The visible and hidden crisis
Homelessness is influenced by poverty, lack of affordable housing, mental illness, addiction, trauma, and unemployment. Short- and long-term responses include outreach, case management, emergency shelter, supportive housing, healthcare, and policies that address root causes.
Homelessness is like an iceberg. Many people live hidden in wooded areas, vacant buildings, and other hard-to-find places. Metro Relief’s street teams build relationships in those places and partner with municipalities to replace critical documents and connect services.
Addiction and substance use
Homelessness and addiction often reinforce one another. Substance use can make it harder to access housing, employment, and healthcare. Effective responses address both underlying causes and the unique barriers faced by people without stable housing.
A comprehensive approach includes treatment, mental-health care, stable housing, employment opportunities, and freedom from stigma.
Dallas and Collin Counties
The legacy site reports that the 2023 Point-in-Time Count identified 4,244 people experiencing homelessness in the Dallas Continuum of Care: 2,432 in emergency shelters or transitional housing and 1,812 unsheltered.
A one-night count does not capture the full extent of homelessness, and these figures should be refreshed against the latest regional report before production launch.