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Dallas needs a middle ground between homeless camps and ‘housing first’

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Dallas needs a middle ground between homeless camps and ‘housing first’


Though headlines this year announced that the homeless head count in Dallas County had gone down, many Dallasites were skeptical. They only have to look out their window to see tents, dirty mattresses and stolen shopping carts.

“This is a constant battle,” read a recent 311 complaint to Dallas City Hall.

In the past 30 days, Dallas’ 311 service has received more than 1,000 complaints about homeless encampments, records show. Residents and businesses complained about homeless people urinating and defecating on the sidewalk or other public places where children can see them. They complained about tents behind neighborhoods and apartments, under bridges and near retail stores, and reported unsheltered people cutting holes through highway fences.

Dallas’ “housing first” strategy to shut down a camp only once a permanent home has been secured for every camp resident is not quick enough to address the disorder that residents live with every day. The city simply cannot tolerate having people sleeping on the street or in wooded areas for days or weeks at a time. We need a middle ground, and the Dallas City Council is right to explore a pilot program for transitional housing options.

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According to a recent council briefing, these would be makeshift homes without foundations, making them temporary structures. Dallas isn’t pioneering anything here; other cities struggling with homelessness have provided a roadmap. Think of tiny, prefabricated homes and refurbished shipping containers arranged neatly on parking lots to create small communities or “villages.” City staff and council members recently visited transitional housing sites in Los Angeles and Atlanta, where nonprofits provide “wraparound” services for residents to get them job training and help them get apartments.

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Each person gets his or her own private unit, and it’s much quicker and cheaper for cities and nonprofits to set up these communities than it is to build an apartment complex or neighborhood.

There is some concern that transitional housing could distract from the city’s efforts to get more permanent supportive housing built. Dallas clearly needs both.

“We talk about what we’re getting: a roof over your head, a door that locks, something that’s waterproof, something that has electricity,” City Council member Jesse Moreno, chair of the council’s housing committee, said at a recent meeting. “And I just can’t understand how some folks can argue against this type of housing versus a tent on the streets.”

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Of course, there will be lots of complexities to sort through. There is the question of where the temporary housing would go and how operating costs would be covered, including social services and security. Dallas has some capital funds earmarked for homelessness to invest as seed money, and council members are interested in a two-year pilot program.

We have concerns about the idea of city-sanctioned encampments that would keep people outdoors, and we cannot tolerate city-sanctioned lawless spaces. The council has to carefully vet temporary housing options and potential private partners. What it can’t do is sit around the horseshoe and accept things the way they are now.

We welcome your thoughts in a letter to the editor. See the guidelines and submit your letter here. If you have problems with the form, you can submit via email at letters@dallasnews.com



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Dallas, TX

Abbott is ramping up protection across Texas after Iran airstrikes

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Abbott is ramping up protection across Texas after Iran airstrikes


Texas Governor Greg Abbott has directed the Department of Public Safety and the Texas National Guard to increase protection at key state sites following U.S. and Israeli airstrikes on Iran.

Abbott issued a statement Saturday supporting the military action, writing “Texas stands with President Trump in sending a clear message to Iran: its aggression toward American and the West will no longer be tolerated.”

The governor said he directed DPS and the Texas National Guard to ramp up surveillance and patrols at energy facilities, ports and southern border.

“Texas is working closely with our federal partners to protect Texans and our critical assets from potential threats of retaliation,” Abbott said.

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In a post on X, the Texas National Guard announced its activation of service members.

Iran has retaliated by firing attacks toward Israel and U.S. military bases in the Middle East.

Across the U.S., law enforcement has stepped up patrols at sensitive areas, including houses of worship and diplomatic sites.

Security expert Eric Jackson, who retired as Special Agent in Charge of the Dallas FBI field office, said law enforcement would be analyzing intelligence closely for potential threats at home.

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“These types of matters bring out the best in the [FBI],” said Jackson. “Everybody’s working hard and everybody’s focused on protecting the homeland.”





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Insider Reveals Dallas Cowboys’ Upcoming Plans With Anthony Hill Jr.

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Insider Reveals Dallas Cowboys’ Upcoming Plans With Anthony Hill Jr.


The Dallas Cowboys may not have met formally with Texas linebacker Anthony Hill Jr. at the NFL Combine, but their interest in the Longhorns’ defender is still worth watching.

Earlier this week, it was revealed by Dallas Cowboys’ beat writer Clarence Hill Jr. that Dallas has intentions to schedule a private dinner with Hill Jr. ahead of Texas’ pro day.

Currently, the Texas linebacker is rated the No. 5 linebacker and the No. 34 prospect in this year’s draft class.

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The Cowboys have made it abundantly clear that they are keeping their eyes on the elite prospects coming from the state of Texas.

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Not only did the organization meet with Longhorns’ linebacker Trey Moore earlier this week, but it has also spent time with multiple Texas A&M prospects during the pre-draft process.

Why Anthony Hill Jr. Makes Sense for Dallas

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Texas Longhorns linebacker Anthony Hill Jr. celebrates during the game between the Texas Longhorns and the Oklahoma Sooners at the Cotton Bowl. | Jerome Miron-Imagn Images

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Hill Jr. makes plenty of sense for Dallas because of the kind of speed, range, and physicality he brings to the second level of a defense. Across three years at Texas, the linebacker totaled just under 250 tackles, 31.5 tackles for a loss, and 17.0 sacks. He also forced eight fumbles, deflected seven passes, and caught three interceptions during his time in Austin as well.

With that kind of résumé at the collegiate level, it’s no wonder why the Cowboys have shown great interest in Hill Jr. While they may not have formally met with him before the NFL Combine, the organization’s willingness to schedule a dinner the Texas linebacker says plenty about the level of respect it has for his game.

There are many mock drafts that have Hill Jr. going in the first round of this year’s draft. He’s projected an early second-round pick, but his versatility and well-rounded physical traits set him apart from most defensive prospects.

He also set himself apart from the other linebackers in this draft cycle by running a 4.51-second 40-time at the NFL Combine earlier this week. Ohio State’s Arvell Reese and Sonny Styles both ran a 4.46-second 40-yard dash, while TCU’s Kaleb Elarms-Orr recorded an impressive time of 4.47 seconds.

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The private dinner gives the Cowboys a chance to learn more about Hill Jr. away from the football field. While the Texas linebacker has the tangibles to be an instant playmaker for any NFL franchise, it seems that Dallas is looking to learn more about his personality before the Texas Longhorns’ pro day.

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Last year, Texas’ Pro Day took place on March 25, giving NFL teams one final chance to watch the Longhorns’ draft prospects go through drills and interviews in Austin.





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Letters to the Editor – Three Cheers for a Plano fire station, Dallas Parks & Rec, voting

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Letters to the Editor – Three Cheers for a Plano fire station, Dallas Parks & Rec, voting


1 Plano No. 5 fire station paramedics — I thank God for the paramedics at Plano No. 5 fire station. On Sunday after services, my wife of 46 years had a severe heart attack. The 911 call brought six great men who quickly got my wife to the excellent Baylor Scott & White The Heart Hospital and saved her life.

I am so grateful to not only live here in Plano, but that the Lord is not done with Donna yet.

Anton Skell, Plano

2 Dallas Park and Recreation teams — On behalf of all the bikers, joggers and walkers along the White Rock Creek trail, a special thanks to the Dallas Park and Recreation teams that clean all the goo and muck off the trail after a heavy rain.

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This is particularly an issue at the White Rock Creek and Cottonwood Creek low water crossing as mud several inches thick accumulates along about a foot-long swath of the trial, making it incredibly slippery and unsafe.

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However, like clockwork, we can count on a team from Park and Rec with their front-end loader, shovels and squeegees to clear the path within 24 hours or so. Appreciate all the work!

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Ron Carey, North Dallas

3 DMN voting recommendations — Thank you for the time and energy that you spend vetting the candidates and making your recommendations. I take your thoughts seriously and am grateful for the information you provide.

I hope you continue to provide this valuable service. It’s needed and appreciated.

Alice Gant Coder, Dallas

We welcome your thoughts in a letter to the editor. See the guidelines and submit your letter here.

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If you have problems with the form, you can submit via email at letters@dallasnews.com



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