The City of Dallas has been acknowledged as a top performer in the equitable allocation of American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds, according to a new report. The study, executed by The New School's Institute on Race, Power, and Political Economy, positioned Dallas in the upper echelon, among 170 U.S. cities and counties evaluated for their commitment to reinforcing racial and economic equity via strategic ARPA investment. Dallas’ crucial Eviction Assistance Initiative (EAI) stood out, targeting assistance towards residents grappling with the financial tsunami unleashed by COVID-19.
ARPA, enacted in 2021, earmarked a robust $130 billion to rapidly launch municipal and county relief initiatives, with a historic focus on equity. The Biden-Harris administration’s equity framework anchored these funds towards communities often bypassed by socioeconomic progress, and as a report by the City of Dallas indicates, this financial salvo was a boon for housing security in the city. Through educational outreach, legal support, and direct advocacy, the Eviction Assistance Initiative emerged as a bulwark against displacement.
Deputy Mayor Pro Tem Adam Bazaldua championed the initiative's successes. "The Eviction Assistance Initiative was a tremendous feat for the City of Dallas. I’m incredibly grateful for our community partners who helped spearhead this initiative and the city staff who helped me make this initiative a reality for the residents who needed economic support during those first few months of the COVID-19 pandemic," Bazaldua explained, as per the City of Dallas. The National League of Cities also received a nod for their vital contributions in the program's inception.
The Institute's thorough ARPA Equity Assessment harmonizes with Dallas’ approach, examining equitable public investment through six key domains: overall equity focus, use of equity tools, community engagement, adherence to equitable labor practices, comprehensive reach of equity investments, and investment transparency.
