Environmental and Health Services

Homeless Services (Human Services Division)

This program was reorganized in October 1994 to provide a comprehensive service delivery system that consolidates case management, counseling, and referral services from prior organizational levels. Services include crisis intervention visits to persons who are at risk due to medical or mental disabilities, abandonment, abuse, or other life-threatening situations; homeless services including health care, job readiness placement, substance abuse counseling, casework services, day shelter and assistance at the Day Resource Center; and any other social work response to a special problem area throughout the city. Staff serves as liaison to numerous community agencies and programs and can be reached at (214) 670-4547.

Day Resource Center for the Homeless

Located at 901 South Ervay, the center offers a wide range of services to the homeless including information and referral, employment and housing assistance, shower and laundry facilities, limited medical services, and a variety of social services designed to assist the homeless in the return to a stable lifestyle. On-site agencies include Dallas County MHMR, Community Outreach Coalition, and the Veterans Administration. The telephone number for the center is (214) 670-3043. In addition, the Compensated Work Therapy Program provides the adult homeless, unemployed, non-veteran substance abuser the opportunity to receive a weekly paycheck while obtaining chemical dependency counseling, job readiness training, and employment and housing referral.

Homeless Health Care Team

A multidisciplinary team, including physicians, dentists, nurse practitioners, a psychiatric clinical nurse specialist, social workers, and a substance abuse counselor, provides health care services to the city's homeless. Clinics are based in shelters, soup kitchens, the Day Resource Center, and housing for battered women. Services include health screening, assessment, and treatment; substance abuse counseling and referral; dental care; and immunizations. All homeless people, including shelter residents, are eligible. Services are funded through the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and are provided jointly by the City of Dallas and Parkland Hospital's H.O.M.E.S. program. Call (214) 670-3968 for information.