The Dallas Office of Homeless Solutions presented a comprehensive update on the city’s ongoing efforts to address homelessness during a recent government meeting. Christine Crossley, the director of the Office of Homeless Solutions, and Sarah Khan, president and CEO of Housing Forward, highlighted significant progress made since 2021, while acknowledging the challenges that remain.

Crossley emphasized the need for a transformative approach to the city’s homeless response system, which has seen a troubling increase in homelessness over the years. From 2015 to 2020, unsheltered homelessness tripled, prompting a reevaluation of strategies to manage the crisis. The city has since implemented key interventions, including a system-wide diversion program and expanded rehousing efforts, which have proven effective in reducing the number of individuals experiencing homelessness.

Since 2020, nearly 16,000 individuals have been housed, reflecting a positive trend in addressing homelessness. However, the data also indicates a slowdown in progress in 2025, attributed to an increase in new individuals entering the system and the expiration of certain funding sources. To combat this, the city has aligned resources to prevent spikes in unsheltered homelessness, particularly in downtown areas.

A significant initiative, the "Street to Home" program, aims to reduce unsheltered homelessness by 50% and strategically resolve large encampments. The program has already seen success in downtown Dallas, where efforts to move over 270 individuals off the streets were declared effective as of May 20. While the city acknowledges that homelessness will still exist in urban environments, the commitment is to ensure no one is sleeping on the streets.

The meeting also addressed the importance of a multidisciplinary approach to managing public spaces, integrating mental health and housing services to support individuals with complex needs. This collaborative effort aims to create pathways off the street for those who have not previously engaged with available resources.

Looking ahead, the city plans to continue its investment in diversion and rehousing strategies, aiming to maximize the use of existing shelter beds to accommodate more individuals. The next phase of the initiative will focus on maintaining effective solutions in downtown and expanding efforts to other high-priority areas.

As Dallas moves forward, the commitment to addressing homelessness remains strong, with ongoing discussions about permanent supportive housing projects and the resources needed to sustain progress in the years to come. The community's involvement and support will be crucial in achieving these goals and ensuring that every resident has a place to call home.