• At our last meeting, Kevin Acosta from the Office of Equity and Inclusion in Dallas presented a briefing of the Racial Equity Plan adopted by the Dallas City Council in August 2022. Attached is a copy of the presentation.
  
• During that meeting it was clarified that the Racial Equity Plan is separate from the new Housing Policy being developed as a result of the Racial Equity Audit that was released at the end of 2021. It was also discovered that the goals set by the housing department in the Racial Equity Plan are different than those set forth in the new Housing Policy.
• Since that meeting, we have learned that the new Housing Policy is being fast-tracked despite many objections from key stakeholders in the community. One of the main objections is that the new policy purports to completely replace the current Comprehensive Housing Policy. Based on the last draft made available to the public, many of the programs supported by the current policy would be eliminated under the new Housing Policy.
• The last community meeting regarding the new Housing Policy was held on October 15 and comments to the final draft were required a month later. Due to the rushed schedule for delivering a new Housing Policy, there has not been time to incorporate many of the best practices and proven strategies recommended by local organizations or developed by other communities.
• On December 13, 2022, the City Council's Committee on Housing and Homelessness Solutions was briefed by the consultants for the Dept. of Housing and Neighborhood Revitalization. Attached is a copy of their presentation.
• As it currently stands, the City Council is scheduled to review the new Housing Policy on January 18, 2023, with an intention of finalizing in February.

Please email or call/text me if you have additional insight to share or have suggestions for our next meeting.

Madge Cruse
League of Women Voters Dallas
Housing Interest Group
214-728-5599 text/cell
mcruse@swbell.net