McKinney hires UT Dallas to lead 'Better Together' homelessness planning

The City of McKinney on March 3 authorized the city manager to execute a contract with the University of Texas at Dallas to facilitate the Better Together homelessness initiative.

Margaret Lee, the city's housing and community development director, told the council that four proposals were received through an open RFP process and that UT Dallas was selected by the evaluation committee. "Based on the evaluation committee's recommendation, the University of Texas at Dallas was selected to facilitate the initiative," Lee said. She said UTD's scope includes community engagement, a comprehensive needs assessment and development of a strategic and implementation plan, with public outreach and the needs assessment anticipated to conclude in May and final plans due in October.

Council members asked how residents can participate; Lee said UTD will run listening sessions, steering committees and working groups and encouraged both housed and unhoused stakeholders to engage. Councilman Cloutier, who served on the selection committee, praised the process and the local connection of UTD staff. The council voted to authorize the contract and any supplemental agreements, allowing staff to begin the outreach and assessment phases immediately.

The initiative will publish documents and schedules on the city's Better Together webpage and staff said they will involve a broad set of stakeholders, including community groups mentioned during the meeting. No fiscal specifics for the contract were disclosed during the presentation.

The council's approval allows work to begin on public engagement and the strategic plan; staff said final deliverables are expected by October.