Dallas Mayor Appoints New Working Group to Develop Recommendations to Address Homelessness

DALLAS. A newly appointed task force is tasked with examining strategies and recommendations to address homelessness in the city of Dallas.

Mayor Eric Johnson announced the creation of the Homeless Organization Policies and Camps Task Force, or HOPE, during a press conference on Thursday, February. 16.

The group will spend several months preparing the report and recommendations.

In the meantime, the city and its partners will continue to address the complex community issue.

Public defender Kenneth Wynn is among residents concerned about the growing homeless population in the city of Dallas. Wynn noticed that the homeless encampment the city had cleared was once again becoming a problem in his Pleasant Grove community.

In a field near Lake June and Masters, several tents and makeshift shacks are hidden behind trees. Among other things, there are huge piles of old clothes and broken household appliances lying around.

“I don’t mind the homeless camping out. It’s the garbage they bring in,” Wynn explained.

The area is just one of many homeless encampments creeping closer to residential areas of Dallas. This is a public issue that many neighbors and city officials are thinking about.

“To put it simply, solving this problem is not easy,” Mayor Johnson said. “I am formally creating the Mayor’s Task Force on Homeless Organization Policies and Camps.

Johnson said the 10-member HOPE Working Group will be responsible for finding and recommending concrete solutions to reduce homelessness and encourage healthier, safer communities.

“Nothing is beyond discussion,” said Pyotr Brodsky, one of the commissars of the task force.

“Hopefully we come out of the box with some alternative housing solutions,” added Task Force Commissioner Betty Culbreth.

HOPE has until June 15, 2023 to prepare a report with recommendations.

Wynn said he remains optimistic that the task force will help.

“I pray it happens,” Wynn sighed.

As for the large camp near June Lake and Masters Road, Wynn said the city has said it will tackle the area in the coming days.