A year into the High ImpACT Pilot Program, the City of Fort Worth reports progress in battling unsheltered homelessness via integration of housing assistance and mental health services. The 17-month initiative, which began on May 1, 2024, aims to alleviate the situation in seven particularly affected areas. The approach constitutes a partnership with My Health My Resources of Tarrant County, supplemented by Acclaim Health and Partnership Home, focusing on individuals enduring mental illness or chronic homelessness.
In its one-year mark, the pilot is close to, if not on the verge, of truly meeting several set goals. According to an update given by the City of Fort Worth, 98 individuals have been identified across the target regions. Police have notably been instrumental in this effort, being the source for 70% of all referrals. Precisely 41 clients have been provided housing through master leases, slightly surpassing the original 17-month goal of 40, and 32 have been serviced via different housing programs, with a goal of 40. An impressively high 89% of those offered housing accepted it within six months, eclipsing the 70% objective.
The coordinated effort extends beyond housing, with the Assertive Community Treatment (ACT) team providing critical mental and physical health services. The team is made up of psychiatric and medical physician assistants, mental health specialists, registered nurses, as well as housing case managers and other support roles. Remarkably, the median client within the High ImpACT program has been without a home for 7.5 years, is 54 years old, and took housing shortly after an initial encounter with the ACT team.
With outcomes steadily portraying a hopeful future, the city is looking to not only maintain but also enhance the operation. Efforts to craft individualized area plans are underway, focusing on specific local challenges like panhandling. The city also plans to expand outreach funding in the fiscal year of 2026 to possibly widen the overall effectiveness of the initiative, and discussions on securing longer-term housing solutions continue to develop. An upcoming City Council vote on August 12 will decide whether to continue funding the program annually with approximately $2 million.
