Dallas, TX

Dallas’ new strategy to shutter homeless encampments

Published

3 weeks ago

May 5, 2024

Dallas’ new strategy to shutter homeless encampments

It is rewarding to see that efforts to reduce homelessness continue to yield results. Based on the latest point-in-time count, homelessness in Dallas and Collin counties declined for the third consecutive year.

This trend indicates that homelessness strategies are working for some individuals who have fallen on hard times. However, the strategies aren’t working for a significant number of visibly homeless individuals on streets and encampments within the city of Dallas, including those on City Hall’s doorstep. Homelessness intervention efforts now must make shuttering encampments and safely housing these homeless individuals a pressing priority. Too many chronically homeless people have been on the streets for years and must have humane but clear intervention.

Toward that end, Housing Forward, which coordinates homelessness strategies in Dallas and Collin counties, last week announced a goal to cut street homelessness by 50% by 2026 from 2021 levels when homelessness here reached an all-time high.

The $30 million, public-private plan would emphasize closing encampments in public spaces with a targeted “Street to Home” strategy to deploy behavioral health care and rehousing assistance onsite to speed up the process. Much of that focus will be on the central business district — including the area outside City Hall — where homeless advocates estimate that 300 to 400 people regularly gather.

This is a much-needed next step to address a multilayered problem that negatively affects homeless individuals and Dallas neighborhoods. The most recent point-in-time count conducted in Dallas and Collin counties in January revealed 3,718 homeless individuals, a 12% drop from 2023. And since 2021, when the homeless count reached its peak of 4,570, overall homelessness has declined 19% and unsheltered homelessness 24%. The homeless count in the city of Dallas stood at 2,929, an 8% decline from last year and a 20% decrease since 2022.

However, visible street homelessness, often synonymous with chronic homelessness, fell just 6.5% from last year’s count, suggesting that a new strategy is needed to more effectively empty, close, clean and secure homeless encampments so that these enclaves don’t reconstitute.

The reality is that public encampments pose unacceptable public health and safety problems. Unfortunately, transition of the most visible homeless individuals from life on the streets to rehabilitation services, housing and a better life isn’t happening fast enough.

Housing Forward’s new approach wisely recognizes the need for a more urgent response to mitigate public health, safety and quality of life concerns of entrenched encampments without compromising successful strategies. Housing Forward says the region has successfully housed over 10,000 previously homeless individuals — many of them families, homeless youth and veterans — since 2021.

Dallas is moving in the right direction, thanks in part to a more coordinated homeless response system than existed a decade ago. But in the interest of recapturing quality of life, Dallas must redouble its efforts to reduce the erosive impact of chronic homelessness and visible public encampments.

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Dallas, TX

Celtics Roll Pacers, the Dominant Dallas Defense, and Some Timberwolves Concerns

Published

3 hours ago

May 24, 2024

Press Room

Celtics Roll Pacers, the Dominant Dallas Defense, and Some Timberwolves Concerns

Verno and KOC discuss the absolute stomping of the Pacers by the Celtics as Boston takes a 2-0 series lead (01:00). They debate whether the Pacers stand any chance of coming back without Tyrese Haliburton, who left Game 2 with an injury, and discuss Jaylen Brown’s performance after he was snubbed for an All-NBA team. Moving on, they discuss how the Mavs defense was able to restrain Anthony Edwards to take Game 1 (23:48). They discuss the Timberwolves’ defensive strategies and whether Chris Finch needs to make some adjustments, as well as Rudy Gobert’s overall impact. Also, the guys share their reaction to the All-NBA teams, J. B. Bickerstaff’s firing, and whether Trajan Langdon can bring some much-needed stability to the Pistons’ front office (48:26).

Got a question for Verno and KOC? Send them an email at nbamailbag@gmail.com!

Or you can send the guys a tweet @ChrisVernonShow and @KevinOConnorNBA!

The Ringer is committed to responsible gaming. Please visit www.rg-help.com to learn more about the resources and helplines available.

Hosts: Chris Vernon and Kevin O’Connor
Producer: Jessie Lopez
Social: Keith Fujimoto

Subscribe: Spotify / Apple Podcasts / Stitcher

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Dallas, TX

Live updates: Dallas Stars host Edmonton Oilers for Game 1 of Western Conference finals

Published

10 hours ago

May 23, 2024

Press Room

Live updates: Dallas Stars host Edmonton Oilers for Game 1 of Western Conference finals

The NHL’s Western Conference finals have arrived.

Game 1 between the Dallas Stars and Edmonton Oilers is set for 7:30 p.m. Thursday at American Airlines Center. Dallas secured its spot in this round by eliminating Colorado in six games, while Edmonton advanced by defeating Vancouver in seven.

Can the Stars make the most of home ice to open this round of postseason action?

Follow along below for live updates, game coverage and more from our writers and photographers on scene at AAC.

Pregame updates

Stars’ expected lines:

Robertson-Johnston-Stankoven

Marchment-Duchene-Pavelski

Benn-Seguin-Dadonov

Faksa-Steel-Smith

Harley-Heiskanen

Lindell-Tanev

Suter-Petrovic

Oettinger

Pregame reading

— Longtime friends Jim Nill, Ken Holland reunite as dueling GMs in Stars-Oilers series

— Stars forward Roope Hintz remains out of lineup for Game 1 of Western Conference finals

— Stars coach Pete DeBoer has respect of team, opponents: ‘The type of guy you cheer for’

— Dallas rallying around Stars, Mavs during conference finals runs: ‘The city is buzzing’

— What Dallas, Edmonton mayors are wagering for Stars-Oilers meeting in West finals

Find more Stars coverage from The Dallas Morning News here.

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Trevon Diggs and DeMarvion Overshown are progressing well from ACL tears

Published

17 hours ago

May 23, 2024

Press Room

Trevon Diggs and DeMarvion Overshown are progressing well from ACL tears

Before the Dallas Cowboys could get their 2023 campaign underway, they were hit with a major blow on the injury front. Rookie linebacker DeMarvion Overshown suffered a torn ACL in a preseason game for Dallas. Then, almost as soon as the season started, the Cowboys got dealt with another huge blow. All-Pro cornerback Trevon Diggs tore his ACL as well in Week 3.

Head coach Mike McCarthy hit the podium for questions on Wednesday during OTAs. When asked about the progress of Diggs and Overshown, he let it be known that all is well with both players.

“They look great,” McCarthy said via the team’s website. “It’s really staying on time with the process. Trevon, he’s out there, he’s hitting [rehab] four days a week…I know Al [Harris] is spending time with him when he’s here. [Overshown] actually looks really good. It’s respecting the timeline. If I was a doctor, which I’m not, I would say he’s a little ahead of schedule.”

Overshown hit the ground running during training camp last summer, and it continued into the preseason. The sideline-to-sideline ability and quick play recognition due to fantastic instincts were all there for the former safety-turned-linebacker. As he continues to recover, Overshown will have the luxury of getting guidance from veterans Eric Kendricks and Damien Wilson in Year 2, which will serve him well going forward.

It was a huge setback for Overshown when he went down, and with him on the field, the Cowboys’ defense would have been a lot stronger in 2023. If anyone is thinking that Overshown is using his injury as a reason to lower the expectations for him going forward, think again.

“More hungry,” Overshown said in March. “All of the excitement that was built up in year one is still in there. It’s ready to be unleashed on people. The glimpse that y’all got last year, you should expect 10 times more than that. This ACL injury will not be an excuse for anything going into the season at all. I’m gonna be ready to play and [fans] should expect that.”

Diggs had some struggles as a rookie in 2020. However, the former wide-receiver-turned-cornerback snagged three interceptions in the final five games, and then he went into another orbit. Diggs racked up an amazing 11 interceptions in 2021, which are the most in the NFL since 1981. His 18 interceptions since entering the league are the second-most behind free agent All-Pro safety Justin Simmons, but he’s done so in 13 fewer games.

Diggs has proven to be the best ball-hawking cornerback in the NFL over the last several seasons. However, this is a major injury to recover from, and it usually takes around a year for an ACL tear to heal properly. Luckily for the Cowboys, they have DaRon Bland on the roster who took over outside cornerback duties for Diggs and led the league in interceptions with nine last season.

Once Diggs gets back to form, the Cowboys will have the two most opportunistic cornerbacks in the game. According to Bland, it won’t take long for Diggs to get back to his old self.

“I mean, a lot of people are not expecting what Tre is gonna come back with. I know what Tre is gonna come back with. It’s going to be something dangerous. Can’t wait,” said Bland earlier this month.

Overshown and Diggs could be candidates to start the season on the PUP list, which would cause them to miss the first four games. However, Diggs is expected to be ready for training camp, and seeing as Overshown’s injury happened a month earlier, that bodes well for him also.

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