Dallas Drops the Ball on Homelessness: Why Shelters Aren’t Enough

Posted on October 9, 2025

Imagine you’re exhausted, carrying everything you own in a bag, and you’ve got to line up at 4:00 p.m. for a bed in a shelter—only to be kicked out at dawn with nowhere to go. That’s the reality for too many unhoused people in Dallas, and the city just fumbled a chance to do better. In 2022, Dallas quietly bought a vacant hospital in Oak Cliff to create a hub for homeless services. Fast-forward to 2025, and they’re selling it off because it’s “too close” to a school, library, and park. Seriously? This is a wake-up call: our current approach—temporary night shelters and community NIMBYism—is failing people who need help most.

The Missed Opportunity: A Hospital That Could’ve Changed Lives

Back in 2022, the City of Dallas spent $6.5 million on the old University General Hospital, a 14-acre site in Oak Cliff, with big dreams of turning it into housing and support services for the unhoused. Think permanent supportive housing, job training, healthcare—the works. But after years of sitting on it, the city faced pushback from locals worried about the site’s proximity to Kiest Park, a public library, and a school. Now, the property’s up for auction, and Dallas is back to square one, leaning on stopgap measures like tiny homes and pallet shelters.

“It’s not like homeless people are a threat to libraries or schools—they’re humans who deserve access to public spaces, not exclusion from them.”

Why Night Shelters and Day Shelters Aren’t Cutting It

Let’s talk about the real issue: the “stand in line at 4:00 p.m., get out at sunrise” shelter model is broken. These night-only shelters force people to queue up in the afternoon, disrupting any chance of holding a job or accessing services. Then, they’re booted out at dawn with no safe place to rest or store their stuff. Day shelters? Often overcrowded and underfunded, they’re a Band-Aid, not a cure. According to HUD’s 2023 reports, up to 30% of unhoused folks avoid shelters altogether because the conditions—rigid rules, lack of privacy, safety concerns—are sometimes worse than the street.

In Dallas, the homelessness crisis isn’t slowing down. Youth and veteran homelessness is climbing, per recent counts, and the county’s $2.2 million for services is a drop in the bucket. Selling off a prime site like that hospital—perfect for a comprehensive hub—feels like giving up when we should be doubling down.

What Actually Works: Permanent Supportive Housing

Data doesn’t lie: permanent supportive housing (PSH) is the gold standard. HUD’s 2024 reports show PSH reduces homelessness by up to 80% for those who get it. It’s not just a bed—it’s stable housing paired with services like mental health support, job training, or addiction recovery. Cities like Houston have turned old buildings into mixed-use housing with great results. That Oak Cliff hospital could’ve been Dallas’s chance to do the same, but community fears about “safety” or property values derailed it. Newsflash: unhoused people aren’t the problem; our lack of bold solutions is.

How Dallas Can Do Better (And How You Can Help)

This isn’t just a Dallas problem—it’s everywhere. But here’s what we can push for:

• Repurpose Existing Buildings: Stop selling off sites like the hospital. Turn them into mixed-use hubs with housing and services.
• Community Buy-In Early: Dallas messed up by keeping the hospital purchase hush-hush. Transparent planning with locals from the start can address fears and build support.
• Fund What Works: Ideas like eviction fees (floated by Commissioner Andy Sommerman) or hotel taxes could bankroll more PSH. Get creative, Dallas!

Want to make a difference? Connect with groups like the Housing Forward or the Dallas Housing Coalition to advocate for real solutions. Keep an eye on that hospital sale—public pressure could push the city to rethink this. Share this post, talk to your neighbors, or show up at a city council meeting. Every voice counts.

Final Thoughts

It’s infuriating to see Dallas punt on a chance to transform lives just because of NIMBY complaints. Homeless people aren’t a threat to schools or libraries—they’re part of our community, deserving of dignity and stability. Night shelters with their “get in, get out” rules are a dead end. It’s time for Dallas—and every city—to stop settling for temporary fixes and start building permanent solutions. What do you think? Have you seen this kind of thing in your town? Drop a comment or share this post to keep the conversation going.

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Labels: Dallas, Homelessness, Permanent Supportive Housing, Social Justice