The Dallas Housing Authority plans to help chronically homeless and formerly incarcerated people through new initiatives that include treatment services and housing subsidies within existing apartment complexes, some in the Lake Highlands area.
A spokesperson for the DHA told the Morning News that, while the initiative planning is in the early stages, “the housing authority has chosen five property owners and social service providers to receive federal funding for the project … next, it will negotiate contracts and residents would probably move in near the end of the year”.
The Vickery Meadows area is home to a “supportive housing” complex similar to those being planned. Though it exists in an area that is one of Dallas’ crime hot spots, the president of the Vickery Meadow Improvement Association tells the News that the complex has not caused any problems and has been maintained well. That’s more than he can probably say for many of the apartment complexes in that area.
As for the Lake Highlands area, two existing complexes will serve as supportive housing.
Though some might hope he would, District 10 Councilman Jerry Allen will not fight the Dallas Housing Authority’s initiative. He told the News our district might as well “embrace it … but hold them accountable.”
Allen’s attitude is not surprising considering his history. To his credit, he has played a large part in efforts to help families living in low-income apartments rather than simply trying to rid the neighborhood of them.
