Dallas, TX
Finding faith: People experiencing homelessness graduate from Dallas support program
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Amanda Steggall, 45, stood in black regalia in a packed room at Dallas Life, a faith-based shelter for unhoused people. She described the anger she felt when she and her two kids lost their housing and ended up at the shelter.
“I felt like there was just no hope,” Steggall said. “And there was just no getting out of it.”
When she found Dallas Life, Steggall said, it was hard for her family to be around so many other people and have to attend classes and stick to curfews and schedules. But eventually, the mother said, she found a job, a support system and a faith that guides her.
On Monday, friends and family of 11 graduates clapped and cheered when the black-robbed cohort held diplomas to their chests. Graduates moved their black tassels with a ’24 charm across their caps.
At any given time, about 100 people participate in the Homeless No More program, which holds several graduations throughout the year.
In about 10 months, Dallas Life’s faith-based Homeless No More recovery program teaches financial literacy, anger management and job-readiness skills to people who have lost their housing and relationships and need extra support.
Graduates are able to secure permanent housing and employment, a path toward re-entering society that looks different for each individual.
Mary Ann Sweeney, the director of the Homeless No More program, told the crowd of about 100 staff members, family and friends that she was proud of the graduates’ journey to overcome past fears and crises.
“God has been so faithful to each one of these graduates,” Mary Ann said. “God is the one who got them to this point. He’s the one that walked side by side. He’s the one who gave him the strength and the courage to stand firm and to follow through to the end.”
The Rev. Bob Sweeney, Dallas Life’s executive director and Mary Ann’s husband, designed the program that’s divided into four phases. The first three phases require participants to remain inside the shelter’s facilities, located near the Cedars neighborhood south of downtown.
Dallas Life, which started housing people in 1954, helps hundreds of men and women focus on their recovery with practical budgeting skills and spiritual healing that aim to repair relationships, Bob Sweeney said.
The faith leader said successful homelessness recovery programs give a person expectations and accountability. “You must have skin in the game,” Sweeney said. “You have to put your best foot forward toward recovery. I want them to walk in the door knowing it took a while to become whole.”
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Steggall lived at Dallas Life with her 14-year-old daughter and 6-year-old son, while her oldest, a 17-year-old son, lived with his dad in Idaho.
“It was hard on them being here at first,” Steggall said. “But just seeing all the struggles that we went through, I know we did it together.”
Steggall said her kids motivated her each day to find a path to stability. Now she works at Haystack, a burger restaurant in University Park, and is finalizing her housing. She and another mother who graduated from the program are searching for housing options as roommates.
“I had to do better for them,” Steggall said. “And, yeah, I think they’re very proud of their mom, and I think it means a lot for them to see me follow through and do something knowing that it was not just for them but for me, too.”
Ronnie Lee Owens, 58, had mixed emotions after graduating from the program. He’s excited to start a new chapter of his personal health, which improved over the past year he’s lived at Dallas Life, which he calls his safe haven.
After developing kidney disease, Owens said, he couldn’t work anymore and eventually lost his little red house, his truck and motorcycle. “I’m starting over again from scratch,” Owens said. “When your health goes bad like that, it’s out of your control.”
After the graduation ceremony, Aleisha Sanders, 44, celebrated with her son, daughter and granddaughter with hugs and cupcakes. Sanders said finishing the program felt like “getting a monkey off her back.”
Although she works in child care full-time these days, Sanders said she wants to put her cosmetology license and skills to work again. “I want to go back to a salon … working for someone and learning what’s news because I’ve been out for a couple of years,” Sanders said.
Sanders and her family live in a home in Mesquite. Her 1-year-old granddaughter, Bleu, has never known a stable home.
“For her whole life, we have been homeless,” Sanders said. “We lived in extended stays. We lived in the car until it got [repossessed]. Then we got into different shelters. It was a long, hard road.”
For a moment, it looked like FC Dallas was on its way to another statement win at home tonight.
Petar Musa scored two first half goals, to extend his Golden Boot leading tally to nine goals. But after Dallas grabbed control, the Galaxy found a way back before halftime with goals from Lucas Sanabria and Joseph Paintsil.
The second half brought more chances and more frustration for Dallas, which finished the night with 13 shots to LA’s nine. In the end, the point stretched Dallas’ unbeaten run to five games, though just like last week, it felt like another match where Dallas left points on the table.
Key Moments
7’ – GOAL! After a poor pass back by a LA defender, Petar Musa was free to go one-on-one with the LA goalkeeper. After a touch to get ahead of a defender, Musa slotted home his eighth goal of the season from outside the penalty box.
21’ – Offside! Joaquin Valiente sent a floating ball over the Galaxy defense, where Musa was able to get behind the defense and make an easy play for what appeared to be his second goal of the night. The play was called offside despite a fairly lengthy review period.
38’ – GOAL! This one counts! Musa gets his second of the night off a great ball from Chris Cappis. Logan Farrington picked off the ball in the midfield. He then played Cappis wide to the left of the penalty area. Cappis immediately played a ball back across the goal for Musa to slide in and finish for his ninth of the season.
43’ – Goal LA. Lucas Sanabria got the ball near the top of the penalty area. He took a couple of touches to get outside the penalty box before firing a shot that beat Michael Collodi at the near post.
45+4’ – Goal LA. Gabriel Pec got the ball near the top of the penalty area. He pulled the ball back a bit, which caught a pair of Dallas defenders. This allowed Joseph Painstil to get free behind the Dallas defense as Pec played him through inside the penalty area. Pec immediately smashed home a shot above Collodi to tie the game.
75’ – Another offside goal. This time on a corner kick for Dallas, after a scrum in the penalty box, Kaick hammered home what looked to be the go-ahead goal. But after a few seconds the flag was raised due to a deflection on Osaze Urhoghide, who was in an offside position.
Instant Reaction
Yeah, this is another disappointing result for this team. In a real way, it felt like the first half against Houston from last month. Dallas grabbed the lead, looked in control, but some defensive miscues opened the game up for the visitors to climb back.
With a double-game week coming up, this will certainly be another game where Dallas will wonder ‘what if’ more than anything else…especially when you factor in the two goals called off for offside.
About the Subs
Eric Quill went to his bench for the first time in the 66th minute, as he brought on Santiago Moreno for Logan Farrington. Quill went to his bench again 81st minute with Ran Binyamin and Nolan Norris coming on for Sebastien Ibeagha and Deedson. The final sub came during stoppage time with Herman Johansson and Joaquin Valiente coming off for Sam Sarver and rookie Nick Simmonds, who made his MLS debut.
Man of the Match
No question about it tonight, it has to be Musa.
Where does this fit into the season
As of this writing, the draw puts Dallas into a three-way tie for 5th place with Real Salt Lake and Seattle. Both are in action right now and look firmly in control of their games. I’d expect Dallas to be in 7th place by the end of the night.
What’s next for FC Dallas
Dallas wraps up a three-game homestand next Wednesday night as they host Minnesota United.
Dallas, TX
Akheem Mesidor selected by Cowboys by Blogging The Boys in SB Nation’s community mock draft
Akheem Mesidor, Edge, Miami
Pass rush has been an issue since the Micah Parsons trade. The Rashan Gary trade helped, but Dallas still needs an injection of talent. Akheem Mesidor fits here because his body size allows for some versatility inside and out, something DC Christian Parker utilizes. Mesidor is also a high-motor player with a deep bag of pass rush moves.
His last season at Miami was full of disruption in the offensive backfield and he shows an all-around game, not just a bend-around-the-edge pass rusher. Yes, he’s a little older than you’d like in a rookie (25), but his motor, pass rush toolbox, and ability to play the run matches up with a need and makes him a quality pick at number 20.
The City of Dallas Office of Community Police Oversight is hosting a Public Safety Response Symposium to connect residents with public safety leaders. Here’s how to participate on May 9.
The Dallas Police Department posted to social media about the event on Friday afternoon. The post states, “Join public safety leaders for an inside look at how emergency and non-emergency calls are handled and how resources are deployed across Dallas.”
The symposium will be held at the Briscoe Carpenter Livestock Center, 1403 Washington St., fro 11 a.m.-noon on May 9. Doors open at 9:30 a.m. Light breakfast and refreshments will be provided.
Topics for the symposium include:
- How 911 calls are handled and dispatched
- How DPD uses specialized units and technology to improve response times
- When to use 311 for non-emergency services
- How crisis and behavioral health teams collaborate through alternative response strategies
There will also be a community Q&A forum where residents can engage directly with public safety leaders. Moderation will be provided.
Dallas Police Chief Daniel C. Comeaux will offer the opening remarks. Featured speakers include 911 Communications Center Assistant Director Robert Uribe; Major of Police Anthony Greer; 311 Senior Outreach Specialist Stephen Walker; and Emergency Management & Crisis Response Director Kevin Oden.
When it comes to parking: Enter through Gate 2 and drive straight to the Pan Am Gate, and continue to the Briscoe Center (located on the left).
RSVP for the Public Safety Response Symposium here.
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