Homeless Encampment Moves to Outside Dallas City Hall to Send a Message to City Leaders

Posted on March 12, 2021

DALLAS (WBAP/KLIF)- Homeless encampment Camp Rhonda, a cluster of about 30 tents moved to Pioneer Plaza, steps away from Dallas city hall.

The group had been there since Monday. The goal was to send a message to city leaders to pressure them for more permanent housing solutions.

Camp Rhonda organizer Jerry Henderson says they were forced out of their former encampment, a vacant lot just south of Deep Ellum until the owner got a code violation for misusing the land.

“They came through, took all of our stuff without warning and gave us 5 minutes to get everything we could grab,” said Henderson.”Everywhere we have gone they have ran us off so we came here next to city hall so they can see us, we are standing our ground,” he said.

The group is now demanding a more permanent housing solution, something they say city leaders have talked about but haven’t followed through.

With the number of homeless individuals outweighing the amount of shelter beds, shelters have been even harder to get into during the pandemic because of restrictions and health regulations. Most are requiring a negative COVID-19 test to enter or other specific requirements.

David Greef, co-founder of the Dallas Houseless Committee said there needs to be a solution that’s affordable for low- or no-income community members, maybe a piece of property that the Dallas Housing Authority owns.

Last Month, Dallas Faith-based non-profit OurCalling announced a $12.6 million capital campaign geared towards purchasing and rehabbing a facility that will transform into housing for the city’s sheltered homeless.

The group is working on ways to raise funds to create the housing facility, which will be located in Dallas and modeled after an assisted-living center with a wealth of wrap-around services.

 

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