Fort Worth's streets may be seeing fewer homeless individuals grappling with severe mental illness as the city council approved the expansion of a successful pilot program, the High ImpACT program, designed to address these pressing issues. Launched in May 2024, this initiative has made strides toward housing and providing comprehensive care to those in critical need, with notable outcomes reported during a recent City Council work session, as reported by the City of Fort Worth.
The 17-month pilot, wrapping up this past September, boasted impressive numbers: 86% of those offered housing were placed within six months, 94% remained in their new homes after a year, and the Assertive Community Treatment (ACT) Team catered to 80 clients in total; additionally, the master lease initiative saw 43 individuals housed and 33 more through other programs, demonstrating a strong commitment to tackling the intersection of homelessness and mental health. However, amid these successes, the city is not resting on its laurels but looking forward to extending the reach of this program by adding 30 Project 40 set-aside Housing Choice Vouchers from Fort Worth Housing Solutions to serve more individuals.
Fort Worth officials recognize the necessity of a favorable staff-to-client ratio for the success of such a program, and in keeping with this, two new team members will be funded as part of the Fiscal Year 2026 budget, as confirmed by the City of Fort Worth. Keeping a close eye on the beam-balanced 1:10 caseworker ratio ensures personalized and effective assistance; the Homeless Strategies team, meanwhile, continues to work tirelessly, securing additional vouchers and funding to keep the program not only afloat but also thriving.
