Judging by the comments here on the blog, lots of Lake Highlands residents would have preferred that the “permanent supportive housing” projects for the homeless settle somewhere else in Dallas.
Now that fifty individuals and families are in the process of actually moving into the Trinity Palms Apartments on Forest Lane and the concept has become real people, there’s an opportunity for you to jump in and help LH’s newest residents.
The Greater Dallas Justice Revival has launched the “Homes for Our Neighbors” campaign to serve homeless families and individuals placed in our midst. This effort, in partnership with Metro Dallas Homeless Alliance and the Dallas Housing Authority, will mobilize the faith community and neighborhood organizations to reach out to new residents by assisting with basic material needs necessary to start a new household. Donors are being sought to provide clothes, food, furniture and bus passes to residents, and plans are in the works for future projects, such as classes on cooking, parenting, personal finance and bible study. The idea is that Sunday School classes, bridge clubs, PTAs – neighborhood groups of all kinds – will adopt one or more individuals or families. A gift of $50 will provide food and transportation (bus passes) for an individual for one month, and $150 will provide for an entire family. The donations will be administered by the Housing Crisis Center, a well-established nonprofit providing intensive support services to these new residents, including two case managers on the property full-time.
You can mail a check, payable to Housing Crisis Center, to the HCC offices at 4210 Junius Street, Dallas TX 75246 – just note that it is for the Trinity Palms Adopt a Family Program. If you have a question or want to get your organization involved in a hands-on way, contact Reverend Kathryn Ryan or Dabney Dwyer at LH’s Episcopal Church of the Ascension, 8787 Greenville Avenue, 214-340-4196.
The question of whether or not these folks should come to LH is finished. The question of whether these folks will land on their feet or fall back into despair may be up to you and the others in your group.
