Homelessness and What to Do About It
September 9, 2022
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At United Way of Metropolitan Dallas, our housing stability work is a fundamental component of our mission to improve access to education, income and health. After all, children need secure housing to do their best in school, adults need safe and affordable homes to get and keep living-wage jobs, and we all require a safe and secure home to maintain both physical and mental health.
On any given night, more than 4,400 people are experiencing homelessness in Dallas and Collin counties. And although that number has declined in recent years, homelessness is still a significant challenge in our community. What can we do about it?
This question was the focus of the third installment of the event series Hard Conversations: Who Deserves a Shot at the American Dream? from our partner Housing Forward, formerly Metro Dallas Homeless Alliance.
The virtual event, held Aug. 23, featured Jill Khadduri, Ph.D., and Marybeth Shinn, Ph.D., authors of the book “In the Midst of Plenty: Homelessness and What to Do About It.” Ashley Brundage, executive director of housing stability and senior vice president of community impact at United Way of Metropolitan Dallas, served as moderator.
The event was a fascinating discussion on topics including:
- What causes homelessness
- The role of housing affordability
- How to make housing voucher programs more successful
- The impact of supportive services, such as childcare and workforce development programs
- How to tackle chronic homelessness
- Homelessness prevention measures that work
Our Work to End Homelessness Continues
At United Way of Metropolitan Dallas, we recognize that housing stability is foundational for supporting education, income and health—the building blocks of opportunity. Our work in housing stability spans a continuum of services, including:- Supporting the creation of affordable housing
- Eviction prevention
- Assisting people experiencing homelessness so they can get housed as quickly as possible
- Make a monthly donation to United Way of Metropolitan Dallas.
- Join one of our Giving Societies to access monthly events and rewarding volunteer opportunities, network with like-minded change-seekers, gain frequent updates about our impact in the community and more.