Council Hears Report on Homelessness, Begins Taking Action

TYLER — A task force that has been studying homelessness in Tyler has presented its report to the city council. The task force was launched by Mayor Barbara Bass. The group’s report calls for a 10 point plan for moving forward to end homelessness in Tyler, and the Council has already begun taking action on the plan. Here are the ten points:

1. Establish an ongoing Homeless Roundtable that serves as the local continuum of care organization, to implement these recommendations and plans that are developed to end homelessness in Tyler. The Roundtable will be chaired by an appointee of the Mayor and a City staff liaison will be appointed by the City Manager.
2. Undertake the development of a local continuum of care plan to serve as the community’s five- and ten-year plans to end homelessness for veterans and the general population.
3. Examine client discharging practices for institutions – including, foster care, jail/prison and health facilities—and develop interventions to provide transitional support.
4. Support the opening of a Day Resource Room to provide the homeless with services such as showers, lockers, haircuts, phone messages, etc. (such as Gateway to Hope).
5. Support the efforts of groups like Cornerstone Assistance Network, and others, to provide support and casework/referrals to services for individuals dealing with homelessness—assisting them with gaining independence and self-sufficiency.
6. Implement enhanced (or more integrated) software to better track services related to the homeless. Use this data to better identify subgroups and higher-risk populations in this community.
7. Develop enhanced access for behavioral health/mental services.
8. Seek funding from all available sources to provide for gaps in services and to end homelessness (Federal, State, and private foundations, including, but not limited to, HUD and the VA).
9. Support efforts of 211 to update resource database.
10. Support the efforts of faith-based organizations and non-profits to combat homelessness in the community.

Council members followed up on the task force report by voting unanimously to convey ownership of a vacant City building to the Gateway to Hope, 501c3, for the purposes of establishing a day resource center to assist homeless individuals. “I am very pleased that we are able to take this action today to tangibly help those in need in our community,” Bass said Wednesday.” “Our report on homelessness was just released and we formed the Homeless Roundtable today. This step toward establishing a day resource center meets an additional need identified in our 10 point plan.”

Subject to a pending zoning change and special use permit, the property to be conveyed to Gateway to Hope is located at 601 Valentine Street. The building was formerly the location for WIC, but is currently vacant. You can go to http://www.cityoftyler.org/ for more information.