FAQ’s

If you are currently homeless or at risk of being homeless, please see the below FAQs

How can I access resources or apply for assistance if I am experiencing homelessness? If you are experiencing homelessness, you may check out the list of resources on the Housing Forward resource page or call Housing Forward’s Helpline to access resources and support or email us at OHSInfo@Dallas.gov and an Outreach team member will reach out.

• Housing Forward Crisis Hotline: 1-888-411-6802 

How can I get into the R.E.A.L. Time Rehousing (RTR) program? R.E.A.L. Time Rehousing can be accessed via any partnering organization’s case management team when you ask about housing. The RTR does not have public applications. If you are in need of housing, please contact your case manager, the Housing Forward Crisis Hotline, or OHS to see how our Street Outreach team can connect you to one.

Does the Office of Homeless Solutions offer rental assistance? No, the Office of Homeless Solutions does not offer rental assistance, but the Office of Community Care may assist you by connecting you to resources that can.

Does the Office of Homeless Solutions offer housing vouchers? No, the Office of Homeless Solutions does not offer or hold housing vouchers. Please see the Dallas Housing Authority webpage for more information on how to apply for housing vouchers.

How do I apply for housing? Please see the Dallas Housing Authority webpage for more information on how to apply for housing vouchers. If you need further assistance, please see the Housing Forward resource page or call Housing Forward’s Helpline to connect with an organization that may assist you with the housing process.

• Housing Forward Crisis Hotline: 1-888-411-6802

I don’t have a state issued I.D. or other identifying documents. Where can I get assistance getting those? Please see the Housing Forward resource page for a list of organizations that may assist you.

I am homeless but I am not in Dallas. How do I get assistance? Please reach out to the City in which you are residing, or if you have access to private or public transportation you may reach out to any of the organizations listed on the resources page. Please note that some organizations may require proof of Dallas residency.

Are there any housing resources for individuals who are homeless but have some income, including but not limited to: social security, day labor, unreported employment, and reported employment?  The Office of Homeless Solutions does not provide housing for individuals but is able to connect you to organizations that may assist with this question. Please refer to the Housing Forward resource page for a list of organizations that may provide assistance.

 I am about to get evicted and face possible homelessness, what resources are available to me? Please refer to the following organizations: Helping Hands of Texas and the Project Rental Assistance Program and/or the Housing Forward resource page or call Housing Forward’s Helpline to connect with an organization that may assist you with the housing process.

• Housing Forward Crisis Hotline: 1-888-411-6802

I have been living in a motel / hotel and I am running out of money to keep paying for the room. What can I do? Please refer to the following organizations: My Second Chance, Inc., Family Place Inc., Homeless Veterans Services of Dallas (for Veterans ONLY) and/or the Housing Forward resource page or call Housing Forward’s Helpline to connect with an organization that may assist you with the housing process.

• Housing Forward Crisis Hotline: 1-888-411-6802

I was just released from jail (incarceration) with no money and nowhere to go. What resources are available for me to build my life back up?  The following agencies may assist you: Fresh Start Housing Program, Housing Solutions Reentry and Housing Coalition, and the Way Back Home. You may also find information on the Housing Forward resource page or call Housing Forward’s Helpline to connect with an organization that may assist you with the housing process.

• Housing Forward Crisis Hotline: 1-888-411-6802
• If you are on probation, please reach out to your assigned probation officer for assistance.
• If you are a convicted sex offender, please email us at ohsinfo@dallas.gov so that we may further assist you in finding supportive services.

I struggle with mental and / or physical health issues which has caused me to be homeless or on the verge of homelessness. I need help, can the Office of Homeless Solutions assist me? The Office of Homeless Solutions partners with MetroCare for evaluation and treatment of mental health diagnosis. You may also find more information on the Housing Forward resource page or call Housing Forward’s Helpline to connect with an organization that may assist you with the housing process.

• Housing Forward Crisis Hotline: 1-888-411-6802
• For physical health, please refer to Parkland Homeless Outreach Medical Services.

I struggle with drug and / or alcohol dependency and want to get clean so that I can get into housing and support myself. I need help, can the Office of Homeless Solutions assist me? Please refer to Homeward Bound Inc. and/or the Housing Forward resource page or call Housing Forward’s Helpline to connect with an organization that may assist you with the housing process.

• Homeward Bound is a behavioral health care agency that accepts individuals with no insurance and no to little financial ability. Please note it is on a first come / first served basis.
• Housing Forward Crisis Hotline: 1-888-411-6802

I am a victim of domestic violence, but if I leave, I will be homeless. I need help, can the Office of Homeless Solutions assist me? Please refer to Family Gateway. Please note that Family Gateway may refer you to another organization based on your circumstance and it is very important that you follow the directions they provide you, as most domestic violence shelters are very limited in capacity or are at capacity.

• You may also call the National Domestic Violence Hotline 1-800-799-7233
• If you are experiencing an immediate issue as result of domestic violence, please call 911.

 I am homeless and a victim of sex-trafficking and / or sexual assault. I need help, can the Office of Homeless Solutions assist me? If you are a victim of sex-trafficking or sexual assault please reach out immediately to the Sexual Assault Division of the Frank Crowley Court at 133 Riverfront Blvd., Dallas, or you may call 214-635-3600.

• You may also call the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-4673
• Or the National Human Trafficking Hotline (for victims of sex trafficking) at 1-888-373-7888
• If you are in immediate danger, please call 911 or seek a Police Officer in your vicinity.

Temporary Inclement Weather Shelters (TIWS) have been activated due to inclement weather:

• I need transportation to one. How can I get transportation? When cold weather stations are activated, a list of pick-up zones will be posted here.
• I have a pet with me, can I bring my pet? Yes, Street Outreach and our partners can transport you to pet-friendly sheltering.
• I don’t want to leave the area I am in, as all my belonging are here. What can I do? For your safety, we ask that you please seek cold weather shelter. You may take transportable items with you, which will then be held on site in storage until you depart. However, if you do not want to attend a TIWS, one recreation center in each district, listed here during activation, and OHS Street Outreach have items to keep you warm: handwarmers, gloves, socks, and a thermal blanket to increase your chances of survival in extreme temperatures.
• I am disabled and cannot get to a TIWS via traditional transportation. How can I get to a TIWS? Street Outreach and our partners have ADA accessible vehicles and ADA sheltering available. Please contact 311 and inform them of your situation and location, so that they may arrange transportation for you.

If you are not currently homeless or at risk of being homeless, please see the below FAQs

 What can I do to help address homelessness in Dallas? You can help address homelessness in Dallas by volunteering with organizations that help solve homelessness, donate to local service providers, advocate for policies that support the increase of affordable housing for homeless individuals and families, and spread awareness about the issue. Please see the “Get Involved” page linked here.

If I see an individual in need or experiencing homelessness or a homeless encampment, how can I help them? If you see an individual in need, we ask that you notify the OHS Street Outreach team via 311, by calling 311, via the OurDallas app, or by submitting a Service Request at the link here, to ensure timely assistance is received. Please be as specific as you can detailing time, location, frequency you have seen the individual(s) or encampment, identifying characteristics, and so on. Once a Service Request is reported to 311, the Street Outreach team members will go to the reported location to assess the issue and needs. If the individual(s) are experiencing an emergency, please call 911.

• You can also donate to those organizations who provide sustainable services to those who are unsheltered here.

 I am a business owner, and my property has been overrun with individuals loitering and camping on the property. What can I do?  We ask that all encampments be reported to 311, by calling 311, via the OurDallas app, or by submitting a Service Request at the link here. Please be as specific as you can detailing time, location, frequency you have seen the encampment, identifying characteristics, and so on. If you find this has been an ongoing issue with the individuals returning, please contact us at OHSInfo@dallas.gov.

 I am a homeowner and I have concerns about a homeless encampment that abuts my property or is located near my property. What can I do?  We ask that all encampments be reported to 311, by calling 311, via the OurDallas app, or by submitting a Service Request at the link here. Please be as specific as you can detailing time, location, frequency you have seen the encampment, identifying characteristics, and so on. If you find this has been an ongoing issue with the individuals returning, please contact us at OHSInfo@dallas.gov.

 I submitted a Service Request via 311. How long does it take for Outreach or Code Compliance to investigate?  Assigned Resolution Coordinators are allotted three days to investigate the Service Request and to determine how to resolve the issue. Depending on the issue, the Resolution Coordinator then has up to twenty-five days to resolve the issue however the average response time to close a Service Request is 12 days. Some service requests, such as an individual in crisis may only take a day to resolve, whereas encampment cleanings may take up to a week to schedule vendors and partners to help with the issue. Please see our 311-page, linked here for more information.

I submitted a Service Request and received a “Service Request closed as duplicate” response. Why did this happen? If you submitted a Service Request (SR) and the item is marked closed as duplicate, this is due to it being a duplicate request to a parent or original request. SR are considered duplicate requests when the location and identifying characteristics are the same location and similar requests to the parent request, that are submitted within twenty-five days of the parent request. Service Requests may also be marked as “closed as duplicate” if another department is investigating the parent SR.

For example, a parent SR is reported as an encampment located on private property and the requestor submitted the SR as a Code Violation under Code Compliance. Another requestor submits an SR of an encampment as a Homeless Encampment under Homeless Solutions, the 311 system will then flag the duplicate item due to location, and the Resolution Coordinator will then close the item out as a “duplicate request”.

Once Outreach or Code Compliance investigates, how do they ensure that individuals do not return to the area that was reported? The Office of Homeless Solutions Street Outreach team, in conjunction with Code Compliance, Dallas Police Department, and the City Marshals, patrol areas that have been decommissioned through the R.E.A.L. Time Rehousing Initiative, to ensure those areas stay clear of encampments. However, if you see individuals camping in areas previously reported, we ask that you report the issue by calling 311, via the OurDallas app, or by submitting a Service Request at the link here. Please be as specific as you can detailing time, location, frequency you have seen the encampment, identifying characteristics, and so on. If you find it becoming an ongoing issue, please contact us at OHSInfo@dallas.gov.

 Does the Office of Homeless Solutions work or partner with community organizations that are not a part of the local Continuum of Care? The City’s Office of Homeless Solutions and other departmental professionals are always willing to engage, educate, and partner with residents and organizations serious about addressing challenges facing our unsheltered population to make our community safer. Please reach out to us at OHSInfo@dallas.gov and we will have a team member reach out to you.

My neighborhood has a Crime Watch and / or a Neighborhood Association and we would like for someone from Homeless Solutions to come speak at a meeting. Who do we contact? Our Street Outreach Team and / or our Community Liaison are always happy to visit with area Business Associations, Crime Watch groups, and Neighborhood Associations. Please email us at OHSInfo@dallas.gov with the event details and one of our team members will respond with an RSVP.

I have an organization or a group that would like to feed the homeless or provide clothing. Do I need a permit for this? Feeding the homeless or providing supplies in most cases does not require a permit. However, we do require notification and education. Please follow the link here to notify us and receive education.

I am interested in becoming a landlord that, utilizes housing vouchers. I need help walking through the process or I would like to sign up. Where can I find assistance for this and where can I sign up? The lead agency of the local Continuum of Care, the All Neighbors Coalition, Housing Forward has a Housing Navigation team dedicated to finding and securing housing for our unsheltered neighbors. Please follow the link here, fill out the online form, and one of their team will assist you in the process.

 I am interested in providing temporary shelter for the homeless during inclement weather (freezing temperatures). Where can I find more information on this? Please visit our Inclement Weather page linked here, for a short video on how to get involved as a Temporary Inclement Weather Shelter (TIWS) partner, as well as the application for submittal. Once the application is complete please email the application and all related documents to TIWS@dallas.gov. Our TIWS Administrator will then reach out to you within 2 business days. Please note that a walkthrough of the property with Street Outreach Management and the TIWS Administrator is necessary to answer any questions you may have, provide guidance on layout, etc… Please allow for some time prior to inclement weather arriving for this process to be completed. You may also physically hand in your application at the time of the site visit.

I am interested in volunteering and / or donating during inclement weather (freezing temperatures and heat advisories). Where can I donate my time or material goods?Please visit our Get Involved page to find how you can join our Volunteer Corps, The Friends of OHS, to volunteer your time, resources on where to donate material goods, or financially to the Communities Foundation of Texas. You may also visit any of our partners webpages if there is a specific organization you would like to make a charitable donation to.

Are there any employment or internship opportunities with the Office of Homeless Solutions? Employment and internship opportunities with the Office of Homeless Solutions are posted on the City of Dallas’s website NEOGOV portal.