- Homelessness dropped 19% in Dallas while rising 18% nationally, marking a stark contrast.
- Over 150 organizations in Dallas’ All Neighbors Coalition coordinate on housing and services.
- Policy reforms in Dallas accelerated housing production by easing zoning and permitting restrictions.
- Nonprofits in Dallas provide wraparound services crucial to keeping individuals housed long term.
- Tiny home villages are emerging as scalable, affordable solutions in Dallas and could suit Las Vegas well.
Across the United States, the homelessness crisis keeps getting worse. But one city is going against this trend. Federal data shows that homelessness went up 18% across the nation in 2024. However, Dallas, Texas, reported a surprising 19% decrease in its homeless population. This is the opposite of what’s happening nationally, and it raises an important question: Can other cities with growing homeless populations learn from Dallas’ approach? For fast-growing cities like Las Vegas, learning from Dallas may be very important.
HUD Says Dallas is a Good Example
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) gave a big thumbs-up to Dallas. HUD Secretary Scott Turner visited Dallas to see their complete homelessness plan firsthand. During his visit, Turner met with city leaders and important nonprofits like OurCalling, Catholic Charities, and Family Gateway. These meetings showed what makes Dallas different: city government and nonprofit groups working together.
Turner said, “I was very happy to see how well they work together.” He praised Dallas for bringing together government, faith groups, and service groups. HUD was impressed not just by big policies, but by how things worked on the ground. Service providers seemed to understand each other, share information, and have the same goals.
This kind of teamwork is unusual. Many cities have services that are separate, communication problems, and groups doing similar things. But Dallas seemed to have created agreement across different areas, building a complete homelessness plan based on unity.
Looking at the Dallas Homelessness Plan
The All Neighbors Coalition is key to this change. It’s a large group of over 150 organizations that work together to reduce homelessness.
This is real action. Coalition members use a shared computer system to track people’s care plans, housing situation, and service needs. This quick access to data makes sure people don’t get lost or passed around. Groups like Austin Street Center, Union Gospel Mission, and The Bridge Homeless Recovery Center work together on outreach and shelter placement, following the same rules.
This means someone experiencing homelessness in Dallas is more likely to be helped by a team working together, instead of different groups competing for attention or money. The faster time it takes to get someone from first contact to housing is not by chance. It’s because different groups are committed to working together.
Faith-based groups add another element. For example, Cornerstone Baptist Church offers shelter, job help, and community support in South Dallas. This full support system is something few cities have been able to copy on a large scale.
Policy and Rules: Something Missing in Other Cities
While groups working together are important, change also needs political will. Dallas has made changes in rules that others have hesitated to make. Secretary Turner pointed to something very important: zoning rules.
In many cities, old zoning rules stop affordable housing from being built where it’s most needed. Rules about parking, limits on how many homes can be built in one place, and slow permit processes make it hard for builders.
Dallas is starting to remove these obstacles. Turner said, “Look at your rules and make them easier.” His message is clear: policy should help, not hurt, housing solutions. Dallas has started to simplify rules that used to discourage building, instead of just saying no to development or getting stuck in slow processes.
Cities like Las Vegas, which have a high need for housing, could gain a lot from this kind of change. Changing zoning laws may not be exciting, but it really decides what kind of homes can be built, where, and how quickly.
Zoning and Affordability: How to Produce Housing
Dallas Mayor Eric Johnson explained it simply during a Senate meeting. He said, “The best way to lower housing prices is to encourage private companies to build more homes.”
This sounds easy, but it often faces opposition. Many cities unintentionally make it harder to build housing by having slow permit approvals, strict rules about land use, and uncertain policies. But Dallas decided to make it more attractive for builders who can build affordable homes.
Instead of only relying on government housing programs, Dallas works with builders from the beginning. They offer benefits like faster permits, fewer rules about density, and tax breaks to builders who help create affordable housing.
The result is different kinds of housing at different prices. Housing for middle-income people, in particular, is often missed. But Dallas’ approach makes it possible for these projects to be successful financially.
Las Vegas, with its strong economy and fast population growth, has already drawn builders. But it often struggles to turn builder interest into affordable housing. Copying Dallas’ approach here—with rules designed to encourage—not stop—building—could help change things.
Real Results: Homelessness Down in Dallas
According to Housing Forward’s 2024 Point-in-Time Count, the decrease in homelessness was not just a one-time thing, but part of a consistent downward trend. While many areas are fighting rising homeless populations, Dallas saw an overall 19% decrease, including a 24% drop in people living on the streets.
This progress took time. It came from long-term investment in systems, leadership, and policy changes. Dallas didn’t completely solve the problem, but it made real progress—which is becoming rare nationwide.
What’s important is how the city’s joined-up homelessness plan creates space for improvements to build upon each other. Less unsheltered homelessness means less emergency pressure on healthcare and public safety systems. This allows those departments to put money back into prevention and support services—a positive cycle that few cities achieve.
Can Las Vegas Use This Plan?
Las Vegas is similar to Dallas before it made changes. Its population is booming, but housing is limited. The city is facing a bad situation: rising rent, slow home building, and a growing homeless population with complex needs.
A key part of the Dallas homelessness plan is using data to decide how to spend resources. Las Vegas can use similar methods if it has the right data sharing standards and computer systems.
Also, Las Vegas has one advantage—land. Even though building costs are rising, land is available in areas outside the city. This offers chances for affordable housing construction using new methods like tiny home villages and modular homes.
The necessary pieces are there. What Las Vegas needs is political will and better organization.
Steve Hawks’ View: Fixing Las Vegas Housing Supply
Las Vegas real estate expert Steve Hawks has been calling for action for years. “We don’t need more reports—we need more homes,” he states clearly.
According to Hawks, the city has everything it needs to reshape its housing situation: interest from investors, available land, and market demand. What’s missing is a clear effort to change zoning rules, simplify permit processes, and give direct incentives for apartment buildings and low-income housing.
Hawks also stresses the importance of building trust between builders and city officials. Like Dallas, Las Vegas could help create partnerships between public and private groups to share risk and reward.
Las Vegas doesn’t have to invent something new. It needs to copy Dallas’ plan and really push forward on increasing housing supply.
More Than Shelter: Support Services and Nonprofits
Housing is just the beginning. Many people face problems that a house alone won’t fix: trauma, mental health issues, drug or alcohol problems, or unemployment.
Dallas realized early on that keeping people housed long-term requires support services. Groups like Family Gateway and The Stewpot do more than just provide beds—they help people become independent.
This needs steady funding, nonprofit expertise, and citywide coordination. HUD funding often includes grants for mental and emotional health support, job training, and case management. The All Neighbors Coalition includes these services from the first contact to long-term stability.
Las Vegas also has good nonprofits. What’s needed is better teamwork and growth. Providing consistent government grants and making sure nonprofits are included in city housing discussions can help connect resources better and greatly improve results.
Tiny Homes, Big Possibility?
One of the more innovative parts of Dallas’ plan is its increasing use of tiny home communities. These very small homes offer privacy, security, and affordability for people moving out of homelessness.
Secretary Turner went to a groundbreaking for one of these communities, showing HUD’s belief in housing that is easy to expand and low-cost. These projects avoid the problems of traditional construction, often going from idea to opening in six months or less.
With land available around Las Vegas, using tiny home villages offers a quick way to help. But this depends on flexible zoning—another area where political courage and vision are needed.
Addressing Concerns: Can the Dallas Plan Be Copied Exactly?
No plan works everywhere. Some critics argue that Dallas was lucky to have a rare combination of leadership, federal support, land access, and experienced nonprofits. Cities with less HUD funding or limited land may face bigger challenges.
Also, not all communities have the organizational structure for a 150-member coalition. Teamwork takes time—it needs years of trust-building, data standards, and stable funding.
Still, it’s wrong to dismiss Dallas’ experience as “one of a kind.” Every city has its own strengths. Las Vegas may not have as many nonprofits but has momentum in real estate, public support, and population growth that demands a solution.
Government-Private-Nonprofit Unity: A Plan for the Future
Dallas showed what can happen when city government, community groups, builders, and local advocates work together. This three-part partnership isn’t easy, but it’s vital.
Las Vegas is now at a point where things could change. The problems in its housing system are clear—but solutions are possible. Each part—private builders, city planning offices, or local nonprofits—has a role. Working together towards shared goals, like Dallas did, is the only way forward.
Nonprofits shouldn’t work alone. Builders shouldn’t be slowed down by bureaucracy. Government agencies shouldn’t act without talking to everyone. When all parts come together, everyone benefits—and homelessness becomes something that can be solved, not a constant problem.
What Policymakers and Real Estate People Can Learn
For city leaders, real estate developers, and nonprofit leaders everywhere, Dallas offers practical lessons:
- Work together all the time. Separate efforts rarely lead to big change.
- Change zoning policies. Make it easier to build apartment buildings and affordable housing.
- Invest in support services. Mental health care, addiction treatment, and job training fix the causes of homelessness.
- Use HUD plans. Federal support should help local ideas, not limit them.
- Track results publicly. Openness creates responsibility and improves future programs.
Dallas has shown a strong example of what’s possible when communities value teamwork, courage, and caring more than slow government processes. Las Vegas, with its strong economy and unused potential, may well become the next city to show that homelessness is not unavoidable—it’s preventable.