Homelessness levels in Dallas continue to garner attention, as recent statistics indicate a significant increase in reports made to the City’s 311 line, rising by 45 percent over the past three years, as reported by Fox 4.
However, recent initiatives are being implemented in downtown Dallas to tackle these pressing concerns.
Mark Nunneley, the chief accounting officer for Ashford Hospitality Trust and frequent compiler of homeless counts for the area, shared insights with The Dallas Express on the ongoing situation in the Central Business District.
According to his latest findings, homelessness in downtown Dallas has seen a decrease from the highs recorded earlier this year. The peak occurred in late February with 266 individuals reported, followed by 209 in late March. By April, the number had dropped to 138, although there was a slight rebound to 158 in May. Notably, the highest concentration of homeless individuals has been observed in south-central downtown, particularly around St. Paul St. and I-30.
In response to this growing issue, Downtown Dallas Inc. has partnered with the City of Dallas and the Dallas Citizens Council to launch the initiative called Safe In The City. As previously detailed by The Dallas Express, this program operates on a comprehensive six-point plan aimed at enhancing public safety, which includes bolstered policing, improved security coordination, increased rehousing efforts, an expanded community court system, strategies to “de-magnetize” areas that attract homeless individuals, and a broadened focus on reentry programs.
Additionally, the Downtown Dallas Inc. launched the See Say app, designed to facilitate reporting of non-emergency issues including homelessness, to the Downtown Security, Homeless Outreach, and Clean Team. Users can easily submit reports and photographs of incidents as well as send text tips directly to 972-440-1995.
Nunneley has highlighted the effectiveness of the See Say app, noting that reports he lodged regarding homeless encampments downtown prompted rapid responses. “Every time I’ve done that, within three or four minutes, the DDI security people are showing up and addressing it,” Nunneley remarked. “Sometimes it’s like – literally – they’re blocks away, and they’re there within a minute.”
However, it is important to note that responders using the See Say app can only address issues specifically on downtown property. They cannot resolve problems occurring on city or private land. For instance, if an encampment exists on the property of a public library, they are prohibited from intervening.
Nunneley expressed that while he has called the 311 line for assistance, the response times have not been immediate, though he acknowledged that efforts are underway to enhance this service.
Councilwoman Cara Mendelsohn has voiced her concerns regarding the city’s overall response to homelessness, articulating frustrations of residents who witness the challenges first-hand. “The residents are so fed up, and they are fed up of hearing homelessness is decreasing when they see it every single day,” she stated in remarks reported by Fox 4.
Moreover, recent figures from The Dallas Morning News indicate that homelessness has decreased by 5% across Dallas and Collin counties since 2024, based on point-in-time (PIT) counts, though The Dallas Express has also reported that such counts may not fully encapsulate the reality.
Further compounding the issue, surrounding cities have seen a notable uptick in homelessness, while the estimated annual cost to Dallas taxpayers associated with homelessness is around $193 million.
image source from：https://dallasexpress.com/city/as-homelessness-reports-rise-across-dallas-new-efforts-downtown-could-buck-the-trend/
