City staff updated the Senior Affairs Commission on a recent reorganization that folded community-care and housing-related programs into a new Office of Housing and Community Empowerment and described near-term plans to improve outreach and interdepartmental coordination.

Jessica Gaucher, who identified herself as deputy director for housing, community and retirement and as the city’s opportunity officer, told commissioners that the reorganization was approved by City Council and is now in an implementation phase. "We still have so many just little things, like people where to buy sick, getting everybody into the right department labeled in the accounting system so that they can do their jobs," she said, summarizing operational steps the new department is completing.

Tabitha Taylor, the city’s age-friendly officer, walked commissioners through a response document the department prepared that maps the commission’s 12 recommendations to departmental work. She said the office will attend a Nov. 7 citywide communications retreat meant to align outreach strategies across departments and to improve how the city connects older residents to services. "This is a very unified approach to better serve the residents of Dallas," Taylor said.

Staff described areas of emphasis: maintaining the senior-source contract that funds some nonprofit senior programming; continuing partnerships with Parks and Recreation and Libraries for outreach and programming; improving 311 routing and the 311 software interface; and leveraging caseworkers and outreach teams across formerly separate departments (homeless outreach, social services and community care) to support older adults. Tabitha and Jessica said there is no new city funding for an additional dedicated senior outreach enumerator this budget cycle, but that the merged department will explore shared staffing and partner-based outreach to cover gaps.

The staff briefing also described existing program tools that could be better publicized to older residents, including the senior homestead tax exemption and the Operation Waters water-share program for customers needing help with utility bills. Commissioners asked staff to work with the water department on clearer notices in paper bills about senior exemptions and late-fee relief.

Ending: City staff said they will return with more detail at a later meeting and that the commission’s strategic-plan review is moving through internal and Quality of Life Committee briefings. Officials said they expect to provide an update to the commission in December or to brief the commission’s representatives after the Nov. 7 communications retreat.