Tarrant County homeless population sees first dip in numbers because 2021

Housing works.

That's the message stressed by Tarrant County Homeless Coalition Executive Director Lauren King throughout the union's State of the Homeless address on March 27..

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And the bright side is that investments in real estate led to a 12% decline in Tarrant County's homeless population, she said.

" When we have housing financial investments, we have the ability to decrease homelessness-- our numbers go down," King said. "We continue to reveal that over and over once again.".

In general, the number of people living on the streets has decreased, in addition to the number of veterans and households experiencing homelessness. The most recent numbers from the union's Point in Time Count show about 2,390 individuals experiencing homelessness throughout the county, with 81% of them in Fort Worth.

The Point in Time Count happened Jan. 25 across Tarrant County. The average temperature level that night was 46 degrees. About 400 volunteers signed up to get involved.

In 2023, the coalition and its partners focused on buying housing as a long-term option to homelessness. King kept in mind a boost in financing for rental support and affordable real estate as one of the key reasons that homeless numbers reduced this year. Rent and inflation are beginning to level out; although the numbers are still high, they are not increasing.

Thanks to those financial investments, the union and its partners had the ability to house 2,504 individuals-- more than ever in the past, King stated.

That remains in part because of an extra 400 emergency situation real estate vouchers gotten from the federal government, which supplemented the standard 350 coupons assigned annually. Those extra vouchers assisted home families at a time when household homelessness reached an all-time high.

The Department of Veterans Affairs likewise poured millions of dollars into addressing veteran homelessness in 2023, substantially minimizing numbers.

" Whatever population we buy real estate in, it is going to affect the numbers," King said.

Moving forward, the union kept in mind the top priority of getting more long-lasting housing, such as permanent supportive housing or irreversible housing, built to help cost-burdened homeowners. That is among the greatest spaces today in the system, King stated.

" People who are on set income or on low-income and simply need that long-term rental assistance," she stated. "Financially, that's where we'll be seeking to invest.".

The union reported over 2,700 people experiencing homelessness in 2023, a 22% boost from 2020. Advocates have actually pointed to the expiration of federal financing for real estate projects, the end of the expulsion moratorium and rising costs of living as the primary reasons more people-- particularly families-- went into homelessness last year.

Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, the union reported a 40% reduction in homelessness, associated in part to a large increase of homeless prevention financing, much of which ended in 2022.

Considering that 1994, the homeless coalition has actually been collecting this information, which is used to notify decisions about services and resources.

Fort Worth's homeless population numbers are lower than other major cities in Texas, such as Houston, Dallas and San Antonio.

Tarrant County and the cities of Fort Worth and Arlington collectively devoted over $64 million in American Rescue Plan Act funds to establish and construct more cost effective housing in 2023.

Over the next two years, the coalition, in partnership with the county and city of Fort Worth, will invest an estimated $50 million to produce over 300 brand-new units for individuals exiting homelessness, including the chronically homeless and families. Those projects consist of Casa de los Suenos, coming online in August and Presbyterian Night Shelter's Journey Home.

Fort Worth Mayor Mattie Parker said the City Council is fully dedicated to making certain the nonprofit organizations dealing with this susceptible population receive the assistance and resources required to be effective.

" This is something that every big American city is grappling with," Parker said. "We are imperfect in Fort Worth and Tarrant County, I know that. I want to encourage you because I securely think that we are leading with finest practices and we actually are doing the right things.".

Sandra Sadek is a Report for America corps member, covering development for the Fort Worth Report. You can contact her at sandra.sadek@fortworthreport.org or on social networks @ssadek19..

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The Fort Worth Report keeps the copyright for all of its published content. Contact Managing Editor Thomas Martinez.Tarrant County homeless population sees very first dip in numbers because 2021 if you have any other questions.
by Sandra Sadek, Fort Worth Report.
March 27, 2024.

<< h1>> Tarrant County homeless population sees very first dip in numbers because 2021<.
<< p class="" byline" > by Sandra Sadek, Fort Worth Report << br/>> March 27, 2024<.

<< p>> Housing works.&& nbsp;. < p > That's the message emphasized by Tarrant County Homeless Coalition Executive Director Lauren King during the coalition's State of the Homeless address on March 27. <.
<< p>> And the bright side is that financial investments in real estate caused a 12% decrease in Tarrant County's homeless population, she said.&& nbsp;. < p >" When we have housing financial investments, we have the ability to reduce homelessness-- our numbers decrease," King stated. "We continue to show that over and over again."<.
<< p>> Overall, the number of people surviving on the streets has actually reduced, along with the variety of families and veterans experiencing homelessness. The current numbers from the coalition's Point in Time Count show about 2,390 people experiencing homelessness across the county, with 81% of them in Fort Worth.&& nbsp;. < p > The < a href=" https://fortworthreport.org/2024/01/26/tarrant-county-volunteers-offer-snapshot-of-homeless-population/">> Point in Time Count< occurred Jan. 25 across Tarrant County. The average temperature that night was 46 degrees. About 400 volunteers signed up to take part.&& nbsp;. < p > In 2023, the coalition and its partners concentrated on buying housing as a long-term solution to homelessness. King noted a boost in financing for rental support and budget friendly housing as one of the key reasons homeless numbers decreased this year. Rent and inflation are starting to level out; although the numbers are still high, they are not increasing.&& nbsp;. < p > Thanks to those investments, the union and its partners were able to house 2,504 individuals-- more than ever in the past, King stated.&& nbsp;. < p > That remains in part since of an extra 400 emergency housing vouchers received from the federal government, which supplemented the standard 350 vouchers allocated each year. Those additional coupons assisted home households at a time when << a href=" https://fortworthreport.org/2023/09/21/numbers-of-homeless-families-in-tarrant-county-grows-as-support-funds-are-depleted-or-diverted/">> family homelessness reached an all-time high<.&& nbsp;. < p > The Department of Veterans Affairs likewise << a href=" https://news.va.gov/press-room/va-announces-hundreds-of-millions-in-grant-funding-to-help-homeless-veterans-after-new-data-shows-an-uptick-in-homelessness/#:~:text=This%20year%2C%20VA%20has%20also,funding%20to%20help%20homeless%20Veterans.">> put countless dollars< into dealing with veteran homelessness in 2023, substantially decreasing numbers.&& nbsp;. < p >" Whatever population we buy housing in, it is going to affect the numbers," King said.&& nbsp;. < p > Moving forward, the union kept in mind the top priority of getting more long-term housing, such as long-term encouraging housing or long-term housing, constructed to assist << a href=" https://fortworthreport.org/2023/10/19/more-than-half-of-renters-in-fort-worth-are-cost-burdened-new-census-data-shows/">> cost-burdened residents<. That is among the most significant gaps today in the system, King said.&& nbsp;. < p >" People who are on fixed income or on low-income and just require that long-lasting rental assistance," she stated. "Financially, that's where we'll be seeking to invest."&& nbsp;. < p > The union reported over 2,700 people experiencing homelessness in 2023, a 22% boost from 2020. Advocates have actually pointed to the expiration of federal funding for housing projects, completion of the expulsion moratorium and rising expenses of living as the main reasons that more people-- particularly families-- went into homelessness in 2015.&& nbsp;. < p > During the COVID-19 pandemic, the union reported a 40% decline in homelessness, associated in part to a big increase of homeless prevention funding, much of which ended in 2022.&& nbsp;. < p > Since 1994, the homeless coalition has been gathering this information, which is utilized to notify choices about resources and services.&& nbsp;. < p > Fort Worth's homeless population numbers are << a href=" https://fortworthreport.org/2024/02/21/fact-brief-is-tarrant-countys-homeless-rate-as-high-as-dallas-countys/">> lower than other major cities< in Texas, such as Houston, Dallas and San Antonio.&& nbsp;. < p > Tarrant County and the cities of Fort Worth and Arlington jointly dedicated over $64 million in American Rescue Plan Act funds to establish and build more budget-friendly housing in 2023.&& nbsp;. < p > Over the next two years, the coalition, in collaboration with the county and city of Fort Worth, will invest an estimated $50 million to create over 300 new systems for people exiting homelessness, consisting of the chronically homeless and families. Those projects consist of << a href=" https://fortworthreport.org/2023/03/07/tarrant-county-agrees-to-new-deal-for-funding-casa-de-suenos-las-vegas-trails-latest-affordable-housing-proposal/">> Casa de los Suenos<, coming online in August and Presbyterian Night Shelter's << a href=" https://fortworthreport.org/2022/06/04/affordable-housing-proposals-could-help-fort-worth-city-council-address-demand-if-approved/">> Journey Home<.<.
<< p>> Fort Worth Mayor Mattie Parker said the City Council is completely devoted to ensuring the nonprofit companies working with this vulnerable population receive the assistance and resources needed to be successful.<.
<< p>>" This is something that every large American city is coming to grips with," Parker said. "We are imperfect in Fort Worth and Tarrant County, I know that. But I want to encourage you because I strongly believe that we are leading with best practices and we really are doing the right things."<.
<< p><> < em>> Sandra Sadek is a Report for America corps member, covering growth for the Fort Worth Report. You can contact her at sandra.sadek@fortworthreport.org or on social networks < < a href=" https://twitter.com/ssadek19"><> @ssadek19. < p > < em><> At>
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