HomeMy WebLinkAbout25-0127 - 2025-11-04 - Informal ReportINFORMAL REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS
No. 25-0127
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To the Mayor and Members of the City Council
November 4, 2025
Page 1 of 3
SUBJECT: UPDATE ON HIGH IMPACT OUTCOMES AND PROGRAM
EXPANSION
Established in May of 2024 as a 17-month pilot, the High ImpACT program addresses the intersection
of severe mental illness and unsheltered homelessness in seven target areas of Fort Worth through
housing assistance and support from a Assertive Community Treatment Team (ACT Team). The City
contracts with My Health, My Resources of Tarrant County (MHMR), Partnership Home (formerly
Tarrant County Homeless Coalition), and Acclaim Health to provide the services.
The ACT Team includes medical and psychiatric professionals able to provide services on the street
and after the person is housed. Referrals to the program largely come from neighborhood police officers
in the target areas based on considerations of both the length of time someone has been unsheltered
in that target area or if the unsheltered individual may have severe mental illness.
Homelessness is an outsized problem, meaning that, while persons experiencing homelessness
comprise 0.02% of the population, the perception is that the numbers are much higher due to the high
visibility of those experiencing unsheltered homelessness. For example, in highly trafficked areas like
Beach Street, over 14,000 people may see the same person experiencing homelessness in a day (per
2023 traffic count data from North Texas Council of Governments).
By focusing medical, psychiatric, and housing resources in specific areas, the goal of High ImpACT is
to both reduce homelessness and reduce the impact of unsheltered homelessness on neighborhoods
and businesses.
While many areas of Fort Worth have seen an uptick in unsheltered homelessness and the issues
associated with it, MyFW app and Point In Time Count data show that there are seven areas that have
been hit especially hard. These areas were selected as target areas for High ImpACT:
• Camp Bowie West/Las Vegas Trail (CD 3)
• Seminary/La Gran Plaza/Hemphill (CD 9 and 11)
• Downtown (CD 9)
• Near Southside (CD 9)
• Historic Southside/Near Eastside (CD 8)
• Northside/Stockyards (CD 2)
• Beach Street Intersections — from East Lancaster to North Tarrant Parkway (CD 2, 4, 8 and 11)
• City-wide HOPE referrals are also considered
High ImpACT Program 17-Month Performance
High ImpACT had two components and associated goals for the first 17 months of the pilot:
1. Housing Assistance: Housing assistance for at least 40 eligible High ImpACT clients. Leverage
existing housing vouchers with a goal of providing housing assistance for up to 40 more people.
2. ACT Team: Services for at least 80 severely mentally ill unsheltered and housed clients by a
mobile, high-level team, including psychiatric and medical professionals
ISSUED BY THE CITY MANAGER FORT WORTH, TEXAS
INFORMAL REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS
No. 25-0127
h�Tt4e
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10 7'.F
To the Mayor and Members of the City Council
November 4, 2025
Page 2 of 3
SUBJECT: UPDATE ON HIGH IMPACT OUTCOMES AND PROGRAM
EXPANSION
The 17-month pilot of the High ImpACT Program concluded September 30, 2025 with strong
performance in the programs performance measures and goals.
Performance Measures and Goals Final Pilot Performance and Outcomes as
of September 30, 2025
86% of referrals offered housing
70% At least 70% of those offered housing 86% through master lease or Homeless
enter housing within six months Housing and Services Program have
_ accepted
70% After one year of entering housing, at
least 70% are still housed _
80 Provide ACT Team services for 80
clients _
40 Provide High ImpACT housing
assistance to 40 clients
Up to Provide housing assistance to up to 40
40 additional clients by leveraging other
programs
L _
Expanding High Impact
94% 94% of clients housed at least one year
remain housed
80 clients are being provided ACT
Team services
43 43 provided housing assistance through
High ImpACT master lease
12 provided housing assistance through
Homeless Housing and Services
33 Program (state grant)
21 provided housing assistance through
other programs
Based on one-year results presented on June 17, 2025, Council voted on August 12, 2025 (M&C 25-
0658) to continue the High ImpACT program. Council also requested staff develop a proposal to expand
High ImpACT to serve more individuals.
Expanding High ImpACT involves identifying other funding sources for both the rental assistance and
services. Maintaining a 1:10 case load for program caseworkers is essential for the success of the
program. For every 10 rental assistance slots secured, another team member's salary must be added
to the services budget.
The addition of Housing Choice Vouchers from Fort Worth Housing Solutions (FWHS) are an effective
resource in increasing program capacity. Referrals can enter the program with the program's existing
City funds to facilitate quicker housing and then transition to a voucher for the longer -term assistance.
MHMR has agreed to use its Project 40 set aside with FWHS for the High ImPACT program. The 30
vouchers would be added over the course of 6 — 8 months. This will allow 30 more High ImpACT
ISSUED BY THE CITY MANAGER FORT WORTH, TEXAS
INFORMAL REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS
No. 25-0127
h%Tt4e.
Gp 4 r
i {
i7 Y
r -,
Q
10 7'.F
To the Mayor and Members of the City Council
November 4, 2025
Page 3 of 3
SUBJECT: UPDATE ON HIGH IMPACT OUTCOMES AND PROGRAM
EXPANSION
referrals to be housed. Neighborhood Police Officers (NPOs) have continued to provide new referrals,
so those referrals will be prioritized for housing for the additional openings.
In order to meet the services needs for 30 more clients, Homeless Strategies has structured the FY
2026 High ImpACT contract and budget to allow the hiring of two team members.
As staff works with partners to implement the expansion of 30 additional clients, it will also work toward
possibilities to secure additional vouchers and/or funding to continue reducing homelessness in target
areas and reduce its effects on neighborhoods and businesses.
For more information, please contact Homeless Strategies Manager Tara Perez at
Tara. Perez(a)fortworthtexas.U�. .
Jesus "Jay" Chapa
City Manager
ISSUED BY THE CITY MANAGER FORT WORTH, TEXAS