Paul StinsonThe Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) awarded a total of $161.9 million to Texas organizations to expand housing and services projects for the homeless. The funding includes $27 million to a coalition of Dallas and Collin County organizations that have had success addressing the needs of the underserved.
“Public-private partnership, united by a laser-focus on unsheltered homelessness and a commitment to evidence-based strategies, have made it possible for the All Neighbors Coalition to house more people than ever before,” Sarah Kahn, president and CEO for Housing Forward, said in a press release. The nonprofit is the lead agency for the homeless response system for both counties.
Kahn credits the coalition, which draws from more than 140 organizations, for a 160% jump in monthly housing placements. The coalition has also reduced unsheltered by 14% and chronic homelessness by 32%. “More funding means we can scale up what works for more reductions in homelessness,” she said.
Dallas officials said the $27 million marks a 23% and 44% increase over 2022 and 2021 funding levels respectively. The funds will allow partnerships with Dallas County, North Texas Behavioral Health Authority and service providers to expand rehousing assistance and provide wrap-around services for families and individuals exiting homelessness. Wrap-around services are typically a team-based approach involving educators, community members and mental health professionals to support families with children who struggle with mental illness.
The Texas awards were recently announced as part of a $3.16 billion package supporting more than 7,000 projects nationwide under HUD’s Continuum of Care (CoC) program. The program provides financial support to homelessness response systems nationwide. HUD awards CoC grants to nonprofits, states, Tribes and local governments to help expand housing and service projects for families, survivors of domestic violence and individuals experiencing chronic homelessness. Other Texas awards by region include:
- Houston, Pasadena, Conroe/Harris, Fort Bend and Montgomery counties: $59.6 million.
- Fort Worth, Arlington/Tarrant County: $20.4 million.
- San Antonio/Bexar County: $18 million.
- Austin/Travis County: $11.9 million.
- El Paso City and County: $3.8 million.
- Waco and McLennan County: $2.6 million.
The Austin HUD awards include $12 million split between 10 organizations dedicated to addressing homelessness. More than 3,300 clients used shelter services in Fiscal Year 2023, Austin’s Homeless Strategy Office and Housing Department said during a February City Council update. “Austin’s homeless response system outperforms the national average for major cities, and we expect a 300% growth in permanent supportive housing this calendar year,” said James May, the city’s housing and community development officer. “And that number should continue to go up as we approve more loans and more financing for additional developments over the next several years through 2026.”
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