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DART Cares, Housing Forward outline targeted outreach to unhoused riders; Farmers Branch council raises local concerns
Summary
Dallas Area Rapid Transit described a new multidisciplinary response team that will work at DART stations from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Housing Forward described a $30 million “street to home” effort to reduce unsheltered homelessness. Farmers Branch officials sought details about enforcement, after‑hours coverage and coordination along the 635 border.
Dallas Area Rapid Transit officials and Housing Forward told the Farmers Branch City Council on Feb. 18 that a new DART Cares multidisciplinary response team (MDRT) will patrol rail stations and bus stops to connect unhoused riders to behavioral health care and housing services, and that Housing Forward plans a countywide expansion of an intensive “street to home” outreach model.
DART representatives said the MDRT pairs DART police with mental‑health clinicians and outreach partners and will operate on DART property — stations and bus stops — from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. DART described a three‑step approach of education, encouragement and, when necessary, enforcement. “If they’re not doing anything wrong, not committing any crime, we’re not gonna just arrest them or write them a ticket,” said Chief Charles Cato of Dallas Rapid Transit Police.
Housing Forward CEO Sarah Khan described a broader County…
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