Housing Forward

Jennifer Scripps from Downtown Dallas, Inc. said it best: "Every single link, whether you're helping with IDs at The Stewpot, supporting enforcement, or ultimately handing someone the keys to their apartment—changes lives." We can’t say it enough: THANK YOU to the All Neighbors Coalition! ?? The Street to Home initiative is only possible because of the support of our incredible partners, including: The City of Dallas Office of Homeless Solutions, Downtown Dallas Inc., Austin Street Center, Metro Relief, Inc., The Bridge Homeless Recovery Center, The Stewpot, Under1Roof, Metrocare Services, North Texas Behavioral Health Authority, Parkland Community Health Plan, and Dallas Housing Authority. Every single All Neighbors Coalition member is changing lives! If you’re interested in joining this incredible group of over 150 organizations, consider becoming a member in the new year. Learn more here: https://lnkd.in/g6mbQcg2 #AllNeighbors #StreetToHome #HousingForward #EndHomelessness

For many in our community, housing stability is a crucial first step toward lasting change. Since 2021, CFT has granted $3 million to Housing Forward for their Rapid Rehousing efforts, including a $1 million grant earlier this year. Sarah Kahn, President and CEO of Housing Forward, joined our staff meeting this week to share the strides being made to support people experiencing homelessness in North Texas. Their collaborative initiatives have resulted in a 24% decrease in unsheltered homelessness since 2021, and innovative programs like Street to Home are now housing people in as little as six weeks, a process that once took nearly a year. With support from CFT and the dedication of over 150 local partners, Housing Forward is setting a national example for collaboration. Learn more: housingforwardntx.org Pictured: CFT’s Robert Kent and Celeste Arista Glover with Sarah Kahn

Happy Veterans Day! Thank you to all the veterans who’ve served our country. Your courage and sacrifices mean the world, and we believe every veteran deserves a place to call home in the country they fought for. Ending veteran homelessness has been one of our top priorities at Housing Forward and the All Neighbors Coalition. In May 2024, our community proudly reached that milestone and received federal designation for effectively ended veteran homelessness! Through a lot of hard work and collaboration, our system can now identify any veterans who fall into homelessness and help them quickly move them back into safe, stable housing. Thank you to all our All Neighbors Coalition members that that provide services for our Veterans. Here’s to a future where every veteran has a place to call home! ????

?? The All Neighbors Coalition is Hiring! There are over 150 organizations across Dallas and Collin counties dedicated to rehousing and community support. A wide range of positions are available—your next opportunity could be with one of our incredible partners! Interested? Visit our 'Careers' page here ?? https://lnkd.in/gwVV9Rw4

?? Street to Home: Transforming Lives and Public Spaces! ?? The All Neighbors Coalition's Street to Home initiative allows us to continue placing people in permanent housing at a historic pace, permanently closing encampments by providing residents with essential support services and safe, stable homes. Kimberly Bizor Tolbert, Interim City Manager of Dallas, shares: “Street to Home has changed lives and neighborhoods. For the 107 people housed, it’s life-changing, and it also makes downtown better for everyone who lives and works here.” #StreetToHome #HousingForward #TransformingDallas #AllNeighborsCoalition

Join us tomorrow for an All Saints Day - Service of Remembrance hosted by The Stewpot. ??? Together, we will honor the lives of our unhoused neighbors and friends who have lost their lives this past year, reading their names aloud and honoring the moment with the ringing of bell. ?? Friday, November 1, 2024 | 11:00 AM ??In the First Presbyterian Church of Dallas sanctuary at 1835 Young Street, Dallas, TX 75201. ?? Lunch will be provided right after the service Let us come together as a community to reflect, remember, and advocate for those in need. https://lnkd.in/gFPwfyk2

A huge thanks to everyone who joined the All Neighbors Coalition General Assembly this week! ?? We covered important updates, including: ? CoC Annual NOFO ? Youth Homelessness Demonstration Program (YHDP) ? Employment Resources … and more! Mark your calendars for the next General Assembly on December 3rd at Dallas College – Brookhaven Campus. See you there! ?? #AllNeighborsCoalition #GeneralAssembly

Have you read KERA's series, "A New Way Home," covering the Street to Home strategy? ?? This 4-part series focuses on the closure of an encampment in East Dallas and highlights several neighbors who have been housed. Meet the Bonines, Belinda and Marty, a couple who were living in a tent with their dog, Whiskers. They are now housed and receiving supportive services. Journalist Christopher Connelly wrote: “Now, Belinda and Marty are sleeping better, eating enough, and feeling more confident. They’re getting help from a caseworker to sign up for services like SNAP benefits. The biggest change: Spending time with her grandchildren. “When I was homeless they didn’t even know I was homeless,” she says. “So I didn’t see my grandkids because you can’t [say], ‘Oh let’s go to grandma’s house under the bridge in the tent.’” Head over to the KERA News site to read their story ?? https://lnkd.in/gV24K4Nm Photo by Yfat Yossifor / KERA

Last week, we announced the successful completion of the first phase of our Street to Home initiative! Over the past 100 days, Housing Forward and the All Neighbors Coalition worked with key partners, including the City of Dallas and Downtown Dallas Inc., to rehouse 107 individuals experiencing chronic homelessness in some of the most visible areas of downtown Dallas. This milestone represents a significant step toward achieving the Coalition’s goal to cut street homelessness in half by 2026 as compared to 2021 levels. “This new way of doing business demonstrates that we can both address community concerns about public spaces and compassionately end an individual’s homelessness.” said Sarah Kahn, President & CEO of Housing Forward. Our work is made possible through the support of public and private partners, and we are committed to building on this momentum as we continue to tackle homelessness with innovative, compassionate solutions. Learn more about this milestone ?? https://lnkd.in/gEN6EVvC #StreetToHome

Did you know that today is #WorldHomelessDay? It’s a day dedicated to raising awareness about the challenges faced by those experiencing homelessness and the incredible work being done in our community to address it. At Housing Forward, we believe everyone deserves a safe, stable place to call home. Our neighbors experiencing homelessness are more than their circumstances— they are someone's loved one, they are resilient, and they are deserving of dignity. A huge thank you to the All Neighbors Coalition for your tireless efforts every single day. You are changing lives and building a community where everyone has a place to call home. ?? Learn more about the issue of homelessness and how you can help ?? https://lnkd.in/gpkqFRAj #SolveHomelessness #HousingHeroes #HousingForward #AllNeighbors