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According to a report from the city, the number of individuals experiencing homelessness in Fort Worth has more than doubled over the past three years. In response to this concerning trend, the city has initiated a new pilot program aimed at providing housing and mental health services to those in need. On Tuesday night, the Fort Worth City Council approved a plan to allocate $1,096,847 towards a five-month program dedicated to addressing homelessness. This initiative, in collaboration with the nonprofit My Health My Resources of Tarrant County, will specifically target areas of the city where homelessness has become increasingly visible. Fernando Costa, Assistant City Manager of Fort Worth, highlighted the significant rise in homelessness, with the number of homeless individuals increasing from just over 1,000 to nearly 2,500 between 2021 and 2023. Costa attributed this surge to the expiration of the federal eviction moratorium and the decline in funds for emergency rental assistance. The city has identified seven target areas experiencing a high prevalence of visible homelessness, including the East Lancaster corridor and the Northside and Stockyards. Under the new pilot plan, existing resources like the HOPE Team will be utilized to identify 80 individuals in these high-impact zones who have been homeless for at least two years or are struggling with severe mental illness. Of these individuals, 40 will receive permanent housing and mental health care, while the remaining 40 will be provided with counseling services. The ultimate objective is for 70% or more of the assisted individuals to transition into permanent housing and effectively exit homelessness. If the pilot program demonstrates promise, city leaders intend to seek approval to allocate $2.2 million for a 12-month extension. Business owners in the community are hopeful that addressing homelessness as a mental health issue will lead to meaningful solutions. City leaders have indicated that if the program is extended, it may be expanded to other areas of Fort Worth as well.

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