A new pilot program that seeks to help those experiencing homelessness will soon begin in seven local areas.
After City Council’s recent approval of a $1.2 million contract with My Health My Resources of Tarrant County , the program is set to begin on Wednesday, May 1 and last five months, with a plan to request more funding in FY2025 for another 12 months.
Seven identified areas
- Camp Bowie West/Las Vegas Trail
- Seminary/La Gran Plaza/Hemphill
- Downtown
- Near Southside
- Historic Southside/Near Eastside
- Beach Street intersections (from E. Lancaster to N. Tarrant Parkway)
- Northside/Stockyards
The pilot program will begin tackling homelessness in these seven target areas.
Screenshot via Proxi Maps
What will the program do?
- Local organizations — including street outreach teams, neighborhood police officers, and the city’s Homeless Outreach Program & Enforcement team — will refer individuals who have been reported in an area for more than two years or are suspected of having severe mental illness to housing assistance and services and/or a new community mental health resource.
- The program will offer housing assistance for up to 40 people, leverage existing housing vouchers, and provide case management.
- The Housing First Assertive Community Treatment Team will provide deeper aid to people in need of more in-depth housing and mental health help.
Next steps
The program will be judged on whether or not at least 70% of people helped enter housing within six months.
After the 17-month pilot ends, the team will gather data to determine if the program should continue, end, or expand to new areas around the city.