Dallas Leading the Way: Reducing Homelessness Through Public-Private Partnership

Civics for Business | Event Date: April 1, 2025

Dallas has achieved what many cities struggle to accomplish: a 24% reduction in unsheltered homelessness since 2021, even as national numbers rise. Christine Crossley, Director of Homeless Solutions for the City of Dallas, and Sarah Kahn, President & CEO of Housing Forward, revealed how Dallas's unique public-private partnership model creates sustainable solutions to street homelessness.

Key Takeaways

• Dallas reduced unsheltered homelessness by 24% since 2021 while many major cities see dramatic increases through coordinated systems moving people from streets to permanent housing

• Public-private partnership is Dallas's secret weapon, combining city resources, private funding, and nonprofit expertise under Housing Forward's coordination

• The "Street to Home" initiative successfully addresses downtown encampments by providing on-site care and direct housing paths, housing 107 people in 85 days in one targeted area

• Dallas moved beyond "managing homelessness" to focus on permanent housing solutions that end street homelessness cycles and reduce long-term public costs

• Business community engagement is critical for maintaining downtown vibrancy and supporting closure maintenance strategies

The Turnaround: From Managing to Resolving

From 2015 to 2021, unsheltered homelessness in Dallas tripled, creating a citywide crisis. The system focused on managing homelessness through shelters and outreach but wasn't creating effective pathways out of homelessness.

"We were managing homelessness with shelters and transitional housing and outreach workers, but we weren't coming together to scale pathways out of homelessness," explained Kahn. "What happens is you have people overflowing from your shelters onto the streets."

The 2021 turning point came with pooled resources and trust between the Office of Homeless Solutions and Housing Forward. Crossley described: "We made the choice to do so together with a massive windfall of federal funding to pull other public and private partners into a $72 million project."

This evolved into a systems model producing over 15,000 housing placements and a 44% funding increase. Success hinges on creating a "revolving door" that moves people quickly from street to shelter to permanent housing, solving the problem rather than relocating it.

Street to Home Initiative: A New Downtown Model

The Street to Home initiative represents a $30 million investment aimed at reducing street homelessness by 50% by end of 2026. It combines three critical components: outreach and healthcare, rehousing assistance, and closure maintenance.

"Previously, the only tools local government had to resolve street homelessness was to send police or outreach workers to clear people or arrest them," Kahn explained. "But without getting folks connected to care or housing, we're not impacting homelessness."

The downtown pilot targeted areas around the public library and behind City Hall. Teams of behavioral health specialists, addiction experts, peer specialists, and rehousing staff worked on-site for 6-8 weeks, helping people move directly into furnished apartments with continued support.

Results: 107 people housed in 85 days from the targeted area. The city then implemented closure maintenance to ensure areas remained clear and reactivated for public use.

Crossley emphasized separating outreach from compliance: "For a long time we've done both where it's 'How can I help you?' and 'By the way, you've got to move in 20 minutes.' That creates a gap in trust."

Beyond Enforcement: Sustainable Solutions

Rather than the "whack-a-mole" approach that shifts problems, Dallas focuses on maintaining cleared areas after people are rehoused.

"We are the people who make sure that 311 service requests can be answered, that things remain safe," Crossley explained. "If an area has closed, it needs to stay closed, and we can ask people not to camp because we've already housed everyone from that space."

This requires ongoing attention through rhythmic interventions: intense presence followed by monitoring and occasional reinforcement.

Challenges remain downtown, particularly due to service concentration and unauthorized street feeding, which can perpetuate street homelessness. "We find over 1,000 organizations and individuals in the past three years coming downtown to drop off sandwiches, set up street fairs behind City Hall without working with resources less than two blocks away," Crossley noted.

Common Misperceptions Clarified

Panhandling vs. Homelessness - Many panhandlers, particularly in North Dallas, may be unstably housed rather than homeless.

Families with Children - Families seen on street corners are typically panhandling but not homeless. The system maintains strict standards ensuring no families sleep on streets.

Mental Health - Specialized teams including North Texas Behavioral Health Authority, Parkland, and Baylor work together for appropriate interventions with individuals cycling through hospitals and jails.

Action Steps for Business Community

1. Report through proper channels - Use 311 for service requests related to encampments. This helps track issues and direct resources effectively.

2. Partner with Housing Forward - Connect with the coordinated system rather than independent outreach efforts to ensure contributions support long-term solutions.

3. Redirect charitable intentions - Support organized services like The Bridge, Stewpot, or Family Gateway that connect people to comprehensive care rather than street feeding.

4. Engage in closure maintenance - Report new encampments promptly and support public space reactivation.

5. Support Street to Home initiative - Contribute financially or through advocacy to expand the model citywide.

The Path Forward

Dallas demonstrates that homelessness can be reduced through coordinated public-private partnerships. By moving beyond managing homelessness to creating sustainable housing pathways, the city achieved a 24% reduction while national trends move opposite directions.

The Street to Home initiative provides a promising model combining healthcare, housing assistance, and maintenance strategies. While downtown challenges remain, the coordinated system led by Housing Forward and the City of Dallas offers a framework for continued progress.

Business leader engagement through proper reporting, aligned charitable efforts, and Street to Home support is critical for maintaining downtown vitality and continuing Dallas's downward homelessness trend.

Speaker Information & Links

Christine Crossley
Director, Office of Homeless Solutions, City of Dallas
Christine has served as Director of Homeless Solutions for the City of Dallas for nearly four years. She previously worked in consulting and held a similar role in Seattle with a Catholic organization. She holds a degree from the University of South Carolina and is currently pursuing a doctorate at the University of Southern California. LinkedIn Profile

Sarah Kahn
President & CEO, Housing Forward
Sarah leads Housing Forward (formerly Metro Dallas Homeless Alliance), bringing extensive experience from work in Atlanta, Singapore, Sydney, Melbourne, DC, and Kansas City. Impressed by Dallas's collaborative approach to homelessness, she relocated her family to Dallas in September to be part of this effort. She holds an undergraduate degree from Northern Arizona University and a Master's of Social Work from the University of Kansas. LinkedIn Profile

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