Dallas Housing Crisis Center programs and solutions.
The focus of the Dallas Texas Housing Crisis Center is on both preventing homelessness as well as rehousing those that need an affordable, safe, and permanent home to live in. The breadth of services offered by the non-profit agency are extensive. For those that quality, they may receive legal aid and representation, referrals to rental and security deposit assistance programs, and access to transitional housing and low income apartments. The non-profit has been operating since the 1970s and has assisted tens of thousands of Dallas residents since that time.
The main goal is to stabilize families facing eviction and prevent further incidences of homelessness in Dallas County. For those seeking a place to live, the Housing Crisis Center is involved in offering shelter and transitional housing in the region. This can be offered for either short or long term needs. Staff from the non-profit will also help clients in locating, moving into, and paying for permanent housing. This is all offered with case management and counseling, which is targeted at addressing the root cause of homelessness.
Many of the people seeking help do have jobs, but either their income is not high enough to consistently pay the rent or they are faced with some form of emergency or one time crisis. They are just struggling to make ends meet. So the Housing Crisis Center will arrange assistance to them. It ranges from employment assistance, affordable child care, to of course housing. In some cases information on resources to pay a portion of a families back rent may be available. More details are below.
Both short and long term transitional housing is offered to families and individuals who were evicted and are homeless. They can enroll into the HCC Home Again program for up to two years. They will work with staff and make progress toward long term goals of stable housing and financial success.
As part of this process, families will receive utilities and rent help so they can live in low income apartments in the Dallas County community. Clients will also receive intensive case management services and other support that is needed to acquire skills, a new job, or to otherwise become employed and self-sufficient.
Free legal aid and education to prevent evictions is available. Staff will provide information and answer questions regarding tenant rights, the eviction laws in Texas and responsibilities. There is also a weekly, in person clinic held at the HCC site. Participants can learn more about Texas housing laws at the sites.
These pro-bono legal representation services are provided by an on-site attorney or paralegal. When resources allow, tenants who have defensible eviction cases may be represented in court by this Housing Crisis Center attorney, and all services are offered at no cost to the client.
Veterans in Dallas are a focus too. They also have access to permanent supportive housing with intensive and comprehensive case management. This is available for disabled, homeless, and very low income veterans and their family members. In addition to that, members of the military or veterans will be able to receive support services at the Dallas County VA Medical Center, at their apartment complex or other centers in the region.
Transitional housing may lead to the client graduating to Permanent Housing Services. This is more a long term solution for the family. Clients will be placed into an affordable, low income apartment and be able to access comprehensive case management. This is an option for chronically homeless individuals in the region, including the disabled and veterans. They will often need to contribute some of their income towards rent costs and a deposit.
Similar to above is the voucher based Good Neighbor Project. This is also permanent supportive housing for formerly homeless individuals and families and is run in partnership with the Dallas Housing Authority as well as HCC.
A number of other resources are offered from the Housing Crisis Center, including referrals to financial support, the ACE housing program, and general advice and support when it comes to preventing evictions. Other social services may be coordinated with non-profit partner agencies. The main HCC office is at 4210 Junius Street, Dallas, Texas 75246. Call 214.828.4244.
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