Dallas City Council Votes on Homeless Proposal Extension

The Dallas City Council voted today at 9:23 a.m. (Central Time), on a proposal to extend homeless funding for them to be housed in "pay-to"stay" shelters. The vote also included the proposal to open the Dallas Day Resource Center as a temporary night shelter until the new resource center is built in 2008. The vote calls to extend City of Dallas funding until the proposed date of February 12th, 2008 (which remains to be the projected finalization date of the new Homeless Assistance Center).

Dallas Mayor Tom Leppert was presiding over the proposed vote. Dallas City Council members whom were present at the vote were: Miller, Hill, Garcia, Medrano, Thornton-Reese, Salazar, Chaney, Griffith, Blaydes, Koop, Natinsky, Rasansky, and Hunt. Only one City Council member was absent from the proposed vote: Fantroy.

One of the City Council member whom voted on the approval of the extension was City Council Member Bill Blaydes. In a candid interview with Mr. Blaydes he told this reporter that, "The object of this Council, of any city council for that matter, is to to what is best for the people of the community. To do what is right in the residents best interests." Mr. Blaydes along with thirteen of the other city council members that were present voted to approve the proposal.

Through all of the turmoil and neighboring complaints that were held in the past when the Dallas Day Resource Center acted as a temporary night shelter. The Dallas City Council voted to open the Resource Center nightly as a temporary shelter and the City Council also approved city funding extensions to homeless patrons living in "pay-to-stay" shelters until February 12th, 2008.

Dallas Mayor Tom Leppert told this reporter that, "We (the members and leaders of the city), must fight to lend a hand to those that are less fortunate than others."

"This great city cannot just throw people to the winds and forget about those unfortunate people. We all must stand together and end this epidemic, we must put an end to Dallas homelessness," he concluded.

In the meeting with Mayor Leppert, this reporter felt confident and proud to be a resident living in Dallas under such caring and stern rule. Although the beginning of the meeting was an open microphone session, in which patrons and neighboring businesses can place there thoughts on a proposal before the vote takes place, not a person from the homeless community was present.

So this reporter set out to find the reaction to the City Council's vote from the homeless community at the Dallas Day Resource Center. One homeless patron, "Donavon", told me that, "This is a new day for us (homeless patrons), this gives us a chance at a new life. God bless the City leaders for doing what was right."

In light of this proposal, the Dallas Convention Center, located at 650 S. Griffin Dallas, Tx., will be hosting a Christmas Extravaganza in which people from all walks of life may attend. The festivities will include a petting zoo, beverages, a Christmas dinner, clothing, shoes, medical services, counciling, and services to get people back on their feet (such as housing, food vouchers, etc.) All services at the Dallas Convention Center will be free of charge. The event will be held from 10 a.m. until 1 p.m. Saturday December 15, 2007.