The Numbers Don't Lie

  Homelessness nationwide has increased in recent years, but Dallas and Collin Counties saw a reduction in homelessness. Dr. David Woody III, from The Bridge Homeless Recovery Center, told KERA that he believes the decline is due system transformations implemented in 2020, wherein local shelters combined forces to create a kind of network to make sure fewer homeless people fall through the cracks. Also, the two counties working together meant more federal funding, more exposure, and, because of that, more support and aid in helping the homeless community in both areas. 

However, there isn’t cause to celebrate just yet. According to wellcommunity.org and The Gap Report from nlihc.org (National Low Income Housing Coalition) in 2022, the national average of affordable and available housing units is 34 units for every 100 low-income renter households. Sadly, Dallas only has 17 of the units; falling behind cities such as San Antonio, and Austin, but a little better than Houston which only has 15 units.

According to an October blog on the Texas Homeless Network’s website, homelessness is a system problem rather than a people problem. Over one-third of people unhoused are actively working but they cannot make enough money to actually live off of. Minimum wages are nowhere near living wages. Housing/renting costs are high in Dallas, and we’ve all been to the grocery store lately. Inflation is ballooning faster than incomes are increasing. The prices of necessities such as food, shelter and utilities, are higher than ever. This current system also points out an even bigger problem. 

    The Well Community link shared above tells us that the Housing Forward Point In Time 2024 report discovered that 64% of the homeless population is male. However, the most shocking statistic to me was that 56.9% of the total homeless population in Dallas and Collin County are Black. Can you guess what their general population is in those two counties combined? Only 19%. The racial disparity in homelessness is staggering. It is one of many ways we can see the systemic racism that still permeates this country. We live in a system that is set up to make it harder for people of color to find work; a system that refuses to raise the minimum wage to a living wage; a system that forces people to work multiple jobs in order to survive and yet they are still struggling to make ends meet. If you are living paycheck to paycheck, then losing your job means losing everything. 

We live in a first world country. It is ridiculous that we shouldn’t be able to feed and house our citizens. Dr. Woody has shown us that combining resources and working with other homeless shelters and recovery centers has been beneficial. What we can do to help our people in need is donate our money, time and resources we can spare. Another big thing we can do to help is engage with our local and state government officials to press upon them the need to increase affordable housing in Dallas and Collin county. Better yet, push for changing the minimum wage to a living wage. Only together can we change the system.