Tamara Foster, executive vice president for on-site operations and strategic partnerships at New Hope Housing, told Dallas council members on Nov. 4 that the Houston nonprofit has grown from one building to roughly 15 properties and nearly 2,000 units, using a mix of SROs, studios and multifamily housing.

Foster said New Hope relies on a capital stack that typically includes low-income housing tax credits, federal and local lending and philanthropy, and on vouchers to make permanent supportive housing (PSH) financially feasible. "We actually have about 835 vouchers," she said during the presentation, adding that vouchers and partnerships with the housing authority are core to making PSH work.

Why it matters: council members asked whether Dallas would need zoning changes or special permits to host SRO-type projects. Thor Erickson (Housing & Community Empowerment) said Dallas does not currently have a specific SRO code and that staff are consulting with planning to determine whether SROs fit under "group residential" classifications or require other zoning adjustments.

Foster emphasized the operational lesson of integrating service partners on-site. New Hope places case managers, clinical partners and drop-in services inside buildings so residents can access healthcare and case management without long bus trips. "Bringing our partners into our buildings was really a profound difference in the way that we serve our residents," Foster said.

Council members also asked about neighborhood concern and building design. Foster described strategies to reduce NIMBY opposition, including community outreach, inviting neighbors to visit, and architectural choices (murals, facades) to ensure buildings fit local context. She said security and cameras are often used to protect residents and to counter misplaced assertions that building residents are responsible for nearby street crime.

What comes next: committee staff said they will continue technical discussions with planning and work with New Hope and other providers to identify how similar models could be sited and permitted in Dallas. Members expressed interest in exploring opportunities and possible pilot projects.

Ending: No formal vote or contract was requested; presenters offered tours and follow-up conversations with Dallas staff on development pathways and special-permit approaches.