND THERE ARE EFFORTS THAT IF WE HAVE TO TAKE ANY ADDITIONAL ACTIONS TO KEEP A SITE CLOSED, THAT WE'RE DOING IT.
I'LL CITE, AGAIN, THE PROPERTY ON THE STIMMONS CORRIDOR THAT WE'VE BEEN WORKING.
WE'VE HAD, I THINK, EVERY OTHER DAY WE HAVE A TEAM GO THROUGH AND ASSESS AND MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE SEEING THE OUTCOMES THAT WE WANT.
BUT, AGAIN, FROM MY POSITION, THERE'S NOTHING MORE FRUSTRATING, AND I CAN, THIS IS JUST MY POSITION, SO I CAN ONLY IMAGINE YOURS, WHEN IT'S LIKE, OKAY, WE PUT IN ALL THIS EFFORT TO GET THIS PLACE ASSESSED, THIS PLACE CLEANED, PAID ALL THESE BILLS AND EVERYTHING ELSE, AND I'M HEARING ABOUT IT THE VERY NEXT WEEK.
SO, WE WANT TO SEE POSITIVE OUTCOMES ON THE FRONT END AND THE BACK END OF ALL OF THE SITES WE TOUCH.
SO, YOU MENTIONED HMIS AND THE SOMETIMES PEOPLE REFUSING TO
[01:30:01]
VOLUNTARILY GIVE INFORMATION.DO YOU HAVE A ROUGH ESTIMATE OF HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE REFUSING TO VOLUNTARILY GIVE THEIR INFORMATION? NOT OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD, BUT IF THAT IS, IF THAT'S INFORMATION THAT SOMEHOW WE COULD COLLECT OR PROVIDE, YOU KNOW, I'M HAPPY TO HAVE THOSE CONVERSATIONS AND GET A BETTER ANSWER FOR THE BODY.
WHICH LEADS ME TO PEOPLE WHO ARE RESISTANT TO HOUSING.
I APPLAUD YOU GUYS ON THE EFFORTS IN GETTING PEOPLE HOUSED WHO ARE WILLING TO ACCEPT.
YOU KNOW, I SEE THE SAME THREE TO FIVE PEOPLE UNDER 345 IN GOODLATIMER BY THE DEEP ELLUM GARDEN.
YOU KNOW, I HEAR IT TAKES TWO TO THREE ENGAGEMENTS TO GET SOMEONE TO ACCEPT HOUSING.
WHAT ARE WE DOING FOR THOSE INDIVIDUALS THAT HAVE BEEN AT THE SAME LOCATION FOR YEARS? SO, THAT LEADS INTO THE IMPORTANCE AND THE DISCUSSION OF HAVING A VERY, VERY COORDINATED, ALMOST CHOREOGRAPHED, MINUTE-BY-MINUTE PLAN FOR ADDRESSING HOTSPOT LOCATIONS LIKE THE ONE THAT YOU REFERENCED.
THOSE TYPE OF LOCATIONS REQUIRE FRONT-END PLANNING TO MAKE SURE THE RESOURCES ARE READY TO BE DEPLOYED.
THAT THERE'S A TIMELINE OF ACTIONS, THAT EVERYBODY KNOWS WHO'S DOING WHAT WHEN, THAT THERE IS A PERIOD ON THE FRONT END WHERE THE OUTREACH WORKERS CAN GO AND, AGAIN, HOPEFULLY EMPTY THE PLACE THROUGH POSITIVE EXITS.
BUT THEN THERE'S A CLEANING DAY, THERE'S A CLOSURE, AND IF THERE HAS TO BE ENFORCEMENT, THERE'S ENFORCEMENT, FOLLOWED BY MONITORING.
THE SAME BASIC MODEL THAT WE'VE APPLIED TO DOWNTOWN, IT'S TIME TO TAKE IT FURTHER, AND I FEEL VERY MUCH SUPPORTED BY ALL THE PEERS THAT WE'RE AT THAT INFLECTION POINT AND CHANGING THE MODEL OF BUSINESS.
YEAH, SO, YOU KNOW, ON THAT, WE'VE DEFINITELY SEEN A DIFFERENT TRAJECTORY IN MY DISTRICT, IN CBD.
BUT WHAT I'M HEARING FROM MY COLLEAGUES IS THAT THEY'RE STARTING TO SEE SOME OF THAT SPILLOVER FROM INDIVIDUALS THAT WEREN'T IN THE DOWNTOWN AREA WHO MAYBE DIDN'T GET HOUSED OR REFUSED TO GET HOUSED AND JUST MOVED ACROSS THE INTERSTATE.
BOTTOM LINE IS, ONE, IS I DO APPRECIATE YOU AND YOUR EFFORTS, AND I KNOW THAT OUR CITY MANAGER HAS MADE THIS A PRIORITY.
BUT I REALLY WANT US TO SEE THIS WITH MORE URGENCY AND RE-LOOKING AT THE WAY WE PRACTICE AND THE WAY WE DO THINGS.
YOU KNOW, THE SEVEN DAYS TO RESPOND, PLUS OR MINUS, I KNOW SOMETIMES YOU GUYS ARE RESPONDING WITHIN ONE DAY.
BUT SETTING THAT EXPECTATION THAT RESIDENTS ARE GOING TO HAVE A RESPONSE WITHIN A 24-HOUR, 48-HOUR PERIOD, THOSE ARE THE CHANGES THAT WE NEED TO GEAR TOWARDS.
AND, AGAIN, JUST MOVING WITH URGENCY.
AND LET ME ASK YOU THIS NEXT STEP.
WHAT CAN WE DO DIFFERENTLY? WHAT OTHER TOOLS CAN BE PROVIDED TO YOU TO BE MORE SUCCESSFUL? OKAY, SO PUTTING MYSELF IN A SPOT TO BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE.
I THINK, NUMBER ONE, IS DOCUMENTATION.
SO THE WAY WE HAVE DONE BUSINESS IS, LIKE, WE HAVE THIS PIECE OF PAPER AND WE HAND IT OUT AND WE SAY, YOU KNOW, THIS PLACE IS GOING TO BE CLEAN, SO YOU HAVE TO LEAVE.
I'M NOT FULLY SATISFIED WITH THAT.
I THINK WE CAN DO BETTER OF PLACARDING PROPERTIES, LESS ABOUT PEOPLE AND MORE ABOUT PROPERTY, DOCUMENTING THAT WE DID THOSE PLACARDS.
THOSE ARE THINGS THAT I WANT TO SEE VERY QUICKLY AND THAT WE'RE MAKING HASTE ON.
AS YOU REFERENCED, THE 311 SYSTEM, I THINK THAT WE HAVE BUILT SOME THINGS IN THERE THAT HAVE CERTAINLY HELPED US PRODUCE BETTER NUMBERS.
THERE ARE OTHER THINGS THAT WE ARE ACTIVELY WORKING TOWARDS TO PRODUCE BETTER INFORMATION AND OUTCOMES FOR THE SUBMITTER.
AND THEN THIRD IS JUST, I THINK, A CONTINUOUS, YOU KNOW, ONE MESSAGE COMING FROM MANY VOICES WHEN WE'RE DOING THESE LARGE-SCALE OPERATIONS.
AND I TAKE A CONSIDERABLE AMOUNT OF RESPONSIBILITY TO MAKE SURE THAT ALL OF OUR VOICES ARE INCLUDED IN THAT PLANNING, IN THE EXECUTION OF WHAT WE'RE DOING, AND THAT EVERYONE IS ABLE TO FEEL SUCCESS.
SO THOSE ARE THE THREE THINGS, AND THOSE ARE THINGS THAT WE'RE LOCKED IN ON.
WE'VE MADE A LOT OF CHANGES IN A VERY RAPID AMOUNT OF TIME.
I CAN'T PRAISE THE TEAM ENOUGH THAT HAS COME OVER AND THE EFFORT
[01:35:01]
OF JUST WHAT THEY DO DAY IN AND DAY OUT.BUT WHEN YOU EXPERIENCE SUCCESS, MY PHILOSOPHY ALWAYS IS THAT'S WHEN YOU PUSH HARDER.
THANK YOU FOR THE WORK THAT YOU'RE DOING.
AND I KNOW THAT THIS IS A VERY COMPLEX SITUATION WHEN WE'RE DEALING WITH OUR UNHOUSED COMMUNITY.
AND I WAS LISTENING TO CHAIR MENDELSOHN, HER CONCERN, SOME OF THE THINGS SHE WAS ASKING, AND I HAVE SOME OF THOSE SAME QUESTIONS.
SO WHAT DO WE DO WHEN WE SEE AN ENCAMPMENT AND WE COME OUT AND LEAVE AND THEY GO SOMEWHERE ELSE AND THEY COME RIGHT BACK WITHIN 24 TO 48 HOURS? WHAT'S THE SOLUTION? BECAUSE I'VE GONE OUT WITH ALONZO GRAPE AND SOME OF THE TEAM THERE, AND I'VE GONE BOOTS ON THE GROUND BECAUSE I'M A GRASSROOTS GUY AND WORK TO TRY TO RESOLVE THIS ISSUE.
BUT THE ISSUE IS NOT BEING RESOLVED.
AND THAT'S WHAT I MEAN BY THE SYSTEM IS NOT WORKING.
SO WHAT IS THE REAL RESOLVE FOR THIS MATTER? YES, SIR.
SO THERE'S TWO RESOLUTIONS, RIGHT? THERE'S THE PRESENT DAY AND THERE'S WHAT I BELIEVE TO BE THE RIGHT ANSWER THAT THIS COUNCIL HAS ALREADY INVESTED IN.
AND SO THE STEADY STATE IS IF WE CLEAN A PLACE AND WE KNOW IT'S A PLACE THAT THE CONDITIONS OF THE PROPERTY LEND ITSELF TO RE-ENCAMPMENT, WE HAVE TO BE ON IT.
WE HAVE TO CREATE DISRUPTION SO THAT IT DOESN'T COME RIGHT BACK.
THERE ARE MANY TOOLS YOU CAN USE TO DO THAT.
THE SIMPLEST ONE IS JUST, YOU KNOW, DOING PASS-THROUGH BY STAFF, PATROL, WHATEVER IT MAY BE TO PREVENT REOCCURRENCE.
AND THE REAL SOLUTION, AS THE COUNCIL HAS INVESTED IN, AS I'VE TRIED TO DO AS MUCH RESEARCH ON, AND WHAT I BELIEVE WILL WORK, IS A BEHAVIOR CHANGE.
AND THAT BEHAVIOR CHANGE IS RIGHT NOW THERE ARE FOLKS THAT INTERACT WITH MY TEAM ALL DAY, EVERY DAY, AND WE TRY TO GET THEM INTO SHELTER, AND THEY HAVE INFINITE NUMBER OF REASONS AS TO WHY THEY DON'T WANT TO GO THERE.
IF THE MODIFICATION IS THAT THE INDIVIDUALS KNOW THAT GETTING INTO SHELTER CAN LEAD TO A BETTER OUTCOME, WHICH IS NOT JUST LIKE GOING TO SHELTER AND STAYING THERE FOREVER, YOU WILL START TO SEE THAT BEHAVIOR CHANGE ON THAT FRONT END AND MAKE ALL OF OUR OUTCOMES, I BELIEVE, CONTINUE TO BE SUCCESSFUL.
THIS COUNCIL, THE COUNCIL, THE COUNTY, AND OTHERS HAVE MADE CONSIDERABLE INVESTMENTS IN THAT EFFORT.
HOUSING FORWARD HAS BRIEFED US AND OTHERS OF THE EFFORTS THEY'RE MAKING TO RAMP THAT UP.
AND SO I'M REALLY, REALLY GENUINELY OPTIMISTIC ABOUT WHAT THAT CAN DO FOR MY TEAM, WHO IS DEALING WITH THE PROPERTIES AND THE BEHAVIORS TAKING PLACE ON THAT.
SO I'VE GONE OUT AND LISTENING TO, AGAIN, CHAIR MENDELSOHN, AND I'VE GONE OUT AND ASKED SOME OF MY UNHOUSED COMMUNITY, WHAT CAN I DO TO HELP THEM NOT BE, YOU KNOW, UNHOUSED OR HAVING TO SIT AND SLEEP ON THE CURB WHEN IT'S COLD? WE ALL KNOW THE WEATHER WE JUST WENT THROUGH.
AND THEY TELL ME THAT THERE'S NOT ENOUGH BEDS.
SO WHEN I WAS LISTENING TO OUR CHAIR AND SAY ABOUT FIVE OR EIGHT BEDS A DAY, WHAT'S THE REAL SOLUTION? I MEAN, WE NEED MORE BEDS.
SO WHAT'S THE REAL SOLUTION? BECAUSE I'M OUT.
THIS IS NOT MY TEAM ONLY THAT'S OUT.
THIS IS COUNCILMAN MAXIE JOHNSON OUT, MAKING THE PROMISE, FEELING THE PROMISE THAT I MADE TO DISTRICT 4 THAT WE'RE GOING TO CLEAN UP DISTRICT 4.
AND WE'RE WRESTLING WITH THE FACT WHEN THEY TELL ME THAT SOMEHOW I WANT TO BE OFF THE STREETS AND I NEED RESOURCES AND HELP, BUT THEN THERE'S NO BEDS.
SO HOW DO WE REALLY FIX THAT? BECAUSE THAT'S A PROBLEM THAT I'VE BEEN HEARING CONSTANTLY IN MY DISTRICT.
SO WHAT DO I DO AS A COUNCILMAN? NO, THAT'S A FANTASTIC QUESTION.
SO THERE'S REALLY TWO ANSWERS TO THERE'S NOT ENOUGH BEDS, RIGHT? THE FIRST WAY DOWN THE STREET, IT WOULD BE YOU MAKE MORE BEDS, RIGHT? BUT THEN YOU'RE BASICALLY JUST CONTINUING THE SAME ISSUE.
YOU WILL HAVE MORE PEOPLE BECOME HOMELESS EVERY YEAR AND YOU'LL ALWAYS BE IN A WHEEL OF MORE BEDS, MORE BEDS, MORE BEDS.
WHAT THIS COUNCIL AND OTHERS HAVE INVESTED IN IS TURN OVER THE BEDS YOU HAVE AVAILABLE TODAY.
[01:40:01]
AGAIN, I AM VERY OPTIMISTIC ABOUT WHAT THAT IS GOING TO DO.MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT WE WILL START TO SEE THAT RAMP UP OVER THE NEXT LIKE 30, 60 DAYS.
AND I BELIEVE THAT, YOU KNOW, WE'LL OBVIOUSLY BE VERY TRANSPARENT BECAUSE OF THAT, THE HIGH PROFILE NATURE OF THAT PROGRAM WITH DATA, WITH OUTCOMES.
AND IF IT'S THE WILL OF THIS BODY TO HAVE ME COME BACK AND TALK ABOUT OUTCOMES THAT WE'RE EXPERIENCING BECAUSE THAT PROGRAM IS IN PLACE, WE WOULD CERTAINLY BE HAPPY TO DO SO.
MY LAST QUESTION IS LISTENING TO MAYOR PRO TEM ABOUT HOW DOWNTOWN FLORIDA STATE DISTRICT IS BEING CLEANSED AND YOU GUYS ARE WORKING DILIGENTLY, IT SEEMS LIKE, LISTENING TO HIM CONCERNING FLORIDA STATE DISTRICT IN DOWNTOWN.
I KNOW WE'RE PREPARING FOR FIFA TO COME AND DISTRICT 4 IS PREPARING FOR FIFA TOO.
AND SO WE HAVE A SAYING IN OUR OFFICE, WE WANT THE FIFA PROCESS THAT YOU GUYS HAVE BEEN IMPLEMENTING DOWNTOWN, WE WANT THAT SAME PROCESS IN DISTRICT 4 TO TRY TO HELP CLEAN UP SOME OF THE THINGS THAT'S GOING ON.
SO WHAT HAPPENS WHEN THEY DO NOT WANT TO GO TO A SHELTER OR WHATEVER, WHAT'S THE NEXT STEP THAT WE CAN IMPLEMENT? AND CAN WE GET THAT SAME PROCESS THAT YOU'RE DOING FOR MY GOOD FRIEND HERE DOWNTOWN OVER IN DISTRICT 4? YEAH, SO I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR THAT QUESTION.
AND IF I CAN JUST PROVIDE A LITTLE ADDITIONAL CONTEXT ON THE FIFA RELATED STUFF.
I AM VERY BLESSED BY THE POSITION I'M IN TO HAVE A VERY CLOSE, MANY RESPONSIBILITIES WITH THE SAFETY AND SECURITY PLANNING OF FIFA AND NOW ALSO THE HUMAN SERVICES SIDE OF FIFA.
WHAT I CAN SAY UNEQUIVOCALLY ON THAT IS THAT WE ARE NOT MAKING DECISIONS.
I AM NOT MAKING DECISIONS. I AM NOT BEING FELT ANY PRESSURE TO DO THINGS SPECIFIC TO FIFA.
WHAT I AM OPERATING IN IS A SYSTEM OF WHAT IS THE BEST PROCESS WE CAN PUT IN PLACE THAT IS SUSTAINABLE AND GETS US THE RESULTS WE WANT.
RIGHT. AND SO DOWNTOWN WAS THE HIGHEST CONCENTRATION.
IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THAT WAS GOING TO BE THE FIRST LOCATION.
I BELIEVE WE'VE EXPERIENCED SUCCESS THERE. WE'VE TAKEN A LOT OF LESSONS LEARNED THERE.
MY OBJECTIVE NOW IS HOW CAN WE UTILIZE ALL OF THE PLAYERS ON THE TEAM THAT WE HAVE AVAILABLE TO US? AND LET'S TAKE THAT MODEL AND BE SUCCESSFUL WITH IT ALL THROUGHOUT THE CITY, INDEPENDENT OF ANY EVENTS THAT ARE HAPPENING, WILL HAPPEN OR COULD HAPPEN IN THE FUTURE.
WE WANT TO SEE EVERY PLACE BE SUCCESSFUL.
THANK YOU. AND I'M ASKING YOU, WILL YOU PERSONALLY WORK WITH ME IN MY OFFICE TO RESOLVE THIS ISSUE IN MY DISTRICT? IF IT MEANS I GET TO WORK WITH MR. BATTEE, YES, SIR.
THEN YOU HAVE ME FULLY ON YOUR TEAM. I KNOW YOU'RE ALSO SPEAKING THE LANGUAGE OF RISK TERRAIN MODEL.
SO WE CAN BREAK BREAD OVER THAT.
OK, WELL, I'M JUST GOING TO SAY THIS LAST THING BECAUSE WE HAVE BEEN DOING THIS DANCE FOR MANY YEARS.
I HAVE SPOKE SHARPLY AGAINST STREET TO HOME, BUT WE PROCEEDED WITH A STREET TO HOME MODEL, WHICH LITERALLY PRIORITIZED PEOPLE ON THE STREETS OVER PEOPLE IN THE SHELTER.
WE TOLD PEOPLE, LEAVE THE SHELTERS AND GO TO THE STREETS SO THAT YOU CAN GET HOUSING.
WE DID THE OPPOSITE OF WHAT WAS NECESSARY.
SO I GET THAT THERE'S NOW A PIVOT TO TRY TO TAKE PEOPLE FROM THE SHELTER FIRST, BUT THAT SHOULD HAVE ALWAYS BEEN OUR POSITION.
AND I THINK THAT THE WISDOM THAT WAS SHARED WITH THIS COUNCIL TO GO WITH A STREET TO HOME PROJECT AND PRIORITIZATION, THOSE SAME PEOPLE ARE TRYING TO TELL US WHAT TO DO AGAIN.
AND IT'S SUSPECT WHEN WE ARE MISLED TO TAKE PEOPLE FROM THE STREET OVER PEOPLE WHO ARE LITERALLY IN THE SHELTER TRYING TO GET THEIR LIFE TOGETHER.
WE LEFT THEM THERE OVER PEOPLE WHO WERE WILLING TO BE OUTSIDE.
AND WE ALL KNOW EXACTLY WHY, BECAUSE NOBODY WANTED TO LOOK AT THEM, WHICH IS ABSOLUTELY THE WRONG STANCE.
THERE ARE SO MANY PEOPLE IN THIS CITY THAT ARE KIND-HEARTED, THAT WANT TO DO THE RIGHT THING, THAT WANT TO HELP PEOPLE REGAIN INDEPENDENCE.
WE HAVE SEEN THEM FOR MONTHS COME BEFORE US.
AND I THINK EVERYBODY ON THIS COUNCIL FEELS THE SAME.
BUT WHEN WE HAVE THESE ADVOCACY GROUPS TELLING US REPEATEDLY, NO, WE HAVE TO DO STREET TO HOME, AND WE FUND IT, THIS IS THE RESULT THAT WE GET.
[01:45:01]
AND SO I WOULD JUST SAY, YEAH, THERE'S A PLACE FOR THE PROFESSIONALS, BUT THERE'S ALSO A PLACE FOR COMMON SENSE.AND HAVING WORKED IN THIS SPACE, VOLUNTEERED IN THIS SPACE, YOU KNOW, WE NEED TO BE VERY CLEAR ABOUT WHAT WE'RE SEEING, BECAUSE WE SEE IT EVERY SINGLE DAY AS WELL.
AND WE'RE NOT GETTING THE SERVICE THAT OUR RESIDENTS ARE EXPECTING, EVEN IF THE CONTINUED HEADLINES ARE THAT IT'S REDUCING, BECAUSE I'VE HAD MULTIPLE SHELTER DIRECTORS JUST THIS WEEK TELL ME THEY'RE FULL.
SO THERE'S SOMETHING NOT JIVING HERE.
AND I WOULD ENCOURAGE OUR JOURNALISTS TO ACTUALLY DO THE RESEARCH NEEDED TO TELL US WHAT IS ACTUALLY HAPPENING, BECAUSE I'M NOT SURE WE HAVE THAT FULL PICTURE.
AND I'M ACTUALLY GOING TO RECESS FOR ONE MINUTE.
OKAY, WELL, NOW IT'S 1056, AND WE'RE READY TO GO.
THIS IS AN OVERVIEW OF THE PROPOSED HOUSING AND HOMELESS POLICY FRAMEWORK.
THIS IS AN EXTREMELY IMPORTANT DOCUMENT, AND I KNOW YOU ALL HAVE WORKED VERY HARD ON THIS AND GIVEN IT A LOT OF TIME AND EFFORT, AND WE ARE VERY HAPPY TO HEAR IT.
THANK YOU, CHAIR, COMMITTEE MEMBERS.
I'M THOR ERICKSON, AND I SERVE AS THE DIRECTOR OF THE OFFICE OF HOUSING AND COMMUNITY EMPOWERMENT.
WITH ME TODAY ARE DEPUTY DIRECTOR ARMSTRONG AND FAIR HOUSING AND MINISTER COREY LEVINGSTON.
WE'RE HERE TODAY TO DISCUSS THE PROPOSED REIMAGINING POLICY FOR HOUSING AND HOMELESSNESS IN OUR NEW OFFICE.
AS A REMINDER, THE OFFICE OF HOUSING AND COMMUNITY EMPOWERMENT IS THE RESULT OF THE CENTRALIZATION OF HOUSING AND COMMUNITY SERVICES THAT BLENDED THE OFFICE OF COMMUNITY CARE AND EMPOWERMENT, OFFICE OF HOMELESSNESS SOLUTIONS, OFFICE OF EQUITY AND INCLUSION, AND THE DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT IN THE APPROVED BUDGET IN OCTOBER.
WE PRESENT TODAY THE HOUSING AND HOMELESSNESS AND FAIR HOUSING WORK FROM LAST YEAR, DISCUSS WHERE THERE'S AN OPPORTUNITY TO MOST CLOSELY ALIGN THE PROGRAMS, AND SET UP THIS BRAIDED POLICY FRAMEWORK THAT BRINGS TOGETHER THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING PILLARS FROM THE PREVIOUS DALLAS HOUSING POLICY 2033, THE FOUR-TRACK STRATEGY AROUND ADDRESSING HOMELESSNESS, AND THE WORK OF FAIR HOUSING.
I'LL NOW TURN IT OVER TO JAMES.
GOOD MORNING, CHAIR AND COMMITTEE MEMBERS.
JAMES ARMSTRONG, DEPUTY DIRECTOR IN THE OFFICE OF HOUSING AND COMMUNITY EMPOWERMENT.
SO LET'S LAY THE FOUNDATION OF WHERE WE ARE.
WE ARE 40,000 UNITS SHORT FOR HOUSEHOLDS WHO MAKE UNDER $58,000.
THERE ARE 7,700 INCOME-RESTRICTED UNITS IN OUR MARKET THAT WILL EXPIRE IN 2033, AND WE HAVE MORE THAN 60% OF OUR POPULATION RENTING, MISSING OUT ON HOMEOWNERSHIP OPPORTUNITIES.
TO BUY A HOUSE, THE AVERAGE PRICE HAS RISEN QUICKLY TO RIGHT OVER $400,000.
A FAMILY NEEDS ABOUT $135,000, WHICH IS 120% OF THE AREA OF MEDIAN INCOME TO AFFORD THAT SALES PRICE.
ON AVERAGE, WE HAVE ABOUT 03,500 UNHOUSED PEOPLE IN OUR CITY A DAY, AND AS WHAT WAS JUST DISCUSSED, THE SHELTER CAPACITY IS NEARLY FULL.
OUR OVERALL GOAL AS AN OFFICE IS TO PRODUCE 7,000 RENTAL UNITS AND 3,500 HOMEOWNERSHIP UNITS A YEAR.
SO TODAY WE WILL DISCUSS THREE DIFFERENT DIVISIONS THAT HAVE REALLY BEEN BRAIDED TOGETHER, AS DIRECTOR ERICKSON SAID.
IT'S HOUSING, AFFORDABLE HOUSING, HOMELESSNESS, AND FAIR HOUSING.
WE'LL WALK THROUGH THE BACKGROUND OF THESE DIVISIONS AND GO OVER THE PROPOSED POLICY UPDATE.
[01:50:01]
NEXT SLIDE.SO AS THOR MENTIONED, WE HAVE THIS NEW OFFICE AS OF OCTOBER 1ST, 2025, THE OFFICE OF HOUSING AND COMMUNITY EMPOWERMENT.
AND AGAIN, WHAT WE'LL GO OVER IS JUST WHERE THINGS WERE BEFORE THE BRAIDING TOGETHER OR THE MERGER OF THE OFFICE, AND HOW DO WE SEE MOVING FORWARD.
SO WE CAN LOOK AT OUR CURRENT DIVISIONS, WHICH WERE PART OF THREE PREVIOUS DEPARTMENTS.
FOR THE LAST TWO YEARS, THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROJECTS HAVE BEEN GOVERNED BY THE DALLAS HOUSING POLICY 2033.
IN DECEMBER 2024, WE RELEASED THE HOUSING ACTION PLAN THAT REALLY CALLED FOR A PRIORITY FOR RENTAL UNITS UNDER 50% OF AMI AND HOMEOWNERSHIP UNITS FOR 80% AMI OR BELOW.
THE OVERALL GOAL WAS REALLY JUST TO INCREASE HOUSING PRODUCTION AND PRESERVATION OF UNITS IN OUR CITY.
IN 2018 AND THEN UPDATED IN 2022, WE HAD OUR FOUR-TRACK STRATEGY FOR HOMELESS SOLUTIONS AIMED TO INVEST IN EMERGENCY SHELTERS, SUPPORT THE UNHOUSED SENIOR POPULATION, AND INVEST IN HOUSING AND RECOVERY OPTIONS, AS WELL AS INCLEMENT WEATHER, WHICH HAS SINCE MOVED TO THE OFFICE OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AND CRISIS RESPONSE.
WE'LL HAVE OUR FAIR HOUSING ADMINISTRATOR, COREY, GO OVER THE FAIR HOUSING STRATEGY.
HELLO, COMMITTEE MEMBERS AND CHAIR.
MY NAME IS COREY LEVINSON, AND I'M A FAIR HOUSING ADMINISTRATOR.
OVER THE PAST YEAR, MY WORK HAS FOCUSED ON THREE KEY AREAS.
INVESTIGATING DISCRIMINATION COMPLAINTS TO ENSURE COMPLIANCE WITH FAIR HOUSING LAWS.
ENGAGING WITH COUNCIL DISTRICTS BY PARTICIPATING IN COMMUNITY EVENTS AND PROVIDING FAIR HOUSING-RELATED SERVICES.
CONDUCTING FAIR HOUSING ASSESSMENTS FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROJECTS.
SEEKING SUPPORT FOR LOW-INCOME HOUSING TAX CREDIT APPLICATIONS.
THESE EFFORTS ARE AIMED AT STRENGTHENING THE CITY'S ROLE IN ENSURING FAIR HOUSING OPPORTUNITIES FOR ALL RESIDENTS.
OVER THE PAST YEAR, THE FAIR HOUSING DIVISION HAS FOCUSED ON STRENGTHENING ITS ROLE IN ENSURING THE CITY'S ALIGNMENT WITH FAIR HOUSING OBJECTIVES.
WE EXCEEDED OUR OUTREACH GOAL BY HOSTING 45 EVENTS ACROSS ALL COUNCIL DISTRICTS, NEARLY DOUBLING THE ANNUAL TARGET OF 24 EVENTS, AND COMPLETED 30 COMPREHENSIVE FAIR HOUSING ASSESSMENTS.
WHILE MEETING HUD'S 100-DAY STANDARD FOR CLOSING COMPLAINTS REMAINS AN AREA OF IMPROVEMENT, WE ARE ACTIVELY REFINING PROCESSES AND BUILDING A STRONGER, MORE INTEGRATED TEAM TO ENHANCE PERFORMANCE MOVING FORWARD.
SO, THIS SLIDE REALLY SHOWS THE WORK THAT HAS BEEN ACCOMPLISHED WITH THE THREE DIVISIONS OPERATING SEPARATELY.
OVER THE LAST THREE, OVER THE LAST YEAR, ACROSS THREE SERVICE CONTRACTS AND HOMELESS DIVISION, ALMOST 300 DIVERSIONS WERE COMPLETED.
THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING DIVISION CLOSED ON 101 NEW HOMES, COMPLETED AROUND 1,200 NEW RENTAL UNITS FOR RESIDENTS UNDER 50% OF THE AMI, AND REHABBED OVER 800 SINGLE-FAMILY HOMES OR RENTAL UNITS AS PART OF PURCHASE REHAB PROJECTS.
AND AGAIN, WE SAW ON THE PREVIOUS SLIDE, REALLY A GOOD FOUNDATION FOR US TO BUILD UPON.
THIS SLIDE REALLY HIGHLIGHTS THE INTERCONNECTIVITY OF EACH OF OUR CURRENT PROGRAMS TO THE THREE DEPARTMENTS THAT WERE ONCE SILOED IN THE POPULATIONS THAT THEY SERVE.
SO, YOU CAN LOOK ON THIS SLIDE AND SEE, FOR EXAMPLE, PROGRAMS UNDER HOMELESSNESS CONTAIN COMPONENTS OF AN AFFECTED AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND FAIR HOUSING POPULATION SERVED.
OUR HOPE IS BY BRAIDING THESE THREE DEPARTMENTS TOGETHER UNDER ONE FRAMEWORK, EACH OF THEM WILL BECOME MUTUALLY RESPONSIVE, WILL HAVE A FORCE MULTIPLIER EFFECT, AND THE SYSTEM GAPS WILL BE ADDRESSED.
FAIR HOUSING EFFORTS, SUCH AS CIVIL RIGHTS ENFORCEMENT, COMPLIANCE, AND PROTECTIONS FOR RESIDENTS EXPERIENCING DISCRIMINATION, ARE DEEPLY BRAIDED WITH THE CITY'S HOUSING AND HOMELESS STRATEGIES TO ENSURE THAT ALL RESIDENTS CAN ACCESS SAFE AND WELL-RESOURCED NEIGHBORHOODS.
THESE EFFORTS PRIORITIZE POPULATIONS MOST VULNERABLE TO HOUSING BARRIERS, INCLUDING RENTERS AND HOMEBUYERS FACING DISCRIMINATION, INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES NEEDING ACCESSIBLE UNITS, FAMILIES WITH CHILDREN, AND COMMUNITIES HISTORICALLY IMPACTED BY DISINVESTMENT.
BY EMBEDDING FAIR HOUSING PRINCIPLES INTO PROGRAMS LIKE AFFORDABLE HOUSING DEVELOPMENT, HOMEBUYER ASSISTANCE, AND SUPPORTIVE HOUSING FOR THOSE TRANSITIONING FROM HOMELESSNESS, WE CREATED A
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COORDINATED APPROACH THAT ADVANCES HOUSING STABILITY ACROSS THE CITY.FOR SOME OF THE BACKGROUND ON OUR CURRENT WORK AND OUR DIFFERENT DIVISIONS THAT CARRIED OUT FROM THE PREVIOUS DEPARTMENTS, THIS BODY OF WORK IS COMPLEX.
BUT WHAT STOOD OUT AS WE STARTED TO CHART OUT THE WORK OF THE PREVIOUS DEPARTMENTS IS THAT THERE WERE SIMILAR POPULATIONS OF DALLASITES BEING SERVED.
IT'S CLEAR THAT A PERSON EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS WHO IS HOUSING-READY NEEDS AN EXIT PATHWAY AND THAT THERE SHOULD BE UNITS RESERVED TO PEOPLE UNDER 60% AMI.
BUT THEN TO KNOW THE SHORTAGE OF THOSE UNITS IN DALLAS IS CLOSE TO 40,000 UNITS, AND WHEN PLACED, HAVE THE RIGHTS AS TENANTS AND OUR FAIR HOUSING TEAM IS EQUIPPED TO HANDLE.
SO, THE INTERCONNECTEDNESS OF THIS WORK GIVES US AN OPPORTUNITY TO UNDERSTAND THE POPULATIONS, THE DATA, AND THE RESOURCES TO TACKLE THE MOST PRESSING NEEDS AMONGST THEM.
I'LL NOW PRESENT ON HOW THE CENTRALIZATION OF THESE DIVISIONS AND THE FOUR OFFICES WILL BE MORE MEANINGFUL AND ALIGNED TO ADDRESS THE COMPLEX HOUSING NEEDS OF OUR GREAT CITY.
WHAT WE LEARNED IN EXAMINING THE DIFFERENT BODIES OF WORK IS THAT WE OPERATED IN SILOS.
ALTHOUGH WE COMMUNICATED OFTEN AND WITH INTENTION, HAVING FRAGMENTS OF THE RESOURCES IN DIFFERENT AREAS GOVERNED BY DIFFERENT POLICY IS VERY CHALLENGING.
THE ORGANIZATIONAL REALIGNMENT ALLOWED THESE PROGRAMS TO ALIGN TO SERVE PEOPLE WHO NEED ASSISTANCE BASED ON THEIR CURRENT LIFE SITUATIONS IN PLACES THAT NEED THE RESOURCES.
THE DRIVERS OF OPPORTUNITY FRAMEWORK ALLOWS US TO ALIGN THIS WORK AND TRACK IT IN A COORDINATED MANNER.
ACKNOWLEDGING THE WAY THE SYSTEM WAS SET UP, WE KNOW THAT THERE WERE PARALLEL TRACKS OF WORK BEING PERFORMED ALL AT ONCE AND THAT NEW PROCESSES WERE SET UP WITH EACH NEW PROGRAM.
WE'VE EXAMINED THIS WORK THROUGH INTENTIONAL METHODS TO IDENTIFY IT.
OVER THE LAST THREE MONTHS, WE REORGANIZED SOME TEAMS, WE'VE PULLED TOGETHER STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES, AND HAD A VERY THOROUGH REVIEW OF THEM, CONTRACTS TEMPLATES, CURRENT POLICIES, AND EACH WAY TO THE DEPARTMENT'S PROCURED WORK.
WE'VE STANDARDIZED OUR NOFA FOR NOFA FUNDS AVAILABLE, BUILDING UP THE WORK OF ALL DEPARTMENTS WHO PRODUCE NOFAS, ISSUED A COMMON TEMPLATE THAT WAS PUT INTO PLACE WITH THE YOUTH HOMELESSNESS NOFA THAT'S OUT FOR BIDS NOW AND CLOSES ON FEBRUARY 3RD.
AS WELL AS THE UPCOMING EVICTION ASSISTANCE NOFA TO BE RELEASED THIS WEEK.
ALONGSIDE OF THIS, WE START TO BUILD OUT THE DRIVERS OF OPPORTUNITY POLICY FRAMEWORK SO THAT WE HAVE A PLATFORM FOR DATA AND DOMAINS TO REPORT ON OUT ON MORE MEASURABLE RESULTS.
WE'RE ALSO CONTINUING TO LOOK FOR WAYS TO ADVANCE FAIR HOUSING WORK ACROSS THE CITY.
SEE, BRAIDING IS KIND OF THE WORD OF THE YEAR, RIGHT? WE LOOK FOR WAYS TO BRING ALL THIS WORK TOGETHER, THAT WE HAD HOUSING SERVICES, HOMELESS SERVICES, AND FAIR HOUSING, RESULTING IN MORE ACCESS TO HOUSING, PRODUCTION, AND PRESERVATION OF HOUSING.
AND HAVING A CLEAR SET OF STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES, TRAINING, STRONG PERFORMANCE CRITERIA, AND MORE SIMPLY REFINED PROCESSES WILL LEAD TO THE OUTCOMES WE DESIRE.
AS WE LOOK AT THE WHOLE SYSTEM OF HOUSING AND HOMELESSNESS, DECREASE ACCESS, PRODUCTION, AND PRESERVATION, UTILIZING THE COMMUNITY SERVICES COMPONENT OF THE OFFICE, AND INVESTING IN THE CONTINUUM OF CARE SERVICES, WE AIM TO HAVE FEWER ENTRIES INTO HOMELESSNESS AND MORE EXIT PATHWAYS.
THE DRIVERS OF OPPORTUNITY FRAMEWORK GIVES US WAYS TO ALIGN THIS WORK.
WE EXAMINE THE DRIVERS AND DOMAINS THAT ARE LED BY THE CITY, AND WE HAVE PROGRAMS AND SERVICE THAT WILL BE PART OF STABLE HOUSING, SAFE ENVIRONMENTS, INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTMENTS, CIVIC PARTICIPATION, CRIME PREVENTION, AND WE SEE THAT LINKAGES TO OTHER DOMAINS WHERE WE MIGHT COLLABORATE, SUCH AS THE CONNECTION BETWEEN HOMEOWNERSHIP AND FINANCIAL SECURITY EXISTS.
SO WITH THE PREVIOUS SLIDE CALLING OUT THE SPECIFIC DRIVERS THAT WE ALIGN TO, THAT'S JUST A STARTING POINT.
WE SEE OUR WORK IN NEIGHBORHOODS BECOMING MORE THOUGHTFUL AND ALIGNED ACROSS THE FULL SPECTRUM OF DRIVERS OF OPPORTUNITY.
AS THIS WORK IS DEVELOPED, WE'LL BE REFINING THIS WORK AND FINDING MORE CONNECTIONS AND PARTNERSHIPS.
WE HAVE DATA THAT SHOWS WHERE PRIORITIES CONTINUE TO BE IN THE CITY, SO WE CAN ALIGN FUNDING AND PRIORITY GOALS WITH THE OPPORTUNITY NEEDS.
ALL CONTRACTS FROM OFFICE OF HOUSING AND COMMUNITY EMPOWERMENT WILL INDICATE THE DRIVER IT'S ALIGNED TO AND THE IMPACT OF THE WORK UNDER THIS FRAMEWORK.
OUR PREVIOUS HOUSING POLICY, DALLAS HOUSING POLICY 2033, WAS ALIGNED AROUND THESE SEVEN PILLARS.
AND WHILE THE HOUSING POLICY WAS REPEALED IN DECEMBER OF 2024, THESE PILLARS THEMSELVES BECOME FOUNDATIONAL TO THE ASPECTS THAT WE'VE ALREADY ORGANIZED COUNCIL AND THE COMMUNITY ARE IN.
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THE HOMELESSNESS 4-TRACK STRATEGY WAS A GUIDING DOCUMENT THAT HELPED ESTABLISH THE VISION OF THE FORMER HOMELESSNESS SERVICES OFFICE AND WERE FOUNDATIONAL IN THE ROLE THAT CITY PLAYED IN ADDRESSING HOMELESSNESS.AS WE SET OUT TO INCREASE SHELTER CAPACITY, HOUSING PROJECTS, AND INVEST IN THE PROVIDER PARTNERS, THOSE TENANTS CARRY FORWARD.
AS WE LEARNED PREVIOUSLY IN THE PREVIOUS PRESENTATION, WE NEED TO BUILD MORE BEDS AND HOUSING AND THE SYSTEM FOR THE PROVIDERS IN BETWEEN.
IT'S ALSO WORTH NOTING THAT THE INCLEMENT WEATHER STRATEGY IS NOW HANDLED WITH OUR FRIENDS IN EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AND CRISIS RESPONSE.
WE NEED SOMEONE TO REHAB THEM AND EXTEND THE DEED RESTRICTIONS.
WE HAVE AN AVERAGE HOME VALUE IN THE CITY GROWING HIGHER AND HIGHER EVERY YEAR, MAKING HOMEOWNERSHIP LESS AND LESS FEASIBLE EVERY YEAR.
AND WE HAVE ON AVERAGE 3,500 INDIVIDUALS EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS IN NEED OF EMERGENCY SHELTERS AND EXIT PATHWAYS.
SO THIS SLIDE HIGHLIGHTS THE HEART OF THIS PRESENTATION.
IT'S THE PROPOSED HOUSING AND HOMELESSNESS POLICY PILLARS.
WE HAVE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO EXPAND WHAT WAS WITH THE DALLAS HOUSING POLICY 33, THE 4-TRACK STRATEGY, AND THE WORK OF FAIR HOUSING INTO A REFINED POLICY STRUCTURE USING THE ORGANIZED FRAMEWORK OF ALL THREE OF THOSE BODIES OF WORK.
IT'S CENTERED AROUND CITYWIDE PRODUCTION OF UNITS FROM 0 TO 80% AMI, ENCOMPASSING THE LOWER NAMIS, WHICH ARE TYPICALLY RESERVED FOR THOSE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS, TO THE AFFORDABLE RENTAL SPACE UP TO 80% AMI.
THIS CENTERS POLICY AROUND PRIORITY AREAS, COORDINATED PARTNERSHIPS, AND CONTINUOUS RESIDENT ENGAGEMENT.
WE ALSO WANT TO FOCUS ON THE UNITS LOSING DEED RESTRICTIONS AND THE NATURALLY OCCURRING AFFORDABLE HOUSING THAT NEEDS A MORE FOCUSED, TARGETED STRATEGY TO WORK TO SUPPORT THEM AND PRESERVE THEM ACROSS THE CITY.
LASTLY, WE PLAN TO EXPAND OUR DALLAS HOUSING RESOURCE CATALOG, WHICH IS THE COMPANION DOCUMENT TO THE POLICY THAT LISTS ALL OF THE PROGRAMS AVAILABLE FOR HOUSING INCENTIVES, FROM HOME REPAIR, TO DOWN PAYMENT ASSISTANCE, TO DEVELOPMENT UNDERWRITING CRITERIA.
WE WANT TO BRING THE WHOLE BODY OF WORK OF ALL THE PROGRAM STATEMENTS IN THE OFFICE UNDER ONE UMBRELLA TO HAVE EVERYTHING IN ONE EASY-TO-IDENTIFY LOCATION.
SO, THROUGH THAT POLICY FRAMEWORK FOR HOUSING AND HOMELESSNESS, WE BELIEVE WE HAVE A MORE CLEAR UNDERSTANDING OF OUR PROGRAMS, FUNDING, AND HOUSING PRIORITIES WE FOCUS ON.
WE PLAN TO HAVE A REFINED, INTEGRATED TEAM, BODIES OF WORK, TO BETTER SERVE THE RESIDENTS OF DALLAS.
AND THROUGH OUR COLLABORATION AND COORDINATION PILLAR, WE'LL STRENGTHEN THESE PARTNERS.
WE'LL FORM THEM INTO THE FRAMEWORK SO WE CAN IDENTIFY GAPS AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR IMPROVEMENT.
WE HIGHLIGHT ONE, THE COMMUNITIES FOUNDATION OF TEXAS INITIATIVE, THE HOUSE DTX MODEL, WITH OUR PHILANTHROPY PARTNERS JOINING US IN THE SPACE TO INVEST IN HOUSING OPPORTUNITIES.
AND THEN HOW CAN WE BRING ALL OF THESE PARTNERS TOGETHER TO ALIGN THEM ACROSS THE DIFFERENT HOUSING NEEDS THAT WE HAVE IN OUR CITY SO THAT WAY WE ARE SAYING, HERE'S OUR HOUSING NEEDS.
HERE ARE PROCUREMENT OPPORTUNITIES, AND HERE'S WHAT WE NEED EVERYBODY TO DO TO ALIGN THEIR WORK AROUND ADDRESSING THE COMPLEX HOUSING NEEDS WE HAVE IN THE CITY OF DALLAS.
IN ADDITION TO THIS BRIEFING, WE'VE STARTED TO GATHER INPUT FROM THE USERS OF THE HOUSING POLICY, THE FOUR TRACK STRATEGY, FAIR HOUSING WORK.
WE PUT THE SURVEY OUT AT THE ANNUAL HOUSING SUMMIT FROM THE DALLAS HOUSING COALITION, INVITE YOU TO TAKE THE SURVEY TO HELP US GIVE INSIGHT INTO THE PILLARS AND THE ASPECTS OF THE EXISTING POLICIES THAT HAVE THE MOST MERIT.
WHILE I BELIEVE WE'VE CAPTURED THEM IN OUR PROPOSED POLICY FRAMEWORK, CONTINUAL FEEDBACK, LISTENING TO YOU TODAY, CONTINUING THE CONVERSATIONS, UNDERSTANDING THAT THIS CONTINUES TO BE AN ITERATIVE PROCESS OF LEARNING AND DESIGN AND DEVELOPMENT TO BRING THE DIFFERENT COMPLEX NEEDS TOGETHER UNDER ONE POLICY IS WHY WE'RE HERE TODAY.
SO WE END TODAY ON THE SLIDE OF OUR WHERE WE'RE AT.
SO WE ARE AT THIS PLACE OF PROPOSING A FRAMEWORK.
WE NEED TO ITERATE, REFINE THAT FRAMEWORK,
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CONTINUE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE INTEGRATE THIS WITH OUR DASHBOARDS, OUR MEASURES, OUR DATA, BRING THAT BACK TO YOU ALL FOR CONSIDERATION FOR AN UPDATED POLICY DECISION ON THE HOUSING AND HOMELESSNESS POLICY.AND THEN LAUNCH WITH OUR REALIGNED DRIVERS OF OPPORTUNITY ACTION PLAN AND THE WORK THAT WE INTEND TO CARRY OUT FOR YEARS TO COME.
SO WITH THAT, WE THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME TODAY.
I WILL NOTE THAT THERE'S AN APPENDIX TO THIS PRESENTATION THAT LISTS OUT ALL OF THE PERFORMANCE DATA FROM LAST FISCAL YEAR ACROSS ALL THE DIFFERENT BODIES OF WORK.
AND WE'RE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE TODAY.
WHO HAS QUESTIONS? MAYOR PROTON, WOULD YOU LIKE TO GO FIRST? THANK YOU.
THOR, JUST STARTING OFF ON BACKGROUND AND HISTORY, THE DATA THAT'S BEING PROVIDED, WHO'S COMPOSING THAT INFORMATION? YEAH, THANK YOU.
SO THE UNIT SHORTAGES CAME FROM OUR HOUSING ACTION PLAN THAT WAS PRODUCED BY HR&A ADVISORS LAST DECEMBER 2024.
IT'S ALSO IN ALIGNMENT WITH THE CHILD POVERTY ACTION LABS.
WE USE THE SAME FIRM TO VALIDATE THE RENTAL NEEDS IN THE CITY OF DALLAS.
THE WORK ON THE HOMELESSNESS SIDE IN TERMS OF THE BEDS AND EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS COMES FROM OUR PARTNERS IN HOUSING FORWARD AND UNDERSTANDING THE POINT IN TIME COUNTS AND UNDERSTANDING THAT CURRENT SYSTEM.
SO IT'S KIND OF A WEAVING OF MOST RECENT WELL-KNOWN DATA SETS THAT EXIST IN THE CITY.
AND THEN IN OUR GOALS, IT TALKS ABOUT OUR PRIORITIES WITH THAT 50% OR LESS AMI.
I THINK WE REALLY NEED TO, ONE, DO A BETTER JOB AT THAT.
I'M GOING TO BACK UP A LITTLE BIT.
SO HOW OFTEN SHOULD WE, ESPECIALLY WE HAVE A NEW TEAM IN FRONT OF US NOW, WHEN SOME OF THESE POLICIES WERE ADOPTED, HOW OFTEN SHOULD THESE GOALS AND POLICIES BE REVIEWED AND ADOPTED, AND IS THIS WHAT WE'RE DOING TODAY? THANK YOU.
SO THE DALLAS HOUSING POLICY 2033 WAS REPEALED IN DECEMBER 2020.
SO WE CURRENTLY DO NOT HAVE A HOUSING POLICY.
WHAT WE HAVE ARE THE PAST UNDERSTANDING OF OUR HOUSING NEEDS.
THE FOUR-TRACK STRATEGY CURRENTLY EXISTS AS A FOUNDATIONAL FRAMEWORK THAT DOESN'T HAVE ANY GOALS TIED TO IT.
AND SO WE'RE HERE TODAY PROPOSING THAT NEW FRAMEWORK WITH THOSE NEW EIGHT PILLARS ON HOW WE CAN AGREE ON A GENERAL FRAMEWORK SO THAT WAY WE CAN PUT THE DATA AND THE GOALS TO EACH PILLAR FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION.
RIGHT? TO CONTINUE TO PUT GOALS AND MEASURABLE DATA TO PILLARS WHEN THEY'RE NOT FINALIZED YET, WE'LL BE CHASING OUR TAIL FOREVER.
SO AS SOON AS WE FINALIZE THE ORGANIZING METHOD, WE'LL PRESENT TO YOU OUR GOALS FOR REFINEMENT AND OUR ACTION PLAN THAT SAYS, HERE IS OUR BUDGET.
HERE IS WHAT WE BELIEVE WE CAN ACCOMPLISH THIS YEAR.
AND HERE IS HOW WE'RE GOING TO KEEP US ACCOUNTABLE BY COMING TO THIS COMMITTEE WITH QUARTERLY PERFORMANCE UPDATES, WHICH WE HAVE HISTORICALLY DONE TO SAY, HERE IS THE WORK ACROSS ALL PROGRAMS. AND HERE'S WHO WE SERVED AND WHICH COUNCIL DISTRICTS AND HOW MUCH MONEY DID WE SPEND ACROSS ALL THOSE PROGRAMS? SO HOMEOWNERSHIP IS IMPORTANT.
WE, YOU KNOW, THAT'S SOMETHING THAT I TRY TO GET THOSE RESIDENTS THAT ARE READY FOR HOMEOWNERSHIP PREPARED.
AND SO IT SOUNDS LIKE THOUGH, SOMETIMES WE'RE SAYING THAT THE FACT THAT THE MEDIAN HOME PRICE IS GOING UP IS A BAD THING.
IS THAT THE NARRATIVE THAT WE'RE PUTTING OUT? I MEAN, TO ME, HOMEOWNERSHIP IS A GOOD THING.
HOME VALUES GOING UP SHOULD BE SEEN AS A POSITIVE TO BUILD GENERATIONAL WEALTH.
SO OUR OFFICE FOCUSES PRIMARILY ON AFFORDABLE HOMEOWNERSHIP, AFFORDABLE RENTERS.
AND SO WHEN THE AVERAGE PRICE POINT OF THAT HOME CONTINUES TO GO UP, THAT IS A GAP THAT THEN THE AFFORDABLE HOME BUYER CANNOT ACHIEVE.
SO IT IS BOTH A HEALTHY THING FOR THE CITY, HAVE A REALLY STRONG RESIDENTIAL MARKET.
AND IT'S ALSO VERY CHALLENGING TO THE POPULATION THAT WE INTEND OUR RESOURCES TO GO TO, TO BECOME HOMEOWNERS.
AND SO THROUGH OUR SERIES OF DEVELOPMENTS WHERE WE CAN INCENTIVIZE THOSE DEVELOPERS TO PRODUCE AFFORDABLE HOUSING TO THE POPULATION THAT WE SERVE, IT'S KIND OF A BOTH AND RIGHT.
AND WHEN A PERSON BECOMES A HOMEOWNER, YOU DEFINITELY WANT TO SEE YOUR HOME APPRAISED FOR A HIGHER VALUE.
YOU JUST DON'T WANT THAT TO APPRAISE FOR DOUBLE OVERNIGHT BECAUSE THEN YOUR PROPERTY TAXES DOUBLE OVERNIGHT AND YOUR INCOME MAY NOT HAVE DOUBLED AT THE SAME RATE.
AND SO WE WANT TO BE AWARE OF WHAT QUICK APPRAISING RESIDENTIAL VALUE MIGHT DO TO A HOMEOWNER IN NEIGHBORHOODS.
SO IT'S IT'S THAT'S THE WHOLE COMPLEX OF GENTRIFICATION IN TERMS OF HOW FAST CAN THAT APPRAISAL HAPPEN TO KEEP UP
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WITH PEOPLE'S INCOMES IN A PARTICULAR PLACE? AND THEN DO THEY BECOME PRICED OUT OR CAN THEY BECOME STABLE HOMEOWNERS IN THAT NEIGHBORHOOD? WELL, JAMES, YOU KNOW THAT MY BIG THING IS PRESERVATION AND BEING ABLE TO KEEP A HOUSE THAT'S AFFORDABLE ON THE MARKET RATHER THAN TEARING IT DOWN AND BUILDING MULTIPLEX.THAT IS, YOU KNOW, THAT IS, YOU KNOW, THAT MULTI THAT SINGLE FAMILY HOME IS VALUED AT ONE HUNDRED HUNDRED FIFTY THOUSAND DOLLARS.
AND WE, YOU KNOW, BULLDOZE IT DOWN AND BUILD, YOU KNOW, TWO MILLION DOLLAR PROPERTIES ON EACH SIDE.
TALKING ABOUT HOMEOWNERSHIP, WE KNOW THAT THE DALLAS HOUSING AUTHORITY HAS THE OPPORTUNITY AND CURRENTLY DOES PUT A STIPEND THAT GOES TOWARDS HOME MORTGAGES.
HOW DO WE EXPAND THAT AND WHAT IS OUR CURRENT PARTNERSHIP WITH THE DALLAS HOUSING AUTHORITY? SO THANK YOU FOR THAT QUESTION.
WE WORK ALONGSIDE THE DALLAS HOUSING AUTHORITY.
WE DON'T CURRENTLY HAVE A FORMAL PARTNERSHIP IN TERMS OF HOW THOSE THINGS CAN GO.
BUT THAT'S ON THE LIST OF PARTNERS TO GROW AS WE HAVE RENTERS WHO COULD TAKE ADVANTAGE OF SOME OF THEIR SUBSIDIES.
HOPEFULLY THE VOUCHER SYSTEM AT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT SOFTENS AND MAYBE MORE VOUCHERS COME BACK TO DHA TO SUPPORT VOUCHERS AND DEVELOPMENTS THAT MIGHT NEED IT THAT WE'RE PRODUCING.
SO WE HAVE CONTINUED CONVERSATIONS WITH OUR FRIENDS IN DALLAS HOUSING AUTHORITY.
AND THERE'S AMPLE OPPORTUNITY TO BRING SOME PROGRAMS AND POPULATIONS MORE CLOSELY TOGETHER.
HFCS AND PFCS HISTORICALLY HAVE GONE TOWARDS JUST RENTAL UNITS.
IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THAT THERE'S OPPORTUNITIES FOR HOMEOWNERSHIP THROUGH THAT AS WELL.
THERE ARE, ESPECIALLY AS WE START TO SEE SOME REVENUE COMING IN FROM PROPOSALS.
PART OF THEIR GROWTH, AS WE CAN HEAR FROM AARON AT LATER CONVERSATIONS, IS ABOUT OPPORTUNITIES TO INVEST IN THESE DIFFERENT SITUATIONS.
ALSO THROUGH THE HOUSING FINANCE CORPORATIONS.
YEAH. HFC HAS THE PROGRAM WHERE WE HELP SUPPORT HOMEOWNERSHIP THROUGH DOWN PAYMENT ASSISTANCE AS A PASS THROUGH FROM THE STATE, WHICH WE CAN RESEND THAT MEMO TO YOU ALL ON HOW THE SUCCESSFULNESS OF THAT PROGRAM.
OKAY. HOMELESSNESS, WHICH IS, YOU KNOW, SOMETHING THAT I HAVE FOCUSED ON AROUND THIS COMMITTEE.
YOU KNOW, I'M STILL GLAD TO SEE THE EMERGENCY SHELTER SERVICE FOR HOMELESSNESS TO PROVIDE SAFE LOW BARRIER SHELTER AND QUICK CONNECTION TO HOUSING.
AND TO ME, THAT'S A WAY OF SAYING STREET TO SHELTER.
YOU KNOW, WE HEARD IT EARLIER IN THE PRESENTATION THAT WE HAVE TO DO A BETTER JOB OF WHEN HOUSING IS NOT AVAILABLE AND GETTING PEOPLE INTO A SHELTER.
TO ME, THAT HAS TO BE A BETTER OPTION THAN CONTINUING TO WAIT FOR LONG TERM HOUSING ON OUR STREETS.
SOMETHING THAT I ACTUALLY DO THINK WE'RE EXCELLING WELL AT IS OUR FAIR HOUSING PRACTICES.
THE TEAM HAS ALWAYS BEEN VERY RESPONSIVE TO CONCERNS FROM CONSTITUENTS WHO CALL OUR OFFICE, WHO HAVE COMPLAINTS OR ARE TRYING TO GET ISSUES RESOLVED.
AND SO THANK YOU. I THINK THAT'S ONE THING THAT DOESN'T NEED TOO MUCH TWEAKING CURRENTLY.
BUT I DO WANT TO SEE NEW TOOLS FOR HOMEOWNERSHIP.
AND AGAIN, EMPHASIZING THE STREET TO SHELTER PATHWAY.
SO THIS IS QUITE A BIG CONFLUENCE AND GOING FROM FOUR PILLARS OR TO EIGHT PILLARS NOW.
I MEAN, IT MAKES SENSE WHEN YOU LOOK AT IT AND THERE ARE A LOT OF PARTNERS OUT THERE.
SO IT'S JUST IT'S GOT SO MANY MOVING PIECES AND IT JUST MANIFESTS ITSELF ON, YOU KNOW, AS PEOPLE, WHETHER THEY'RE SHELTERED OR, YOU KNOW, HAVE A HOUSE OR THEY'RE ON THE STREET OR THEY'RE AT RISK.
AND SO I TRY TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT IT AS PEOPLE.
SO AS I GO, COREY, I'M LOOKING AT THE FIGURES ON PAGE SIX AND OUR METRIC.
WE'RE A LITTLE BEHIND ON THE FAIR HOUSING COMPLAINTS INVESTIGATED.
IS THIS OUR COMPETENCY OF THE CITY TO INVESTIGATE THESE KIND OF COMPLAINTS? I MEAN, ARE WE INVESTIGATORS IN THIS SPACE? YES.
SO THANK YOU FOR THE QUESTION.
YES, WE ARE REFERRED TO AS A FAIR HOUSING ASSISTANCE PROGRAM, AND WE ARE CHARGED BY HUD TO INVESTIGATE COMPLAINTS OF HOUSING DISCRIMINATION.
SO ESSENTIALLY, WE ARE THE ENFORCEMENT ARM FOR HUD IN THE CITY OF DALLAS.
AND WE'RE EQUIPPED TO DO THAT.
I MEAN, EVEN THOUGH THE NUMBER IS LOW, WHAT WOULD YOU ATTRIBUTE THAT TO? SO, YES, WE ARE EQUIPPED TO DO THAT.
HUD CERTIFIES OUR FAP, OUR PROGRAM, EVERY FIVE YEARS.
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AND WE HAVE BEEN RECERTIFIED RECENTLY.CAN YOU RESTATE THE QUESTION? I DON'T REALLY UNDERSTAND THE QUESTION.
WELL, I MEAN, IT JUST SAYS THE TARGET WAS 50 PERCENT, WHICH AND THEN THE DELIVERY WAS ACTUALLY 34 PERCENT.
IT DOESN'T MEAN THEY DIDN'T ULTIMATELY GET RESOLVED.
IT JUST MEANS IN THAT HUNDRED DAYS, WHICH IS A LONG PERIOD OF TIME WHEN SOMEONE'S ON A BUBBLE.
SO THE SLOPE, THE THE THE OPPORTUNITY SURROUNDING THE SPEED AT WHICH WE RESOLVE A FAIR HOUSING INVESTIGATION.
AND, YEAH, I ATTRIBUTE THAT TO STAFFING TURNOVER, HAVING NEW STAFF, GETTING THE PROPER TRAINING FOR THE STAFF TO BE ABLE TO QUICKLY RESOLVE CASES WHEN THEY ARE ASSIGNED.
AND WHAT'S OUR VOLUME OF CASES? WOULD YOU SAY? SURE.
I WOULD SAY, SO IF WE'RE TALKING ABOUT ANY GIVEN MONTH, WE MAY PROCESS, WE MAY TURN AN INCIDENT REPORT INTO A CASE, MAYBE FOUR OR FIVE.
INCIDENT REPORTS WOULD ACTUALLY TURN INTO A FAIR HOUSING INVESTIGATION.
DOES DALLAS HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THIS? ARE THERE SOME ISSUES? WELL, I GUESS IT DEPENDS HOW YOU DEFINE PROBLEMS. I DON'T, YOU KNOW, DALLAS, THE NUMBERS IN DALLAS ISN'T ANY GREATER OR LESS THAN ANY OTHER NUMBERS ACROSS THE STATE OF TEXAS AND LIKELY EVEN NATIONALLY.
I'M NOT FAMILIAR WITH THE NATIONAL NUMBERS.
WELL, YOU'RE GIVING ME AN IDEA OF WHERE WE FALL.
IN A BROADER SENSE, ON PAGE 18, THE FIFTH PRIORITY, WELL, NUMBER FIVE PILLAR SAYS PRIORITY AREAS AND IT SAYS FOCUS ON GREATEST HOUSING NEEDS.
AND SO HOW ARE WE DEFINING THAT? BECAUSE DISTRICT TO DISTRICT, IT MAY BE DIFFERENT.
LIKE I HAVE, YOU KNOW, SOME HIGHER END PROPERTIES AND THERE MAY NEED TO BE, YOU KNOW, GREATER AFFORDABILITY THERE.
OR THERE MAY BE SOME OTHER AREAS THAT, YOU KNOW, NEED TO COME UP SOME BECAUSE THEY'RE, I MEAN, YOU KNOW, NATURALLY OCCURRING AFFORDABLE HOUSING IS KIND OF A CODE WORD FOR AGING STOCK.
WE HAVE THE DATA THAT TELLS US WHERE OUR UNIT GAPS ARE FOR BOTH RENTERS AND HOMEOWNERS.
AND I SEE IT AS A IMPLICIT STRATEGY WORKING WITH EACH COUNCIL MEMBER TO UNDERSTAND WHAT YOUR HOUSING PRIORITIES FOR THE YEAR ARE GOING TO BE SO THAT WE CAN MAKE SURE THAT THERE'S A TARGET INVESTMENT STRATEGY AND A COUNCIL SPECIFIC STRATEGY SO THAT WE CAN UNDERSTAND THE RESOURCES WE MIGHT HAVE OR OPTIONS TO WORK ACROSS DEPARTMENTS TO ADDRESS DIFFERENT HOUSING NEEDS THAT EXIST IN DIFFERENT PLACES AROUND OUR CITY.
ANOTHER THING THAT CONCERNS ME AND I'M, YOU KNOW, I GUESS IT'S ADDRESSED UNDER AROUND FOUR FAIR HOUSING SYSTEM AROUND HOMELESSNESS IS JUST THE INFLOW.
I MEAN, WE CAN TALK ABOUT WHAT WE SEE ON THE STREETS AND HOW IT LOOKS LIKE IT'S GOING UP OR DOWN OR WHATEVER.
AND, YOU KNOW, I FEEL LIKE DALLAS IS THIS MAGNET WHERE OTHER CITIES IN THE COUNTY AND ELSEWHERE ARE, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE END UP HERE BECAUSE THIS IS WHERE WE HAVE SUCH A CONCENTRATION OF SOURCES.
AND SO I KNOW WE'RE WORKING WITH DALLAS FICTION ADVOCACY CENTER WHERE, YOU KNOW, WORKING WITH SOME OTHER GREAT PARTNERS, YOU KNOW, TO MOVE PEOPLE THROUGH SHELTERS.
BUT IS THERE ANYTHING THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT WITH REGARD TO WHEN SOMEONE'S IN HMIS WHERE THEIR LAST ADDRESS WAS OR WHATEVER, HOW WE CAN GET OTHERS TO HELP US WITH THIS BIG ISSUE? YEAH, I THINK THAT'S THE ROLE OF OUR LEAD AGENCY HOUSING FORWARD IN THE WIDER NETWORK OF THE CONTINUUM OF CARE ACROSS MULTIPLE COUNTIES.
AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT AT THESE COMMITTEES IS THE TYPE OF DATA AND TYPE OF UNDERSTANDING OF THAT NETWORK THAT'S MOST HELPFUL TO YOU.
AND SO HEARING YOU TODAY, I KNOW WHAT WE CAN WORK WITH OUR FRIENDS TO PRODUCE AND SHOW YOU WHAT THAT NETWORK LOOKS LIKE AND WHO'S HELPING WHERE AND WHERE THERE MIGHT BE GAPS OR OPPORTUNITIES FOR ADDITIONAL PARTNERSHIPS.
THAT'S THE TYPE OF SYSTEMS APPROACH THAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR AND HELPS ME UNDERSTAND, LIKE, WHERE YOU'RE AT IN THAT VISION.
I WOULD REALLY LIKE TO UNDERSTAND THAT BETTER BECAUSE THEY MAY HAVE THE INFORMATION, BUT HOW DO YOU TURN IT INTO SOMETHING? BECAUSE WHEN THIS FIRST STARTED SEVERAL YEARS AGO, IT WAS, YOU KNOW, SOME COMMUNITIES WERE COMING FORWARD WITH VOUCHERS OR SOME CAME FORWARD WITH MONEY AND THEN THE COUNTY OFFERED MONEY.
BUT IT DOESN'T SEEM LIKE THERE'S THAT MORE ROBUST ASSISTANCE FOR THE CITY.
I MEAN, WE'RE DOING THE HEAVY LIFTING.
SO I WOULD LOVE TO UNDERSTAND THAT MORE.
AND THEN I THINK JUST SUPPORTING OUR, YOU KNOW, SMARTLY OUR PFCS AND HFCS AND UNDERSTANDING THE PUBLIC BENEFIT WE GET BACK.
BUT I MEAN, THOSE ARE OUR PRODUCERS RIGHT NOW.
[02:20:01]
AND SO IF WE DON'T LIKE THEM, THEN WE'VE GOT TO FIND ANOTHER WAY TO, YOU KNOW, GET SOMEONE ELSE TO COME IN AND FILL THAT GAP.BECAUSE RIGHT NOW THEY'RE DOING THAT LIFTING.
WELL, IT'S NOT THAT WE DON'T LIKE THEM FOR SURE.
WELL, YOU KNOW, IT'S SUBJECTIVE.
IN THE UPCOMING BRIEFING ON THE 23RD, TALKING ABOUT THE POLICY ENHANCEMENTS FROM THE GUIDANCE FROM COUNCIL GIVEN TO THOSE DIFFERENT BOARDS.
I THINK YOU'LL SEE THAT SOME OF THE PRIORITIZATION LANGUAGE ALIGNS WITH THIS FRAMEWORK IN TERMS OF THE HOUSING NEEDS.
AND THEN WORKING WITH THOSE BOARDS AND THE GENERAL MANAGER AND SOME ADVOCATES, I THINK WE'VE GOTTEN CLOSER THAN WE HAVE IN TERMS OF ALIGNMENT.
AND SO I'LL PRESENT TO YOU ALL ON WHERE WE CURRENTLY ARE TO MAKE SOME FINAL DECISIONS TO COME UP SOON.
I WAS LIKE, COUNCILMEMBER LORI.
LET ME START OFF WITH, I SEE THAT OUR LAST PRESENTATION IN ENCAMPMENTS AND THAT GROUP AND THIS GROUP AND THE HOMELESS GROUP NEED TO BE TOGETHER.
I KNOW THEY'RE NOT BECAUSE ENCAMPMENTS AND THE HOMELESSNESS PROCESS HERE USES THE SAME RESOURCES AND THEY DO THE SAME THING, BUT JUST AT A DIFFERENT LEVEL.
AND I SEE THAT THAT IS A SOURCE TO ME OF DYSFUNCTION BECAUSE THEY'RE ALL, WHETHER THERE IS AN ENCAMPMENT OR A SINGLE PERSON THAT'S HOMELESS, THE BOTTOM LINE IS THEY'RE LIVING OUTSIDE.
AND I THINK THERE'S SOME SYNERGY THAT COULD HAPPEN IF THE GROUP WAS UNDER ONE LEADERSHIP AND USING ONE FOCUS BECAUSE AT THE END OF THE DAY, YOU'RE STILL TRYING TO ACCOMPLISH ONE GOAL, GET PEOPLE OFF THE STREET AND INTO HOUSING.
WITH THAT BEING SAID, I'M GOING TO ALSO TALK ABOUT YOU HAVE A HOME OWNERSHIP GOAL.
DO YOU GUYS HAVE ANYTHING TO SAY ABOUT WHAT I JUST SAID? THE MAIN COMMENT ON THAT RIGHT NOW IS THAT ENFORCEMENT AND SERVICES TOGETHER CREATE CONFLICT.
IT'S REALLY HARD TO GO TO A PLACE WHERE YOU'RE WORKING TO GET THEM TO COMPLY AND GET INTO A SHELTER.
AND THEN AT THE SAME TIME, OFFER ALL THE ASSISTANCE THAT THE TYPES OF COMMUNICATION, THE TYPE OF ONE ON ONE CONVERSATIONS THAT HAPPEN IS TWO DIFFERENT PROCESSES.
NOW, I WILL SAY THAT INTER-DEPARTMENT COORDINATION CAN GET BETTER AND WE CAN UNDERSTAND MORE THE ACTIVITY HAPPENING ON THE GROUND AND WHAT OUR PROVIDERS ARE DOING AND THE TOTAL BEDS AVAILABLE AND THE WHOLE SYSTEM SO THAT WE CAN ENSURE THAT, YOU KNOW, WHEN KEVIN'S TEAM IS DOING THEIR MULTIPLE STAGE OF WORK IN THAT FRONT END TO TALK ABOUT THE DECOMMISSIONING, THE RESOURCES AVAILABLE, THE ENCAMPMENT, WE CAN ENSURE THAT THE SERVICE CONTRACTS AND THINGS THAT WE PROCURE IN OUR OFFICE ARE ALIGNED WITH ADDRESSING THE NEEDS IN A MORE ALIGNED MANNER.
I'LL SAY RIGHT NOW THAT WE HAVE SOME REALLY GREAT PARTNERS AND REALLY GREAT CONTRACTS, BUT THEY OPERATE AS INDIVIDUAL THINGS.
AND WE HAVE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO SAY AS A WHOLE SYSTEM, HERE IS WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO MEASURE.
HERE IS WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO IMPACT.
AND SO IF WE CAN COORDINATE OUR RESOURCES AVAILABLE TO ADDRESS IT ACCORDINGLY, WE'LL BE BETTER OFF.
ON PAGE 20, YOU HAVE A LIST OF PARTNERS.
YOU HAVE ALL OF YOUR PARTNERS.
I KNOW SOME OF THESE PARTNERS VERY WELL.
AND I'VE WORKED WITH SOME OF THESE PARTNERS.
IT'S NOT ONLY WHEN WE'RE LOOKING AT DOING ENCAMPMENT CLEANUPS AND GETTING SERVICES FOR THE INDIVIDUALS THAT WE'RE TRYING TO SERVE, BUT ALSO WHEN WE HAVE INDIVIDUALS THAT NEED SERVICE.
AND I DO KNOW THAT AT LARGE SCALE, WHEN IT'S AN ENCAMPMENT, YOU USUALLY HAVE MORE PEOPLE AS OPPOSED TO HAVING INDIVIDUALS.
AT THE END OF THE DAY, THEY ALL NEED SERVICES, AND WE NEED TO BE ABLE TO TRACK HOW MANY PEOPLE WE REACH, HOW MANY PEOPLE WE SERVE, WHERE ARE THEY SERVED, HOW ARE THEY SERVED, AND THE LONGEVITY OF THAT SERVICE.
SO WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE IS SOME TYPE OF REPORTING THAT GIVES ME A TRUE PICTURE ON THE HOMELESS ASPECT AS TO HOW MANY PEOPLE WE TOUCH, WHERE ARE THEY TOUCHED AT, HOW OFTEN ARE THEY IN OUR SYSTEM, AND WHAT KIND OF SYNERGY CAN WE UTILIZE, WHETHER IT'S THROUGH OUR PARTNERSHIP OR WITH THE SERVICES THAT WE DO
[02:25:01]
OURSELVES, TO TAKE CARE OF THE RATIFICATION OF THE UNHOUSED LIVING OUT IN OUR NEIGHBORHOODS SO THAT WE CAN DO A BETTER JOB OF SERVICING OUR COMMUNITIES.THAT'S A REALLY GREAT DATA QUESTION YOU POSE.
ON PAGE TWO, YOU SAID THAT WE NEED TO ACHIEVE A GOAL OF 50% OF HOMEOWNERSHIP, BUT I'M FINDING THAT THAT TO BE A NUMBER OR A GOAL THAT MAY NOT EVER BE ACHIEVED IF WE'RE ALWAYS, THE ONLY THING WHERE WE ARE, THE MAJORITY OF WHAT WE SEE IS MULTIFAMILY DEVELOPMENT BEING OFFERED AND DEVELOPED, ESPECIALLY WHEN IT COMES DOWN TO WHAT DOES ASSISTANCE FOR HOMEOWNERSHIP LOOK LIKE.
IS IT JUST A SMALL HOUSE? AND IF IT'S A SMALL HOUSE, WHERE ARE YOU GOING TO PUT THAT SMALL HOUSE? SO THEN ARE YOU USING THAT TYPE OF ATTITUDE OR THAT TYPE OF BEHAVIOR TO CONCENTRATE THE LESS AFFORDABLE IN A COMMUNITY THAT WANTS TO GROW AND BE MORE AFFLUENT? I MEAN, THAT'S THE HEART OF HOUSING POLICY RIGHT THERE, RIGHT? YOU HAVE THE ABILITY TO BUILD AN APARTMENT COMPLEX THAT HAS 100 TO 200 UNITS RIGHT OUT THE GATE.
YOU HAVE THE ABILITY TO BUILD, YOU KNOW, ROW HOMES WITH MORE DENSITY THAT BRING MORE UNITS PER SQUARE FOOT.
YOU HAVE THE ABILITY TO BUILD MORE SINGLE FAMILY UNITS.
WHO FINANCES THEM? WHO CARRIES THE DEBT ON THAT? WHO CAN BUILD THEM AT SCALE? ALL OF THAT IS COUNTERACTIVE TO THE NEEDS THAT WE SHOW, RIGHT? WE KNOW THAT WHEN PEOPLE BECOME HOMEOWNERS, SOME OTHER LIFE THINGS CAN START TO BE STABILIZED, BUT ONLY WHEN THEY CAN AFFORD THE TRUE OWNERSHIP GOAL.
SO IT IS BOTH MAKING SURE THAT WE TELL OUR DEVELOPER FRIENDS WE'RE LOOKING FOR WAYS TO CREATE HOMEOWNERSHIP WITH THESE RESOURCES AVAILABLE IN NEIGHBORHOODS THAT MIGHT HAVE HAD A LOT OF CURRENT RENTER STOCK.
AND HOW DO WE LOOK FOR THOSE OPPORTUNITIES TO DO SOMETHING THAT CHALLENGES WHAT IS EASY TO DO AND RESERVE SOME MONEY FOR THAT? AND CONTINUE TO PUT OUT THE MESSAGE THAT MIXED INCOME AFFORDABLE IS BOTH A RENTER AND A HOMEOWNERSHIP OPTION BECAUSE WE'RE SERVING FAMILIES WHO LIFE SITUATIONS MIGHT NEED THEM TO BE RENTERS FOR A LITTLE WHILE OR THEY'RE PREPARED TO BE HOMEOWNERS.
BUT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT 61% OF OUR HOUSEHOLDS ARE RENTERS AND THAT CONTINUES TO GROW YEAR OVER YEAR IS ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE'VE NOTICED IN OUR DATA THAT IS A CONCERN IN AFFORDABLE HOUSING THAT WE NEED TO LOOK FOR MORE WAYS TO INCENTIVIZE HOMEOWNERSHIP.
WELL, I CAN SAY IF THE ONLY THING WE BUILD AND THE ONLY THING WE INCENTIVIZE IS RENTAL PROPERTIES WILL NEVER GET TO THAT GOAL OF 50% UNTIL WE STOP INCENTIVIZING ALL RENTALS AND WE NEED TO INCENTIVIZE MORE HOMEOWNERSHIP.
WHAT DOES THAT PROGRAM LOOK LIKE? THAT'S WHERE I THINK WE NEED TO GO IN ORDER TO GET TO THE ACHIEVEMENT AND THE ATTAINMENT OF 50% AND OR GREATER OF HOMEOWNERSHIP.
I NOTICED THAT WE ALSO HAVE, WELL, THE AMI FOR THE CITY OF DALLAS, ONE INDIVIDUAL IS $117,300.
AND UNFORTUNATELY, OUR JOBS DON'T NECESSARILY GET TO US ALL TO AMI, WHERE WHEN WE'RE LOOKING AT 30% OF AMI, WE'RE ONLY LOOKING AT $25,000.
I DON'T KNOW WHY WE STILL INCENTIVIZE OUR RENTAL ASSISTANCE AT 30% OF AMI, ESPECIALLY WHEN IT SAYS WE'RE INCENTIVIZING A RESIDENT WHO CANNOT ATTAIN LIVING.
THEY'RE STILL LIVING IN A GREAT STATE OF POVERTY.
50% OF AMI IS ONLY $41,000 A YEAR.
IF I'M MAKING $41,000 A YEAR, I'M STILL IMPOVERISHED.
I STILL CANNOT LIVE A GOOD LIFE OF QUALITY, QUALITY LIFE.
AND WHEN WE CONCENTRATE THE INCENTIVIZATION OF ANY TYPE OF RENTAL ASSISTANCE AT 50% AND EVEN 60% OF AMI, WE'RE STILL CONCENTRATING A LEVEL OF IMPOVERISHMENT IN THE COMMUNITY, ESPECIALLY IN MY COMMUNITY.
I WILL ACCEPT IT BECAUSE I'M FORCED TO ACCEPT IT.
MY GOAL IS IF I HAVE TO GIVE ASSISTANCE IN HOUSING, IT HAS TO BE AT 80% OF AMI OR IT HAS TO BE AT MARKET RATE IN ORDER
[02:30:01]
TO BALANCE ME OUT IN MY DISTRICT WITH WHAT WE NEED IN ORDER TO GROW.IF WE DON'T DO THAT, THEN WHAT WE'RE DOING IS THE CONCENTRATION OF POVERTY IN AN AREA THAT'S ALREADY IMPOVERISHED.
SO, AND I KNOW WE'LL TALK ABOUT THAT WHEN I HAVE SOME OF THE, AND LATER ON IN THE AGENDA WITH SOME ITEMS THAT WE'RE LOOKING TO APPROVE.
YOU'RE LOOKING AT THE LOW INCOME HOUSING TAX CREDIT RESOLUTIONS COMING UP LATER, BUT I'M TELLING YOU, CAUSE YOU ASKED THE QUESTION, YOU NEEDED TO KNOW WHERE, WHERE EACH, EACH, EACH DISTRICT WANTED TO GO.
THAT AIN'T 80% AND A HUNDRED PERCENT OF AMI.
NOT UNLESS IT'S A ONE BY ONE BASIS.
I, WE DO HAVE SOME THAT I, I, THAT I WILL APPROVE BECAUSE IT'S A, BECAUSE THERE IS A THING, THERE'S SOMETHING I'M TRYING TO GET TO.
WHEN WE'RE LOOKING AT, UM, ON PAGE 18, UH, WELL, NO, LET'S GO TO PAGE 17 WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT 7,700 UNITS THAT WILL EXPIRE.
DO WE KNOW WHERE THEY ARE? UH, WE DO.
AND, UM, HISTORICALLY A LOT OF THOSE UNITS HAVE BEEN IN THE SOUTHERN SECTOR.
AND SO, UM, BUT AS THOSE UNITS COME OFFLINE, THERE'S TWO CHOICES, RIGHT? YOU, YOU EITHER A DEVELOPER HAS COME IN TO CREATE A PARTNERSHIP TO REHAB THEM AND EXTEND THE LIFE OF THOSE AFFORDABLE UNITS.
SO THERE'S NO NEW UNITS BEING CREATED IN THE DISTRICT, UM, OR THEY EXPIRE.
AND THAT PROPERTY IS SOLD TO, IF THAT AREA IS READY FOR A HIGHER END MARKET, THOSE PROPERTIES ARE SOLD TO MARKET RATE DEVELOPERS AND YOU LOSE AFFORDABILITY IN THAT DISTRICT.
AND SO THE NOTION OF UNDERSTANDING, LIKE WHEN A PROJECT IS PROPOSED IN AN AREA, THE CURRENT UNDERSTANDING OF CONCENTRATION OF POVERTY AND WHAT MIGHT BE THERE REALLY COMES INTO PLAY.
CAUSE WE LOOK AT THAT CENSUS TRACK, YOU CAN ALSO LOOK AT, YOU KNOW, AREAS AROUND THAT CENSUS TRACK, BUT IT BECOMES MORE THAN JUST LOOKING AT, UH, ONE LAYER OF INFORMATION.
CAUSE IT MIGHT BE A PROJECT THAT IS PRESERVING THOSE UNITS BECAUSE YOU'RE GOING TO LOSE THEM.
IF YOU DON'T, IT MIGHT BE ADDING MORE TO AN AREA WHERE THEY CURRENTLY EXIST.
AND SO IT'S A VERY, YOU KNOW, CONCENTRATION OF POVERTY IS ONE THING THAT WE LOOK AT AND SCREEN FOR IN THESE APPLICATIONS IN A VERY INTENTIONAL WAY.
SO I KNOW WHEN YOU, ONE PLACE IN, IN PRESENT GROWTH THAT I DON'T, WE DON'T, IT'S FRUSTRATING BECAUSE IF I EXTEND IT, THEN I ALSO DENY MY OPPORTUNITY TO GET A TAX BASE.
IF I RENEW, IF I RENEW, IF I RENEW IT, THEN AGAIN, I'M LOSING A TAX BASE.
AND WHEN I SEE THEM COME IN AND ASK FOR A RENEWAL, IT'S NEVER AT 20 YEARS, NEVER AT 30 YEARS.
IT'S MORE LIKE PAST THE LIFETIME, 75 YEARS OF NO TAXES TO DO 30% OR 50% OF AMI.
IT'S JUST LEAVE IT IN BACON AND HELP SOMEBODY ELSE COME AND BUY THE PROPERTY, BULLDOZE IT DOWN AND BUILD SOMETHING BETTER.
BUT THEN YOU, YOU, THEN YOU START THE GENTRIFICATION PROCESS.
SO HOW DO WE STOP THE PROCESS OF HURTS IN COMMUNITIES THAT ARE ALREADY SUFFERING WHEN WE HAVE THIS TYPE OF DEVELOPMENT THAT ALREADY EXISTS AND WE NEED TO CHANGE THE, CHANGE THE WHOLE SYSTEM SO THAT INSTEAD, BECAUSE WHAT WE'RE DOING AND WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE WE'RE DOING AND WHAT IT FEELS LIKE WE'RE DOING.
AND WHAT I SEE THAT'S HAPPENING IN MY DISTRICT, EITHER YOU RENEW IT AND I CONTINUE TO LOSE THE TAX BASE AND I CONTINUE THE IMPOVERISHMENT NATURE OF THIS AREA, OR I LET IT EXPIRE AND I, AND, AND IT BECOMES A LOWER, IT COMES, IT BRINGS IN THE TYPE OF RESIDENT THAT HURTS THE COMMUNITY AND NOT HELPS THE COMMUNITY.
SO I WOULD LOVE TO SEE A PLAN THAT HELPS ME CHANGE THE, CHANGE THE DIRECTION OF WHAT MY, WHAT, WHAT IS TO WHAT IT NEEDS TO BE.
AND THAT MEANS, YES, YOU'VE GOT TO CLEAN UP HOMELESSNESS.
YOU'VE GOT TO CLEAN IT UP BEFORE YOU CAN BUILD IT UP.
IN ORDER TO BUILD IT UP, YOU HAVE TO UNDERSTAND WHAT'S THERE AND WHERE YOU'RE TRYING TO GET TO.
AND YOU, IN ORDER TO BUILD IT UP, YOU ALSO HAVE TO STOP.
AND YOU'RE GOING TO LOVE ME SAYING THIS, GIVING AWAY THE TAX BASE FOR, FOR A HUNDRED YEARS AND NEED TO BE ABLE TO PUT A, A, A, A, EITHER A SHORTER TIME PERIOD.
BECAUSE ESSENTIALLY WHAT WE'RE DOING IS GIVING EVERYTHING AWAY.
YOU CAN'T, AND I WOULD LOVE TO
[02:35:02]
SEE A HOUSING POLICY THAT DOESN'T STIMULATE GIVING EVERYTHING AWAY, ESPECIALLY IN IMPOVERISHED COMMUNITIES.LET'S, AND I'M GOING TO CHANGE BECAUSE I KNOW I JUST.
NO, I FEEL LIKE I JUST WANT YOU TO STOP THERE BECAUSE IT WAS SUCH A GOOD MIC DROP.
SO LET ME GO TO HOME REPAIR PROGRAMS. I KNOW WE HAVE THEM, BUT I, I, AGAIN, I SEE THAT THIS IS AN AREA THAT WE NEED TO REASSESS AND REGROW.
SO I, I HAVE, AND, AND, AND, OR THAT I HAVE A RESIDENT THAT IS ENTERING INTO THIS HOME REPAIR PROCESS.
IT'S A WONDERFUL OPPORTUNITY FOR THEM.
BUT OUT OF ALL THE PEOPLE IN THE DISTRICT, I SEE ONE.
THERE ARE HUNDREDS, NOT ONLY IN MY DISTRICT, BUT I WOULD SUSPECT ALL OVER THE CITY THAT WHEN WE ONLY SEE 20, MAYBE IN A YEAR, IF WE WANT TO FACILITATE THE GROWTH OF HOMEOWNERSHIP AND, AND THE ABILITY FOR PEOPLE TO STAY WHERE THEY ARE, WE NEED TO BE ABLE TO KNOW WHAT THESE PROGRAMS ARE, TRACK WHO'S REALLY GOING INTO THE PROGRAM.
ONE OF THE THINGS MY HOMEOWNERS ALWAYS SAY, THE PROGRAM IS TOO HARD.
AND IF YOU STUMBLE, YOU'VE GOT TO START ALL OVER AGAIN.
AND BY THE TIME YOU GET BACK TO THE TOP, THE MONEY IS GONE.
SO IS THERE A WAY FOR US IN YOUR, IN NUMBER TWO OF YOUR EIGHT PILLAR POLICY TO BEEF IT UP AND, OR UNDERSTAND IT BETTER, COMMUNICATE IT BETTER SO THAT THE SERVICES THAT WE NEED ARE GIVEN TO THOSE THAT ACTUALLY NEED IT? YEAH.
SO ONE THING THAT COUNCIL JUST VOTED ON WAS OUTSOURCING THE PROGRAM TO VOLUNTEERS OF AMERICA.
AND SO THROUGH ALL OF THE INTERNAL CHALLENGES OVER THE PAST COUPLE OF YEARS OF HAVING EIGHT, NINE DIFFERENT COMPETING PROGRAMS INTERNALLY, WE CONSOLIDATED ALL OF THEM INTO ONE PROGRAM AND OUTSOURCED IT.
SO RESULTS ARE TO BE DETERMINED AS THEY ARE GETTING STOOD UP NOW IN TERMS OF THEIR PERFORMANCE, BUT IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE'LL REPORT BACK TO YOU ON MORE FREQUENTLY BECAUSE IT IS A TOP PRIORITY.
THE ONE THING I WILL SAY IS THAT THE DEMAND OF OUR AGING HOUSING STOCK AND OUR POPULATION, OUR HOMEOWNERS CONTINUES TO GROW YEAR OVER YEAR.
AND THE AMOUNT OF RESOURCES AVAILABLE FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT REMAIN AT LEVEL, IF NOT POTENTIAL FOR A REDUCTION IN THAT TYPE OF PROGRAM.
THE THREE TIF DISTRICTS THAT HAVE ALLOWED SOME OPPORTUNITY FOR HOME REPAIR IN CERTAIN AREAS IS THE ONLY ADDITIONAL SOURCE OF REVENUE THAT WE HAVE TO FUND HOME REPAIR.
AND SO THE NEEDS CONTINUE TO OUTWEIGH THE RESOURCES AVAILABLE TO ADDRESS IT IN A SYSTEMIC WAY.
ONE OF THE THINGS I AM GOING TO OFFER TO YOU, I AM TRYING TO PUT TOGETHER A PROGRAM IN MY DISTRICT WHERE, BECAUSE I SEE A LOT OF PEOPLE IN MY DISTRICT WHO TRY TO GO THROUGH THE PROGRAM, AND WHAT THEY ARE ACTUALLY TRYING TO DO IS FIX THEIR GREAT-GRANDMOTHER'S HOUSE.
BECAUSE THEY DON'T OWN THEIR GREAT-GRANDMOTHER'S HOUSE AND SHE'S GONE, AND NO ONE FOLLOWS THE PROCESS IN ORDER TO, THEY DON'T HAVE, RIGHT, THEY DON'T HAVE TITLES.
AND I'M TRYING TO PUT TOGETHER, I'M WORKING ON PUTTING TOGETHER A PROGRAM TO ASSIST THOSE THAT HAVE THAT PROBLEM.
I WOULD LOVE FOR YOU TO WORK WITH ME THAT WHEN YOU SEE PEOPLE IN THIS PROGRAM WHO HAVE THOSE NEEDS TO WORK WITH, ESPECIALLY IF THEY'RE IN DISTRICT EIGHT.
IF THEY'RE IN DISTRICT EIGHT, LET ME KNOW.
AND I WILL WORK WITH THEM TO GET THEIR TITLE CLEANED UP SO WHEN THEY WANT TO, AND THEY NEED TO COME BACK THROUGH THE PROCESS, THEY CAN DO SO.
SO I WOULD LOVE FOR YOU TO WORK WITH ME IN ORDER TO HELP FACILITATE THAT.
BECAUSE IF I CAN SAY JUST ONE HOUSE, THEN THAT'S TWO HOUSES THAT'S GOING TO GET REPAIRED.
AND WE CAN CATCH YOU UP ON THE HISTORY OF OUR TANGLE TITLE PROGRAM AND THE CHALLENGES THERE.
AND THERE ARE SOME REALLY GREAT ORGANIZATIONS HERE LOCALLY THAT ARE TEAMING UP AROUND THIS ISSUE, AS WELL AS STATEWIDE.
AND SO LET'S MAKE SURE WE PUT YOU IN THE CONNECTION WITH THE ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE ALSO LEADING THIS WORK.
AND THAT GOES FOR EVERYONE ACROSS COUNCIL, BECAUSE IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT WORK THAT HAS TO BE DONE, NOT JUST TO APPLY FOR HOME REPAIR, BUT TO HAVE COMPLETE CONTROL OVER THE ASSET THAT THAT FAMILY OWNS, SO THAT THEY CAN CHOOSE TO LEVERAGE IT FOR LOANS.
THEY CAN CHOOSE TO LIVE IN IT AND REPAIR IT.
THEY HAVE LIFE CHOICES NOW WHEN THEY HAVE CLEAR AND PROPER
[02:40:01]
TITLE.BUT THROUGH MANY, MANY YEARS OF INFORMAL PROCESSES, THOSE TITLES ARE VERY CLOUDY AND HAVE MULTIPLE DIFFERENT CHALLENGES.
AND SOME PEOPLE, IT'S AS SIMPLE AS AFFIDAVIT OF AIRSHIPS, BECAUSE YOU KNOW ALL POTENTIAL HEIRS.
AND I'LL TELL YOU, THE MOST FAMILIES THAT GO THAT PROCESS, THOSE ARE EASY.
BUT THE PEOPLE THAT YOU'LL RUN INTO HAVE MUCH, MUCH MORE COMPLEX FAMILY SITUATIONS THAN WE LIKE.
AND IT BECOMES VERY, VERY DIFFICULT WHEN THERE'S DIVORCES AND SECOND MARRIAGES AND KIDS OF THOSE SECOND AND THIRD MARRIAGES.
IT BECOMES VERY, VERY HARD TO IDENTIFY PROPER HEIRS AND GET EVERYONE ON BOARD.
YES, PLEASE INTRODUCE ME, BECAUSE IF...
I DON'T HAVE TO REINVENT THE WHEEL.
I'M NOT GOING TO REINVENT THE WHEEL.
I DON'T HAVE A PROBLEM COPYING AND OR JOINING FORCES TO GET THE WORK DONE.
AND THANK YOU ALL FOR THIS PRESENTATION.
I THINK, FIRST OF ALL, I'LL JUST SAY I THINK THIS WAS SMART TO COMBINE THESE DEPARTMENTS, AND I LIKE THE DIRECTION THAT WE'RE GOING.
DON'T HAVE A LOT OF QUESTIONS.
I JUST HAVE, YOU MADE A COMMENT ABOUT KIND OF WHAT IS THE STRATEGY FOR DIFFERENT HOUSING STRATEGIES FOR THE DIFFERENT DISTRICTS AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
AND I WAS STUCK ON THIS, AND I AM.
AND JAMES, I KNOW EVEN BEFORE YOU CAME HERE, YOU WORKED ON THIS WHOLE, THIS CITYWIDE PRESERVATION STRATEGY, WHICH I AGREE WITH.
BUT I JUST WANT TO PROCEED WITH CAUTION WITH THAT WHEN WE TALK ABOUT PRESERVATION, PARTICULARLY WHEN WE'VE HAD A CITY THAT HAS HAD CONCENTRATED POVERTY IN CERTAIN AREAS.
SO FINDING THAT BALANCE BETWEEN PRESERVATION AND CONCENTRATED POVERTY MATTERS TO ME AND MY DISTRICT IN TERMS OF WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO ACCOMPLISH THERE.
AND HOW DO YOU MANAGE THAT? AND WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE? BECAUSE AS MANY OF MY COLLEAGUES HAVE ALREADY SAID, MOST OF EVERYTHING THAT WE GET COMING ACROSS OUR DESK IS SOME FORM OF LOW INCOME.
I REJECT IT BECAUSE THEY WANTED TO PUT LOW INCOME ON ESSENTIALLY A CLEAN SLATE NEAR MOUNTAIN CREEK WHERE THERE IS NO ROOM FOR GENTRIFICATION.
THERE'S ONLY OPPORTUNITY TO INCREASE THE TAX BASE IN TERMS OF THE DEVELOPMENT.
BUT SOMETIMES HOW WE FRAME AND SHAPE THESE PRESENTATIONS, WHICH BRINGS ME TO THE OTHER POINT, SUGGESTS IT JUST GIVES ALL OF THESE DEVELOPERS THIS FRAME OF MIND OF, OH, WHATEVER.
SO WE'RE JUST GOING TO PLACE IT EVERYWHERE.
AND THEY'RE NOT CONSIDERING ANY REAL STRATEGY FOR THE FULL DEVELOPMENT OF THIS CITY.
AND THAT'S THE PART THAT IS INCREASINGLY FRUSTRATING.
SO I'M SAYING ALL THAT TO SAY, WHEN WE TALK ABOUT PRESERVATION, LET'S ALSO KEEP IN MIND THAT THIS CITY WAS BUILT ON A CONCENTRATION OF POVERTY.
SO THAT'S THE PART THAT, SO AS WE'RE SHIFTING, I DON'T WANT TO BE MADE TO FEEL LIKE SOME BAD GUY OR NIMBY BECAUSE I DON'T WANT ANY MORE LOW INCOME IN MY DISTRICT UNTIL WE'VE COME UP WITH A PLAN FOR THE EXISTING LOW INCOME.
WHICH BRINGS ME TO ANOTHER SUGGESTION.
THIS IS, I HAVE A LOT OF THESE BOXY APARTMENTS AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
AND I'VE HAD THESE CONVERSATIONS WITH SOME OF THE STAFF IN TERMS OF HOW CAN WE CONVERT SOME OF THESE TO CONDOS.
I'VE HAD THIS CONVERSATION ABOUT, WELL, THE PLUMBING AND THIS, THAT, AND THE OTHER AND ALL OF THESE DIFFERENT THINGS.
AND AGAIN, IF WE KEEP BRAGGING ABOUT BEING THE NINTH LARGEST CITY, LET'S START THINKING ABOUT IT AND FIGURING OUT HOW WE CAN FIGURE THIS OUT.
I DON'T WANT ANY MORE LOW INCOME IN MY DISTRICT BECAUSE I GOT A BUNCH OF CRAP PROPERTIES.
JUST BEING HONEST, I GOT A BUNCH OF CRAP PROPERTY IN MY DISTRICT RIGHT NOW THAT'S LOW INCOME OR NATURALLY OCCURRING LOW INCOME.
AND THE ONLY THING WE EVER SEEM TO GET IS MORE LOW INCOME APARTMENTS AND NO NEW INCOME.
SO FOR ME, MY STRATEGY IS HOW CAN WE COME UP WITH A PLAN TO CONVERT SOME OF THOSE LOW INCOMES TO CONDOS FOR SALE SO THAT WE CAN MAKE ROOM AND POTENTIALLY ADDRESS BOTH THIS NUMBER OF 50% OR WHATEVER IT IS, 40,000 SHORTAGE VERSUS A 40,000 RENTERS THAT DON'T HAVE, IT'S A CONFLICTING INTEREST, IT SEEMS LIKE, THESE NUMBERS.
AND I WANT US TO BE MORE STRATEGIC AS WE'RE COMBINING AND MOVING FORWARD AND BEING CONSIDERATE SPECIFICALLY ABOUT THE GEOGRAPHY AND THE DEMOGRAPHICS OF WHERE WE ARE.
AND I'M NOT TALKING BLACK AND WHITE, I'M TALKING ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY VERSUS JUST, OH, WELL, WE GOT TO ADDRESS THIS HOUSING CRISIS, SO LET'S PUT A LOW INCOME OVER HERE.
YOU HAVE TO, BECAUSE WE GOT TO ADDRESS THIS.
SO I SAID A LOT, BUT I WANT YOU TO REALLY JUST KIND OF PAUSE AND HEAR WHAT I WAS SAYING IN TERMS OF THE STRATEGY FOR DISTRICT 3.
WE HAVE A LOT OF OPPORTUNITIES, A LOT OF DIVERSE SPACES IN OUR AREAS.
AND THEN WE HAVE CLEAN SLATES THAT ARE ALREADY BUILDING HIGH INCOME HOMES, AND IT'S ONLY GOING TO GET BETTER
[02:45:01]
FOR THAT PARTICULAR AREA.SO I'M GOING TO STOP AND GIVE YOU AN OPPORTUNITY TO RESPOND.
I MEAN, THAT'S A WHOLE SEMESTER'S WORTH OF THESIS TO UNPACK.
YOU DID THAT IN A VERY SHORT TWO MINUTES.
I MAKE JOKES, BUT REALLY, I MEAN, THAT'S THE HEART, RIGHT? BECAUSE WE TAKE A CITYWIDE LOOK AT HOUSING, WHAT WE INHERIT FROM THE PAST, WHAT THE CURRENT OPPORTUNITIES ARE.
WHAT COME ACROSS YOUR DESK ARE THE THINGS THAT NEED CITY COUNCIL APPROVAL TO APPLY FOR A STATE PROGRAM.
THEY ARE APPLYING FOR AN INCENTIVE OR GAP FUNDING IN ORDER TO PRODUCE.
WHAT DOESN'T COME ACROSS YOUR DESK ARE ALL THE DEVELOPMENTS THAT JUST NATURALLY HAPPEN, UNLESS THERE'S A ZONING CHANGE, RIGHT? THEY NEED SOMETHING FROM YOU IN ORDER TO GO BUILD IT.
WHAT WE CAN WORK ON IS UNDERSTANDING WITH OUR FRIENDS AND PLANNING IS LIKE ALL OF THAT ACTIVITY AND WHAT'S BEING PLANNED, BECAUSE WE HAVE TO LOOK AT OUR CENSUS TRACTS A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENTLY.
YOU KNOW, WE DO ALL OF OUR LOOK AT A POINT IN TIME.
WHAT IS THAT CENSUS TRACT TODAY? BECAUSE THAT IS FUNDAMENTALLY WHAT WE HAVE TO REVIEW ON.
BUT THERE'S NOTHING THAT PROHIBITS US FROM LOOKING AT THE TREND OVER THE LAST FIVE YEARS.
IS THAT CENSUS TRACT GOING UP IN POVERTY, DOWN IN POVERTY, REMAINING CONSISTENT? BECAUSE AS A CENSUS TRACT IS WHERE WE MAKE OUR DECISIONS, AND THEN IF WE LOOK AT THE SURROUNDING CENSUS TRACTS, WE MIGHT BE ABLE TO UNDERSTAND A MORE COMPLEX STORY ABOUT WHAT THAT AREA IS DOING, WHAT ARE OUR FRIENDS IN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DOING TO ALSO BRING THE JOBS AND THE BUSINESSES AND THE OTHER ACTIVITY THAT SUPPORTS HEALTHY COMMUNITIES, SO THAT WHEN A PROJECT DOES COME THAT'S AFFORDABLE HOUSING, THAT'S RENTER OR HOMEOWNERSHIP, THERE ARE MORE PIECES TO THE STORY.
AND THAT'S WHAT OUR FAIR HOUSING ASSESSMENTS LOOK AT, JOBS AND CRIME AND ACCESS TO TRANSIT AND ALL OF THOSE DIFFERENT THINGS TO SAY, THIS PROJECT COULD HELP SUPPORT THIS.
BECAUSE WE DO NEED TO LOOK AT THE ONES THAT ARE EXPIRING AND WHERE DOES THAT POPULATION THAT ARE LIVING THERE GO IF THEY EXPIRE AND THEN THEY'RE EVICTED BECAUSE THAT PROPERTY CLOSES DOWN? WHERE DOES THAT POPULATION GO? CAN WE RETAIN THEM IN THE CITY? WE KNOW WE GOT A SHORTAGE OF THOSE UNITS THAT ARE AVAILABLE.
SO ARE THEY GOING TO LEAVE YOUR DISTRICT? YOU KNOW, THE NOTION THAT THERE ARE AGING PROPERTIES THAT HAVE ISSUES.
YOU KNOW, WHAT ARE WE DOING WITH CODE AND DPD TO ENFORCE THOSE ISSUES? THE NEW PROJECTS THAT COME UP, THE PROPERTY MANAGEMENT STANDARDS AND THE ENFORCEMENT OVERSIGHT FROM THE STATE AND FROM US HAVE BECOME MORE COMPLEX.
SO WE KNOW THAT NEWER DEVELOPMENTS DON'T HAVE THE SAME HISTORY CURRENTLY BECAUSE OF THE LEVEL OF MONITORING AND OVERSIGHT WITH THEM.
SO ALL THAT TO SAY IS, YES, WE NEED TO UNDERSTAND WHAT'S HAPPENING IN LOCAL AREAS, BUT WE ALSO HAVE TO CONTINUE TO REALIZE THE HOUSING STOCK THAT WE HAVE AS A CITY OF DALLAS HAS TO CONTINUE TO BE TAKEN INTO CONSIDERATION.
IT DOESN'T MEAN THAT THAT'S MORE IN JUST YOUR DISTRICT OR IN THE SOUTHERN SECTOR, BUT WE DO HAVE TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE HOUSING STOCK THAT WE HAVE RIGHT NOW, WHAT'S AGING, WHAT NEEDS PRESERVED, WHAT HAS DEED RESTRICTED, WHAT'S OPPORTUNITIES FOR NEW, AND JUST HAVE A MORE UNDERSTANDING.
BUT THE PURVIEW OF OUR OFFICE IS AFFORDABLE HOUSING FOR THAT SPECTRUM.
AND SO EVERYTHING OUTSIDE OF THAT IS THE MARKET FORCES THAT WE'RE TRYING TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE INVESTMENT IN THIS SPACE TO ENSURE THAT THERE ARE SPACES FOR OUR LOW-INCOME POPULATIONS TO RENT OR OWN IN THE CITY OF DALLAS.
AND AGAIN, I APPRECIATE THE WORK.
AGAIN, I JUST WANT US TO BE THOUGHTFUL ABOUT THIS.
AND AGAIN, UNDERSTANDING THAT THIS IS A CITYWIDE THING THAT WE HAVE TO ADDRESS.
I DON'T WANT TO PRETEND LIKE THE CITYWIDE CONCENTRATION DIDN'T HAPPEN EITHER AS WE MOVE THROUGH THIS.
SO I DON'T WANT TO BE HAVING A LOT OF THESE DIFFERENT CONVERSATIONS WITH MY COLLEAGUES SOMETIMES ABOUT WHAT'S BEST FOR THE AREA WHEN WE HAVE A STRATEGY.
AGAIN, I'VE BEEN FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO APPROVE SEVERAL LOW-INCOME FOR SENIORS BECAUSE THAT WAS MY STRATEGY.
WE HAVE A LOT OF SENIORS THAT ARE AGING OUT TO YOUR CONVERSATION.
THEY WANT TO BE ABLE TO AGE IN A PLACE.
AND THIS CAME FROM ME TRYING TO FIND A PLACE FOR MY MOM.
SO NOW WE HAVE SEVERAL, AT LEAST, I THINK I'M UP TO ABOUT SIX AT LEAST, SPREAD THROUGHOUT THE DISTRICT SO THAT THE SENIORS CAN AGE OUT OF THEIR HOME BUT STILL REMAIN IN THE COMMUNITIES THAT THEY LOVE.
SO THAT'S ONE OF MY STRATEGIES IS TO CONTINUE TO PROVIDE HOUSING, AFFORDABLE HOUSING FOR SENIORS SO THAT THESE OTHER SINGLE-FAMILY HOMES COME AVAILABLE.
THEN THE OTHER PIECE IS, I THINK I JUST, I HAVE A LITTLE OVER A THOUSAND VACANT PROPERTIES THAT ARE ALREADY, ALREADY ZONED FOR A SINGLE-FAMILY HOME DEVELOPMENT.
AND HOW CAN WE THEN, AGAIN, WHEN YOU THINK OF, AGAIN, 50%, ONLY 42,000 RENTERS NEED TO TRANSITION TO HOUSEHOLDS AND 40,000, YOU KNOW, SHORTAGE OF WHATEVER THE CASE MAY BE, THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY WHERE I HAVE THIS, WHAT KIND OF PROGRAM, WHAT KIND OF FUNDING IS AVAILABLE SO THAT WE CAN GET HOMES BUILT ON THOSE LOTS? I MEAN, WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT, YOU KNOW, THE LOOK AND THE STRATEGY AND ALL THAT STUFF DOWN THE ROAD.
BUT I KNOW THE LANDSCAPE AND THE OPPORTUNITY TO ADDRESS THIS STATISTICS FOR DISTRICT 3, I JUST NEED TO KNOW THAT THERE ARE PROGRAMS AND THERE ARE THINGS THAT ARE ALIGNED AND THEN THERE AREN'T OTHER, FOR THE SAKE OF PRESERVATION, THERE AREN'T OTHER CONFLICTING PILLARS
[02:50:01]
BECAUSE FOR THE SAKE OF TRYING TO APPLY TO A CITY-WIDE THING TO ADDRESS, IF THAT MAKES SENSE.IT MAKES PERFECT SENSE AND IT HELPS ME UNDERSTAND THE CLARITY I CAN BRING WITH THE GOALS AND DATA THAT WE'RE TRYING TO ACCOMPLISH THROUGH THESE PILLARS FOR FUTURE CONSIDERATIONS.
I TRULY APPRECIATE EVERYBODY'S FORTHRIGHT COMMENTS AND ATTENTION TO THIS.
THIS IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT FOR OUR CITY.
I WANT TO TURN IT OVER TO COUNCILMEMBER JOHNSON, WHO, YOU KNOW, ISN'T EVEN A MEMBER OF THE COMMITTEE, AND THANK YOU FOR BEING PART OF THIS.
THANK YOU, GENERAL MILLISON, FOR ALLOWING US TO SPEAK AND PARTICIPATE HERE.
I'M NOT GOING TO REPEAT EVERYTHING THAT COUNCILMAN GRACIE SAID BECAUSE I THINK HE WAS VERY ARTICULATE WITH WHAT HIS COMMENTS WERE.
I WOULD LIKE TO SAY IT IN THIS WAY.
REAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IS WHAT IS NEEDED.
I DON'T TALK TO DEVELOPERS MUCH.
I'M VERY CAUTIOUS WHEN I TALK TO DEVELOPERS BASED OFF THE HISTORY OF THIS CITY.
SO I'M VERY, VERY CAUTIOUS IN MY APPROACH, RIGHT? SO YOU MAY HEAR THAT BECAUSE I REALLY DON'T.
BUT ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I AM PUSHING FOR, AND MAYBE YOU CAN HELP ME WITH THIS AND HELP HELP ME GET A PATHWAY FOR THIS, I KNOW I SPOKE WITH MR. ARMSTRONG ABOUT THIS, MAKING SURE THAT WE HAVE REAL HOUSING, THAT OUR TEACHERS, OUR EDUCATORS, AND OUR POLICE OFFICERS AND FIREFIGHTERS CAN LIVE WHERE THEY SERVE.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT FRUSTRATES ME THE MOST IS WE'RE EITHER TOO HIGH OR TOO LOW.
AGAIN, BASED OFF WHAT COUNCILMAN GRACIE SAID, I WAS PRESENTED AT AN EVENT, SO I THOUGHT I WAS GOING TO GET EXCITED ABOUT MORE LOW-INCOME APARTMENTS AND ALL THIS STUFF.
AND IT BRINGS CRIME IN CERTAIN AREAS AND MORE BLIGHT TO CERTAIN PARTS OF DISTRICT 4.
I'VE HEARD COUNCILWOMAN BLAIR SAY THE SAME THING.
AND SO WHAT CAN WE REALLY DO TO BRING THOSE RESOURCES? AND I DON'T KNOW WHO WANTS TO TAKE THIS QUESTION, BUT WE NEED REAL ANSWER TO HELP, THAT I CAN BRING A SOLUTION TO THE EDUCATORS.
I'M A SCHOOL BOARD TRUSTEE, A FORMER EDUCATOR MYSELF.
AND I WANT THE EDUCATORS, THE FIREFIGHTERS AND THE POLICE OFFICERS, THEY'RE ABLE TO LIVE IN THE COMMUNITIES THAT THEY SERVE IN WITHOUT HAVING TO PAY $500,000, $600,000 FOR HOME.
AND THAT'S THE ONLY THING I'M SEEING.
AND SO WHEN I DO TALK TO THOSE DEVELOPERS, WHEN I DO, WHICH IS VERY RARE, THAT'S MY ACHILLES HEEL, IF I CAN SAY IT LIKE THAT, WHICH I'M NOT REALLY EXCITED ABOUT SEEING YESTERDAY.
SO CAN YOU GIVE ME A SOLUTION TO THAT? AND THE SECOND PART IS, I THINK YOU SAID VOLUNTEER OF AMERICA, WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT HOME REPAIR, THAT INFORMATION AS WELL.
SO I CAN HELP MY SENIOR CITIZENS IN MY COMMUNITY AND HELP DIRECT THEM SO THEY CAN GET THEIR HOME REPAIRS DONE AS WELL.
LET'S START WITH THE FIRST QUESTION AROUND FIRST RESPONDERS.
YOU KNOW, THERE'S REALLY NO PROGRAMS THAT ARE INTENDED TO BUILD HOUSES THAT RESTRICT YOU AROUND YOUR PROFESSION.
THERE CAN BE MARKETING STRATEGIES AROUND IT.
BUT WE DO HAVE OUR DALLAS HOME BUYER ASSISTANCE PROGRAM, WHICH HAS MONEY IN YOUR DISTRICT FROM ONE OF THE TIF FUNDS, FROM OAK CLIFF FUND, RESERVED FOR DOWN PAYMENT ASSISTANCE.
AND ONE OF THOSE PROGRAMS IS TARGETED TO FIRST RESPONDERS, POLICE OFFICERS, FIREFIGHTERS THAT EXIST NOW.
AND SO AS WE IDENTIFY HOMEOWNERSHIP OPPORTUNITIES, HOMES ON THE MARKET OR NEW DEVELOPMENTS, IT'S AS SIMPLE AS MAKING SURE THAT WE'RE CONNECTING TO A PIPELINE OF POTENTIAL BUYERS OR THE FIREMEN AND POLICE OFFICERS THAT WANT TO CALL DISTRICT FOR HOME AND MAKING SURE THEY KNOW HOW TO APPLY FOR THAT ASSISTANCE.
ONE OF THE UPCOMING AGENDA ITEMS IS WE'RE OUTSOURCING THAT PROGRAM AS WELL.
IT'S PENDING APPROVAL OF CITY COUNCIL.
BUT IT'S ABOUT IMPROVING THE COORDINATION OF THAT PROGRAM AND THE TIMELINE IT TAKES TO GO THROUGH THAT.
BUT WE CAN NOT ONLY ENSURE THAT YOU HAVE THAT INFORMATION, AS WE HAVE OUR COMMUNITY MEETINGS WITH YOU AND YOUR RESIDENTS BRING THAT INFORMATION FORWARD.
AND WITH VOLUNTEERS OF AMERICA, THEY'VE ALREADY COMMITTED TO DOING MORE COMMUNITY OUTREACH, TO DOING PREP SESSIONS AROUND HOW TO APPLY, WHEN TO APPLY, GETTING THEIR SUPPORTING DOCUMENTATION IN ORDER TO MAKE THAT AS EASY AS POSSIBLE.
AND SO, AS WE HAVE THOSE COME UP, I WILL REACH OUT TO YOUR OFFICE, ALL OF YOUR OFFICES INDIVIDUALLY TO ENSURE THAT THERE'S COORDINATION EVENTS IN ALL OF YOUR DISTRICTS.
IS THERE A WAY THAT WE CAN CREATE THOSE PROGRAMS FOR OUR FIRST RESPONDERS AND EDUCATORS? IS THERE SOMETHING THAT PREVENT US FROM DOING THAT? WE HAVE NOT THOUGHT ABOUT IT OR HAVE WE THOUGHT ABOUT IT? WE JUST DIDN'T KNOW HOW TO GO FORWARD WITH IT.
BECAUSE I WOULD LIKE TO IMPLEMENT THAT PROGRAM, IF I HAVE TO BE THE INITIATOR OF IT AND BRING MORE PEOPLE TO THE TABLE TO SUPPORT THAT,
[02:55:01]
I WOULD LIKE TO DO THAT FOR OUR EDUCATORS BECAUSE I'M JUST, EVERYONE IS NOT GOING TO LIVE WITH NO $500,000 HOME OR $400,000.SOME PEOPLE DO NOT WANT TO EVEN DO THAT.
BUT MY AVERAGE TEACHER IS $65,000 TO $70,000, RIGHT? CAN WE CREATE A PROGRAM TO SUPPORT THAT? MAYBE WITH THE PFC OR SOMETHING, BUT CAN WE CREATE A PROGRAM TO SUPPORT THAT? THANK YOU FOR THAT QUESTION AND COMMENT.
WE CAN DEFINITELY CONSIDER AND DISCUSS INTERNALLY.
I WILL SAY THAT I'VE BEEN HAVING CONVERSATIONS WITH THE ISD IN THEIR UPCOMING BOND ELECTION THAT THEY'LL BE PUTTING MONEY AND INVESTMENTS TOWARDS TEACHER HOUSING.
AND SO OUR ROLE IN THAT CASE WOULD BE HOW CAN WE UTILIZE THE FUNDING THAT WE HAVE AVAILABLE TO INVEST IN THOSE PROJECTS AND PARTNER AND SUPPORT IN LINE WITH OUR OVERALL DRIVER'S OPPORTUNITY FRAMEWORK.
THAT'S SORT OF OUR LANE IS HOW CAN WE SUPPORT THEIR EFFORTS WITH ADDITIONAL INVESTMENT.
WHAT'S THE REAL NUMBER FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING? BECAUSE WHEN WE SAY AFFORDABLE HOUSING, IF I SAY THAT IN MY COMMUNITY, THEY'RE GOING TO SAY AFFORDABLE HOUSING IS A HOUSE THAT I CAN AFFORD.
SOME PROBABLY SAY $250,000 AND UP.
SO WHAT IS THE REAL NUMBER WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT AFFORDABLE HOUSING? SO AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN THIS SPACE, AND WE REALLY JUST LOOK AT THE POPULATION UNDER 100% OF AMI.
IT'S WHAT 30% OF THEIR INCOME GOES TO FOR HOUSING COSTS.
THAT IS THE DEFINITION OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
30% OF A PERSON'S INCOME IS DEDICATED TO THAT.
HUD PUTS OUT FAIR MARKET RATES EVERY YEAR BASED UPON THE DIFFERENT AMI.
IF YOU'RE AT 80%, 60%, 50%, WHAT 30% OF YOUR INCOME IS AND WHAT YOU CAN AFFORD.
AND THEN ALL OF OUR DEVELOPMENTS THAT RECEIVE CITY INCENTIVES OR PFC OR HFC, THEY ALIGN TO THOSE HUD STANDARDS TO SET THOSE RESERVED AMI UNITS TO BE NO MORE THAN 30% OF THAT PERSON'S INCOME.
THAT UNIT CAN SELL FOR UP TO THAT AMOUNT.
NOW, HOUSING THAT'S AFFORDABLE TO A PERSON IS RELATIVE BASED UPON THEIR INCOME.
AND SO AS PEOPLE EARN MORE MONEY OVER THAT 100% THRESHOLD, 100%, 200%, 300%, THAT CONVERSATION SHIFTS VERY, VERY QUICKLY.
BUT WHEN WE TALK ABOUT AFFORDABLE HOUSING, IT'S FOR A PERSON UNDER 100% AMI AT 30% OF THEIR INCOME.
ARE WE BUILDING HOUSES OR CAN A HOUSE BE BUILT FOR AN EDUCATOR THAT'S MAKING $70,000 AND A POLICE OFFICER OR A FIREFIGHTER? YEAH, THAT'S WHERE THE HOMES THAT ARE BUILDING FOR HOMEOWNERSHIP ALL FIT THAT CRITERIA.
IN FACT, A PROJECT WILL BREAK GROUND HERE VERY SOON ON LANCASTER.
ACROSS FROM THE VA, THERE'S A HOMEOWNERSHIP COMPONENT OF THOSE AND THOSE HOMES WILL BE RESERVED FOR FAMILIES UNDER THOSE THRESHOLDS.
I NEED TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT THAT BECAUSE I THINK WE'RE WORKING ON SOMETHING TOTALLY DIFFERENT.
OH, IT'S NOT THE PROPERTY RIGHT ACROSS.
THIS IS A PROJECT ALREADY CLOSED AND GETTING READY TO MOVE INTO CONSTRUCTION.
THAT SITE, THAT BIG PARCEL RIGHT ACROSS FROM THE VA, I'D LOVE TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT YOUR VISION FOR THAT.
WORKING WITH KEVIN SPECK FOR THAT RIGHT NOW.
SO I'M GOING TO START OFF BY SAYING WE WILL HAVE A BRIEFING WITH DALLAS HOUSING AUTHORITY AT SOME POINT.
I THINK WE'VE HAD SOME VERY, VERY INTERESTING COMMENTS OPENLY SHARING SORT OF A VISION FOR DALLAS AND AS WELL AS SPECIFIC DISTRICTS.
AND I THINK SOME VERY IMPORTANT THINGS WERE SAID.
AND AS WE TALK ABOUT TEACHERS AND POLICE AND FIREFIGHTERS AND WANTING TO HAVE THEM IN OUR DISTRICTS, TEACHERS' DISD STARTING SALARY IS $65,000 FOR A TEACHER PLUS STIPENDS UP TO $9,000.
FOR OUR POLICE AND FIRE, WE KNOW STARTING SALARY IS $85,000, BUT MOST OF THEM ARE EARNING $100,000.
AND SO THIS IS NOT THE LOW-INCOME POPULATION, REALLY, THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT.
BUT IT IS HOW WE LIKE TO TALK ABOUT IT TO OUR COMMUNITIES BECAUSE THIS IS NOT SCARY.
AND WHEN WE TALK ABOUT SENIORS, SENIORS AREN'T SCARY.
BUT WHEN WE TALK ABOUT AFFORDABLE HOUSING, THERE IS THIS ELEMENT BECAUSE THE NUMBER ONE LOCATION OF CRIME IN OUR CITY IS APARTMENTS.
AND IT'S LOW-INCOME APARTMENTS.
AND WHILE I CAN'T DO IT FOR EVERY DISTRICT, I KNOW WHEN I LOOK AT MINE AND I LOOK AT MY HEAT MAP OF CRIME, IT 100% OVERLAYS WITH MY LOW-INCOME APARTMENTS.
AND SO THAT'S THE ISSUE IN GETTING A HANDLE ON CRIME, WHICH IS GETTING BETTER.
BUT MAKING SURE THAT THE APARTMENT MANAGERS ARE ENFORCING WHAT NEEDS TO BE ENFORCED, INCLUDING EVICTING PEOPLE WHO ARE CAUSING PROBLEMS, IS ESSENTIAL TO THE ACCEPTANCE OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING, WHICH IS NECESSARY IN EVERY PART OF OUR CITY.
[03:00:03]
ANYONE HERE WHO HAS NOT SAID, WE NEED MORE AFFORDABLE HOUSING.BUT YOU'RE ALSO HEARING A PUSHBACK ON, WOW, I FEEL LIKE ALL OF IT IS COMING TO MY DISTRICT.
THERE ARE SOME REALITIES ABOUT HOW OUR CITY IS BUILT OUT, THOUGH.
THERE IS NO LAND AVAILABLE IN MY DISTRICT.
AND ALL OF THE ZONING CASES WERE FOR DISTRICT 12.
NOW THERE'S NO ZONING CASES FOR DISTRICT 12 BECAUSE THERE'S NO LAND.
SO THEY'RE GOING TO THE PLACES WHERE THERE'S LAND.
AND SO THE IDEA THAT WE NEED TO EQUALLY ADD PROJECTS ACROSS THE DISTRICTS DOESN'T MAKE SENSE BECAUSE WE DIDN'T DEVELOP IN THAT SAME MANNER.
WHEN WE TALK ABOUT USING TAX DOLLARS, TO ME IT'S ESSENTIAL THAT WE'RE USING THEM FOR THE PUBLIC GOOD.
AND WE CAN'T SUBSIDIZE PEOPLE WHO ARE MAKING WHAT IS THE AREA MEDIAN INCOME.
BECAUSE YOU'RE LITERALLY THEN TAKING TAX DOLLARS FROM PEOPLE WHO ARE BELOW THE AREA MEDIAN INCOME AND GIVING IT TO PEOPLE WHO ARE MORE THAN THEM.
SO IT'S LIKE WHEN WE SUBSIDIZE HOUSING USING TAX DOLLARS OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE A BROKEN FORMICA KITCHEN COUNTERTOP SO THAT WE CAN SUBSIDIZE AFFORDABLE HOUSING WITH GRANITE COUNTERTOPS.
I THINK THE PUBLIC GOOD IS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE HOUSING FOR PEOPLE AT ALL THE RANGES, BUT WE DON'T HAVE TO INCENTIVIZE THE HIGHER RANGES.
THEY'RE MAKING MONEY IN THAT SPACE.
SO TO ME, IT'S ESSENTIAL THAT WE CONCENTRATE OUR FUNDING ON THE 60% AND LOWER, BUT NOT DUMP IT ALL IN ONE PLACE.
AND I HEAR YOU AND I AGREE WITH YOU.
AND SO I THINK THAT JUST HAS TO BE A FOUNDATIONAL CONSIDERATION.
I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S THE PILLAR.
YOU HAVE IT AS CITYWIDE PRODUCTION.
I KNOW WHY YOU'RE SAYING CITYWIDE, BUT HOW ARE YOU DOING CITYWIDE PRODUCTION IN PLACES THAT ARE FULLY OR MOSTLY BUILT OUT? IT DOESN'T MAKE SENSE.
AND WHILE THERE IS A NARRATIVE OF NORTH AND SOUTH, IT'S JUST A REALITY THAT THE NORTH BUILT OUT FAST AND THE SOUTH IS COMING SLOWLY AND WE NEED TO HELP THE SOUTH, NOT DUMP ON THE SOUTH.
SO I WOULD PUSH BACK ON THIS 80% AMI AND SAY, FOR ME, I'M VERY FOCUSED ON THE 60% AND LOWER BECAUSE THOSE TAX DOLLARS ARE PRECIOUS AND THEY NEED TO BE ACCOMPLISHING SOMETHING IMPORTANT FOR OUR CITY.
THE SECOND THING IS CITYWIDE PRESERVATION.
I WOULD SAY FOR THAT, IT'S CITYWIDE PRESERVATION OF SINGLE FAMILY HOUSING.
IT IS NOT NECESSARILY CITYWIDE PRESERVATION OF EXTREMELY OLD, POORLY MAINTAINED, CRIME-RIDDEN MULTIFAMILY.
AND WHAT WE KEEP DOING IS DUMPING A LOT OF TAX INCENTIVES AND SOMETIMES DOLLARS INTO PRESERVING THESE THAT ARE ALREADY A PROBLEM IN OUR COMMUNITY.
AND WHILE THEY DO GET FIXED UP TO SOME DEGREE, THEY CONTINUE TO BE A PROBLEM IN OUR COMMUNITY.
SO IF WE CHANGE THAT STRATEGY AND SAID, YOU KNOW, THIS IS JUST GOING TO RIDE OUT ITS LIFE AND THEN IT'S GOING TO GO AWAY AND BE REDEVELOPED INTO SOMETHING NEW, WHETHER IT'S MARKET RATE OR IT'S SUBSIDIZED, GUESS WHAT? WE CAN PUT NEW PROJECTS IN.
AND SUDDENLY YOU'RE LOOKING AT A MUCH NEWER HOUSING STOCK INSTEAD OF PRESERVING SOMETHING THAT'S ALREADY BEEN A DETRIMENT IN ITS COMMUNITY.
SO THIS STRATEGY TO PRESERVE EXISTING AFFORDABLE, INCLUDING DEED-RESTRICTED AND AT-RISK NATURALLY OCCURRING AFFORDABLE HOUSING, AGAIN, I SAY YEAH, BUT FOR SINGLE FAMILIES BECAUSE IT'S OUR NEIGHBORHOODS THAT ARE AT RISK RIGHT NOW.
AND MULTIFAMILY, THAT SEEMS TO BE GOING.
THE NEXT THING I WANT TO ADD ON FOR IS THE HOUSING SERVICES AND PROGRAMS, A CATALOG OF EXISTING PROGRAMS AND SERVICES, AND IT CONTINUES ON.
I SAY, NO, WE NEED ADDITIONAL OPTIONS.
AND IT'S WHY I'VE HAD A LOT OF DIFFERENT PEOPLE COME TALK.
WE DON'T EVEN HAVE A SINGLE ROOM OCCUPANCY HOUSING DEVELOPMENT IN OUR ENTIRE CITY.
WE'VE GOT TO START ADDING IN WAYS FOR PEOPLE TO LIVE AFFORDABLY AT MARKET RATE IN A WAY THAT PROVIDES DIGNITY.
SO WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT SOMEBODY WHO'S VERY LOW INCOME AND THEY CAN'T LIVE WITH DIGNITY BECAUSE MAYBE THEY'RE MAKING $40,000 A YEAR, WELL, MAYBE THEY AREN'T MEANT TO LIVE IN A SINGLE FAMILY HOME OR A SINGLE TWO-BEDROOM APARTMENT AT THAT RATE.
SO WHETHER IT'S A YOUNG PERSON WHO'S STARTING OUT, WHICH I'M JUST GOING TO TELL YOU, 30% INCOME FOR YOUR HOUSING, WHEN YOU'RE YOUNG, I DON'T THINK ANYBODY DOES THAT.
[03:05:01]
WE USED TO SPEND MUCH MORE THAN 30% OF OUR INCOME WHEN WE STARTED OUT.AND NOW IT'S NOT EVEN ANYTHING LIKE THAT.
IT'S, YOU KNOW, I SPEND A LOT LESS.
SO THAT NUMBER IS A GUIDELINE, BUT IT'S A FLEXIBLE GUIDELINE.
AND MOST PEOPLE WHO ARE VERY LOW INCOME ARE GOING TO SPEND MORE THAN 30%.
AND THIS IDEA THAT WE HAVE TO SUBSIDIZE TO THAT LEVEL IS REALLY OVER THE TOP.
WE NEED TO HELP THEM GROW THEIR INCOME.
AND WE NEED TO PROVIDE THAT SAFETY NET BECAUSE THEY PROBABLY DON'T HAVE A LOT IN SAVINGS BECAUSE THEY'RE PUTTING IT ALL IN THERE.
BUT THEY NEED TO KEEP PROGRESSING.
AND THAT'S HOW YOU PROVIDE THAT STABILITY.
SO NEW OPTIONS NEEDED FOR BOTH HOUSING AND HOMELESSNESS.
WE'VE HAD SO MANY DIFFERENT CONVERSATIONS ABOUT TINY HOME VILLAGES.
WELL, IMAGINE THE SENIOR BEING ABLE TO HAVE THEIR OWN LOCATION WITH A DOOR THAT LOCKS WITH COMMUNITY BECAUSE THEY'RE LONELY.
AND THEY DON'T HAVE TO HAVE A BIG OLD HOUSE ANYMORE.
KIDS ARE GROWN AND OUT, RIGHT? SO I WOULD LIKE YOU TO MAKE SURE YOU INCLUDE THAT.
FAIR HOUSING, THERE IS AN INTERESTING DISCUSSION.
I WILL SAY I'M A LITTLE BIT TAKEN BACK OVER THE SIX AND A HALF YEARS IN THERE.
I'M NOT AWARE OF ANY LEGAL JUDGMENTS THAT WE'VE RECEIVED, WHICH I THINK IS UNUSUAL.
I'M LOOKING FOR MORE INVESTIGATIONS.
I MEAN, HOW MANY INVESTIGATIONS HAVE YOU HAD IN THE PAST YEAR? THANK YOU FOR THAT QUESTION.
I DON'T HAVE THE EXACT NUMBER, BUT ESTIMATING OVER THE PAST YEAR, THAT NUMBER SHOULD BE UPWARDS OF 50, BETWEEN 50 AND 100.
AND HOW MANY HAVE YOU SETTLED FOR MONEY? THAT'S OKAY, COREY.
CHAIR, IF IT'S OKAY, WE'RE GOING TO PREPARE A MEMO FOR MARCH ON FAIR HOUSING AND TALK ABOUT THE FAIR HOUSING MONTH OF APRIL AND MAYBE GIVE YOU A BACKGROUND ON IT AND SOME OF THE OUTREACH AND STUFF.
I'M GOING TO PUT IT OVER SO THAT YOU INCLUDE MY QUESTIONS IN THERE.
BECAUSE, FRANKLY, A LOT OF HOUSING IS DEVELOPED BY SETTLEMENTS FROM FAIR HOUSING CLAIMS. AND I DON'T THINK WE'RE DOING THAT WORK.
I DON'T THINK WE'RE DOING IT AGGRESSIVELY.
AND I DO HEAR THAT THERE ARE DISCRIMINATION ISSUES.
AND IF SO, THEY NEED TO BE ERADICATED IMMEDIATELY.
SO, KEEP GOING, BECAUSE WE NEED MORE FAIR HOUSING.
THAT'S THE FIRST FOUR PILLARS.
I WOULD SUBMIT THAT THE NEXT PILLARS ARE MAYBE UNNECESSARY.
PRIORITY AREAS, I'M NOT SURE HOW GREATEST HOUSING NEEDS ARE DEFINED.
BUT I WILL TELL YOU, WHEN OUR LIBRARY USED DATA ANALYTICS TO DECIDE WHO NEEDED LIBRARIES THE MOST, THEY SURE DIDN'T CONSIDER A LOT OF DIFFERENT THINGS.
I THINK THE DRIVERS OF OPPORTUNITY ARE FAR TOO GENERAL.
THE PRIORITY AREA IS NOT EVEN REALLY ABOUT THE PRIORITY AREA.
IT'S NOT LIKE YOU'RE GOING OUT AND YOU'RE SAYING, HERE'S OUR PRIORITY, COME DO A PROJECT HERE.
IT'S THAT THE DEVELOPERS ARE COMING TO US AND WE'RE LIKE, CAN WE MAKE THIS FIT? AND NOW WE'LL SMUSH IT INTO OUR DIFFERENT DRIVERS OF OPPORTUNITY NARRATIVE AND SOME VERY GENERALIZED WORDS AND SUDDENLY IT FITS.
SO, I DON'T THINK THAT'S ACTUALLY NECESSARY.
IT'S GOING TO COME WHERE IT'S GOING TO COME.
THE INFRASTRUCTURE, ALIGNING THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS TO SUPPORT HOUSING DEVELOPMENT.
AGAIN, I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S A PILLAR OF A HOUSING POLICY.
SO, I'M NOT SURE THAT NEEDS TO BE A PILLAR.
COLLABORATION AND COORDINATION, SAME THING.
THIS IS HOW WE OPERATE AS PROFESSIONALS.
I DON'T KNOW THAT IT'S A PILLAR FOR A HOUSING POLICY.
AND I WOULD ALSO SAY TO YOU THAT WHEN I LOOK AT THIS LIST OF ORGANIZATIONS THAT YOU CONSIDER TO BE THE PARTNERSHIPS, MANY OF THEM HAVE A STAKE IN HOUSING, MEANING THE RECIPIENTS OF HOUSING DOLLARS, WHETHER THAT'S STATEWIDE, CITY, COUNTY, TAX BENEFITS, THEY HAVE A VERY DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE THAN OUR RESIDENTS.
AND I THINK WHAT YOU HEARD FROM COUNCIL MEMBERS IS FROM RESIDENTS.
THEY HAVE THEIR OWN INTERESTS.
BUT I DON'T KNOW THAT WE NEED TO MAKE HOUSING POLICY BASED ON WHAT THE NONPROFITS WANT SO THAT THEY CAN GET A PAYCHECK.
SO, I WANT YOU TO TALK TO THEM.
IT'S PART OF BEING A PROFESSIONAL.
BUT I DON'T THINK THAT NEEDS TO BE PART OF OUR PILLARS.
THAT'S JUST HOW WE EXPECT YOU AND OURSELVES TO ACT IN COORDINATION WITH OUR ENVIRONMENT.
AND THEN SAME THING FOR ENGAGEMENT AND EDUCATION.
[03:10:05]
IT'S NOT REALLY A PILLAR OF A HOUSING POLICY TO ME.BUT HERE ARE SOME THINGS THAT I DO THINK NEED TO BE CONSIDERED.
ONE, WHEN YOU GO ON APARTMENTS.COM AND YOU SAY, TELL ME HOW MANY AVAILABLE APARTMENT UNITS THERE ARE IN THE CITY OF DALLAS EXCLUSIVELY, IT'S 37,749.
BUT WE ALSO CAN'T PRETEND WE'RE NOT IN A BUILT ENVIRONMENT OF VERY THRIVING SUBURBS.
AND SO, YOU KNOW, WE ALWAYS WANT TO TALK ABOUT THE REGION FOR EVERYTHING, BUT SUDDENLY WE'RE ONLY TALKING ABOUT DALLAS HERE.
AND WHAT I DON'T WANT TO HAVE HAPPEN IS I DON'T WANT DALLAS TO BECOME THE LOW-INCOME HOUSING PROVIDER OF OUR ENTIRE REGION EXCLUSIVELY, RIGHT? WELL, YOU GO TO DALLAS FOR LOW INCOME AND YOU GO OUTSIDE FOR MARKET RATE OR NICER AREAS.
SO, WE ABSOLUTELY NEED MORE AFFORDABLE HOUSING, BUT WE ALSO NEED TO RECOGNIZE THAT THAT CAN'T BE THE ONLY THING WE DO.
SO, I JUST HAVE TO SAY THAT PART.
BUT IN OUR HOUSING POLICY, I HAVEN'T SEEN WHERE YOU'RE SETTING A GOAL ON THE EITHER NUMBER OF TAX ABATEMENTS WE WILL OFFER A YEAR OR THE DOLLAR VALUE OF THEM.
BUT WE HAVE A RUNAWAY ABATEMENT PROBLEM.
WE CAN'T AFFORD A RUNAWAY ABATEMENT PROBLEM.
WE ARE NOT EVERYBODY'S FUNDER.
SO, I THINK THAT NEEDS TO BE INCLUDED SOMEWHERE.
WE HAVEN'T TALKED ABOUT A GOAL OF A MIXTURE OF HOUSING TYPES.
AND I THINK THAT'S A POLICY DECISION.
DO WE WANT TO SAY, BECAUSE WE HAVE CASUALLY SAID WE'D LIKE TO SEE A 50-50 MIX.
WHEN I STARTED ON COUNCIL, THE MIX WAS 45% WAS RENTAL.
IT'S NOW, I THINK YOU SAID, OVER 60% RENTAL.
THAT'S IN SIX AND A HALF YEARS, THAT GIANT SHIFT.
WELL, AT SOME POINT, WE BECOME DETROIT, WHERE WE ARE A RENTAL CITY.
AND IF THAT'S THE DIRECTION WE WANT TO GO, THAT'S A POLICY DECISION.
I THINK OUR SINGLE-FAMILY NEIGHBORHOODS ARE A HUGE STABILITY ELEMENT OF OUR CITY.
AND OUR RENTERS ARE WELCOME AND NECESSARY.
AND IT'S IMPORTANT TO HAVE RENTAL OPPORTUNITIES.
BUT IT CAN'T BE, TO ME, I THINK WE PUT OUR CITY AT RISK, SAYING WE'RE GOING TO GO EVEN HIGHER THAN 60% RENTAL.
SO, I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE NUMBER SHOULD BE.
I THINK WHEN WE WERE AT 50%, IT FELT COMFORTABLE IN THE CITY.
BUT THERE WAS HOUSING CHOICES AVAILABLE FOR ALL.
YOU COULD BE YOUNG, IN AN APARTMENT.
MAYBE YOU'RE STILL IN THE APARTMENT.
MAYBE YOU START THINKING ABOUT, I'D LIKE TO HAVE A HOUSE WITH A YARD FOR THE PLAYGROUND, A PLAY AREA, AND MY DOG.
RIGHT? AND THEN MAYBE YOU BECOME A SENIOR, AND YOU'RE LIKE, I DON'T WANT TO TAKE CARE OF THE HOUSE ANYMORE.
RIGHT? THIS IS A NORMAL ARC THAT WE SEE.
BUT WE'RE SHIFTING THAT ARC AWAY.
AND IT MEANS THAT PEOPLE WHO ARE LOOKING FOR THAT SINGLE-FAMILY HOME ARE GOING TO GO ELSEWHERE.
AND WE KNOW THAT THAT'S ALREADY HAPPENING.
SO, THAT RENTAL VERSUS OWNERSHIP FOCUS.
THE NEXT IS THE QUESTION THAT MAYOR POTEM WAS ASKING ABOUT THE PRICE OF HOUSING.
WHAT WE'VE SEEN IN AUSTIN WITH THEIR HOUSING POLICIES IS A COLLAPSE OF PRICES.
SO, IT HAS BECOME MUCH MORE AFFORDABLE.
BUT LET ME TELL YOU, IT'S TRAGIC TO THEIR BUDGET.
AND I'M NOT SURE WHAT WOULD HAPPEN TO OUR BUDGET IF THAT HAPPENS.
WE'RE ALREADY SEEING, YOU KNOW, VACANCIES IN OFFICE THAT WILL PROBABLY HAVE AN IMPACT ON OURS.
BECAUSE THE LAST ITEM, ALMOST THE LAST ITEM, THAT I HAVE IS I'M DEFINITELY LOOKING FOR YOU TO COME BACK TO US WITH A PROGRAM SPECIFICALLY IN THE CBD TO DO CONVERSIONS OF OFFICE TO RESIDENTIAL.
THIS IS ABSOLUTELY WHERE WE NEED MORE PEOPLE.
IT'S WHAT MAKES DALLAS SPECIAL.
AND IT'S AN INCREDIBLE ENVIRONMENT.
WE HAVE SO MANY OPPORTUNITIES DOWN HERE.
AND THE INFRASTRUCTURE IS ALREADY IN PLACE.
SO, WHAT I'M HOPING WE'LL SEE IS THAT WE'LL HAVE AN ABILITY TO OFFSET THE DEVELOPERS' COSTS FOR MAKING THAT CONVERSION OVER A PERIOD OF TIME.
HOPEFULLY, IT'S 10 YEARS OR LESS.
AND IT'S FOR A PORTION OF THEIR PROPERTY TAX, NOT THE WHOLE THING.
AND FRANKLY, IF THEY GO FROM A 30% RENTED OFFICE STRUCTURE TO 100% RENTED RESIDENTIAL, AND WE'VE OFFSET HALF THEIR TAXES, WE STILL MIGHT BE GETTING MORE ONCE THAT HAPPENS.
AND THEY WILL RECOUP THEIR FUNDS.
THEY WILL ENJOY A PERFORMING ASSET.
[03:15:01]
WE WILL ENJOY THE BENEFIT OF DOWNTOWN AND MORE RESIDENTS, WHICH WILL SUPPORT THE RETAIL AND ALL THE OTHER THINGS.THE YOUNG PEOPLE LIKE TO LIVE IN THAT ENVIRONMENT.
AND I THINK WE SHOULD GIVE IT TO THEM.
THEY DON'T HAVE TO BE IN UPTOWN.
AND SO, OKAY, THOSE ARE ALL OF MY ITEMS ON THAT.
LUNCH IS SUPPOSED TO BE HERE, SO WE CAN CONTINUE.
YOU WANT TO STOP ON ONE ITEM? JUST ONE THING.
AND I KNOW THAT THIS IS NOT EVEN IN THE BOOK.
BUT WHEN YOU LOOK AT HOW WE DEVELOP, AND IF THEY UNDERSTOOD WHERE WE ARE AT THE BACK END, AT THE FRONT END, MAYBE WE CAN GET SOME OF THE PRIORITIES THE WAY WE WANT THEM, INSTEAD OF SEEING IT, AND THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN, WE'VE GONE THROUGH THIS LONG, ARDUOUS PROCESS, AND IT GETS DENIED.
SO, THE NEXT STEP IS YOU'RE GOING TO TAKE THESE COMMENTS AND BRING IT BACK TO US AGAIN? THAT'S RIGHT.
WE'RE WORKING TOWARDS A RESOLUTION OF A POLICY.
SO, WHAT WE WANT TO DO IS REFINE WHAT WE HEARD TODAY.
I'LL PROBABLY FOLLOW UP IN MEETINGS WITH YOU ALL TO UNPACK SOME THINGS A LITTLE BIT MORE INDIVIDUALLY, CONTINUE TO HEAR FROM ALL THE STAKEHOLDERS, AND START TO PUT SOME MEASURABLE GOALS TO EACH OF THE FINAL PILLARS SO THAT WE CAN DETERMINE HOW WE ADVERTISE, HOW WE SHARE WHAT THE VISION IS, HOW WE SEND A MESSAGE THAT'S UNIFORM ACROSS ALL COUNCIL DISTRICTS ABOUT THIS IS WHAT DALLAS IS IN TERMS OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
HERE'S HOW WE WANT TO GO ABOUT IT.
HERE'S THE IMPACT WE WANT TO MAKE.
HELP US BE PART OF THAT VISION, AND LET'S DO THIS TOGETHER.
SO, FOOD IS ACTUALLY COMING INTO THE ROOM NOW.
ITEM D IS AN UPDATE ON THE HOMELESS COMMISSION.
ARE YOU ABLE TO GO THROUGH THAT MEMO QUICKLY? YES, OF COURSE.
THIS MEMO IS AN UPDATE ON JUST THE FACT THAT THE CITIZEN HOMELESSNESS COMMISSION IS A COMMISSION ESTABLISHED IN 2017.
IT'S CURRENTLY CHAIRED BY MARK NUNNALLY.
THIS ITEM WAS REQUESTED FOR GENERAL AWARENESS WITH THE DIGITAL COPY LINKING TO THE ANNUAL REPORTS.
WE ALSO ATTACHED THE ARTICLE 20, THE PURPOSE, THE MEMBERSHIP, THE TIERS FOR DISCUSSION IN TERMS OF HOW THIS COMMISSION CAN HELP INFORM HOUSING AND HOMELESSNESS POLICY, HELP INFORM THE ISSUES AND CONCERNS THAT YOU ALL HAVE IN YOUR DISTRICTS, AND BE A GENERAL SUPPORT OF RESIDENT-LED CHAMPIONS THAT HELP US UNDERSTAND AND ADDRESS HOMELESSNESS IN THE CITY OF DALLAS.
MEMBERS, YOU MAY KNOW THAT I SERVED AS THE VICE CHAIR OF THE INITIAL CITIZENS HOMELESS COMMISSION, AND AT THE TIME, THIS WAS FOUNDED WITH SOME NEGOTIATION, AND IT SEEMS TIME TO CONSIDER, AND WE DON'T HAVE TO HAVE THE FULL DISCUSSION TODAY, BUT IF YOU'LL START THINKING ABOUT IT, WE'LL BRING IT BACK FOR ADDITIONAL CONSIDERATION.
MARK NUNNALLY, OUR CHAIR, WAS HERE.
I DON'T KNOW WHY AFTER TWO AND A HALF HOURS, BUT WHAT I'D ESPECIALLY LIKE YOU TO CONSIDER FIRST IS IF WE WANT TO HAVE QUALIFICATIONS.
SO, FOR INSTANCE, THE ONE FOR THE FAITH-BASED REP, WHAT'S OFTEN HAPPENED IS THAT PEOPLE HAVE FILLED IT, AND THEN THE ONES WITH QUALIFICATIONS REMAIN UNFILLED.
YOU KNOW, I THINK WE ALL THINK VERY HIGHLY OF MR. ROBY, BUT HAVING A PROVIDER WHO'S ALSO RECEIVING MILLIONS OF DOLLARS FROM THE CITY SERVING ON THE COMMISSION MAY BE PROBLEMATIC, AND WE MAY WANT TO ADDRESS THAT.
THERE WAS CONSIDERATION EVEN WHEN I WAS A MEMBER THAT THE FOCUS OF THE COMMISSION ISN'T CLEARLY EXPRESSED, AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT MARK AND I HAVE TALKED ABOUT IS PERHAPS REFOCUSING ON, ONE, ALLOWING THE COMMISSION TO INTERACT WITH PEOPLE WHO ARE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS SO THAT WE CAN BETTER HEAR FROM THEM ON WHAT THEY NEED, TO HAVING OUTREACH SESSIONS WITH THE PUBLIC SO WE CAN HEAR FROM BOTH RESIDENTS AND BUSINESS OWNERS THE IMPACTS THEY'RE SEEING ABOUT HOMELESSNESS AND IDEAS THEY MAY HAVE TO RESOLVE IT.
AND SO, AS YOU HAVE RESIDENTS WHO EXPRESS CONCERNS, YOU CAN HELP SEND IT TO THEM, AND THEY CAN FILTER, AND THEN THEY CAN CHARGE STAFF WITH DEVELOPING THE SOLUTIONS TO THE PROBLEMS THEY HEAR, OFFERING THEM A MULTIPLE OF CHOICES, AND THEY CAN, AS RESIDENTS, GO, WOW, THIS SOUNDS LIKE THE SOLUTION
[03:20:01]
THAT FITS THE CITY.PLEASE GO FORWARD WITH THAT AND BRING THAT TO COUNCIL.
AND SO, THIS IS WHAT I'M HOPING WE'LL DISCUSS NEXT TIME.
I'M NOT SURE WE ACTUALLY HAVE TIME TO HAVE THAT IN-DEPTH CONVERSATION, BUT I WANTED TO MAKE SURE I COULD SHARE WITH EACH OF YOU SORT OF WHERE IT WAS, WHERE IT WAS GOING.
I KNOW, MAYOR PROZHEIM, WHEN YOU WERE THE CHAIR, WE HAD TALKED ABOUT THIS A NUMBER OF TIMES, AS WELL AS WHEN COUNCILMEMBER WEST WAS THE CHAIR, WE HAD TALKED ABOUT THIS AS WELL.
SO, THIS IS A CONTINUATION OF THAT.
SO, IF WE CAN MOVE TO ITEM THIS IS FOR THE HOUSING FINANCE CORPORATION, 4% LIHTC RESOLUTION.
DOES ANYBODY HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS ON THAT? I WILL SAY THAT, SEE, IT WOULD BE WONDERFUL FOR YOU GUYS TO UNDERSTAND, AND I THINK YOU HEARD ME WHEN I SAID I NEED MORE 80% THAN AT A LOWER END, AND I HAVE STRATEGIC AREAS THAT I WILL SAY YES TO, AND ANYTHING THAT'S NOT IN THAT STRATEGIC AREA, ONE OF WHICH IS IN HERE, I WILL NOT SAY YES TO, BECAUSE THAT'S NOT THE FOCUS, AND IT'S NOT THROUGH THE PARTNERSHIP OF THE STAKEHOLDERS IN THAT AREA WANT TO SEE.
SO, IS THERE A WAY THAT, AND MY QUESTION IS, IS THERE A WAY THAT BEFORE THEY COME, BEFORE THEY EVEN GET TO THIS SPOT, THAT WE HAVE CONVERSATIONS THAT SAYS, YES HERE, NO THERE? THANK YOU FOR THAT QUESTION.
SO, THIS MEMO TALKS ABOUT THE APPLICATIONS THAT HAVE COME THROUGH THE DALLAS HOUSING FINANCE CORPORATION FOR THEIR BOND INDUCEMENTS AND THEIR APPLICATION FOR THE 4% TAX CREDIT TO TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY AFFAIRS, WHICH IS GOVERNED BY THE STATE'S QUALIFIED ACTION PLAN.
SO, IN ORDER TO GET AHEAD OF PROJECTS ON THE FRONT END BEFORE THEY GO THROUGH THAT, THAT'S ABOUT WORKING WITH THE HFC BOARD THAT'S APPOINTED BY YOU ALL, AND IN PARTICULAR, YOUR APPOINTED PERSON ON THE HFC TO UNDERSTAND THE PROJECTS IN EACH OF YOUR DISTRICTS AND WHAT YOU WANT TO SEE THROUGH EITHER HFC OR PFC, SO THAT THAT BOARD CAN ADVOCATE ABOUT THAT VISION AND MAKE SURE THAT THE DEVELOPERS APPLYING FOR THAT PROCESS UNDERSTAND THAT VISION.
NOW, THESE PROJECTS HAVE ALREADY PASSED THAT LEVEL AND ARE READY TO GO FOR THEIR APPLICATION TO TVHCA, SO THEY HAVE MET ALL TECHNICAL QUALIFICATIONS TO BE PLACED ON THE AGENDA FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION TOMORROW.
AND I WILL DO A FAR BETTER JOB WITH THE COMMUNICATION WITH MY HFC BOARD MEMBER IN ORDER TO MAKE SURE THAT I CAN GET WHAT I SEE, I DON'T, I GET WHAT I WANT TO SEE.
THANK YOU. OKAY. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS ON THE 4%? YES.
THANK YOU. SO THESE DEVELOPERS THAT ARE SEEKING LITECH OR SEEKING THE LITECH 4% TYPICALLY WILL SEND A LETTER OF NOTICE, LETTER OF INTENT TO OUR OFFICES. WHO, AND THAT'S PRETTY EARLY IN THE GAME, IF THERE'S OBJECTION, DO COUNCIL MEMBERS HAVE THE ABILITY TO SAY, HEY, WE'RE NOT INTERESTED IN, DOES THAT GO TO THE STATE? YEAH. YOUR LETTER THAT YOU WOULD WRITE BACK CAN BE SENT DIRECTLY TO THE STATE ABOUT THIS PROJECT, AS WELL AS SENDING IT TO OUR OFFICE, AS WELL AS THE DEVELOPER, AND IMPORTANTLY, THE HOUSING FINANCE CORPORATION BOARD AND GENERAL MANAGER. AND ARE THESE SYMBOLIC OR DO THEY HOLD ANY TEETH TO STOP A PROJECT FROM MOVING FORWARD? I BELIEVE THEY DO HOLD SOME MERIT TO THEM, ANY LETTER FROM ELECTED OFFICIALS IN SUPPORT OR AGAINST A PROJECT CALLED MERIT IN THE REVIEW PROCESS. THANK YOU. THE NEXT ITEM IS THE 9% TAX CREDITS. THIS IS ITEM F, ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS ON THAT? SEE, WE'RE MOVING NOW.
OKAY. THE NEXT ITEM IS G, THIS IS FOR THE PFC PROJECT.
DOES ANYBODY HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ON THAT? I DON'T HAVE QUESTIONS. I DON'T SUPPORT IT, BUT I DON'T HAVE ANY QUESTIONS.
OKAY. NEXT ITEM IS THE NEXT PFC. THIS IS H. DOES ANYBODY
[03:25:02]
HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ON THAT? THIS IS THE ONE ON MOCKINGBIRD. OKAY. JUST A QUESTION ON THIS ONE. YES.THOR, IF YOU CAN REMIND ME IF PFCS ARE TYPICALLY NEW CONSTRUCTION OR IF THEY ARE REHAB. TYPICALLY, WE SEE THE, THEY CAN DO BOTH, BUT WE SEE MORE PUBLIC FACILITY CORPORATIONS AS NEW CONSTRUCTION, WHICH THIS ONE IS. THANK YOU.
SO OUR LAST ITEM IS THE HOMEBUYER ASSISTANCE PROGRAM AWARD. AND I WOULD JUST SAY I APPLAUD YOU FOR OUTSOURCING THIS ITEM. I'M VERY MUCH IN SUPPORT OF IT. AND I THINK THAT YOU SHOULD CONTINUE THINKING ABOUT WHAT CAN BE OUTSOURCED SO THAT YOU CAN FOCUS ON POLICY AND EXECUTION AND COMPLIANCE. SO I'M IN SUPPORT. DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT IT? THE FIRST TIME HOMEBUYER? NOPE. WELL, HOW DO YOU LIKE THAT? IT IS NOW 1235 AND I'M GOING TO ADJOURN THIS MEETING. THANK YOU. THANK YOU.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.