STRATEGIC PRIORITY: Housing & Homelessness Solutions
AGENDA DATE: March 8, 2023
COUNCIL DISTRICT(S): All
DEPARTMENT: Department of Housing & Neighborhood Revitalization
EXECUTIVE: Majed Al-Ghafry
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SUBJECT
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Authorize the execution of a Memorandum of Understanding with Builders of Hope Community Development Corporation to allow the City to participate in the creation of an Anti-Displacement Toolkit - Financing: No cost consideration to the City
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BACKGROUND
Staff from the Department of Housing & Neighborhood Revitalization have been working to address resources available to combat displacement as an outcome of gentrification of neighborhoods throughout Dallas.
Gentrification and displacement are perennial issues in Dallas communities experiencing revitalization for both the City and Builders of Hope Community Development Corporation (BOHCDC). There are existing studies and policy toolkits addressing displacement that Dallas can use to inform this work, including The University of Texas at Austin’s 2018 “Uprooted: Residential Displacement in Austin’s Gentrifying Neighborhoods and What Can Be Done About It” and its 2019 statewide companion, the “Texas Anti-Displacement Toolkit.” These publications set the stage for what is possible in Dallas; they outline the suite of potential policies that can be pursued and highlight best practices and success stories from around nation. However, because gentrification occurs on a localized level, a targeted and comprehensive strategy is needed in Dallas to better understand its unique and diverse demographic conditions at various stages of neighborhood change. This approach allows the City and BOHCDC to strategically match policies to strategies that meet the needs of vulnerable residents in impacted neighborhoods facing displacement pressures.
BOHCDC has secured investments for the development of the Anti-Displacement Toolkit from private foundations and assembled key project partners. The JPMorgan Chase Foundation awarded $250,000.00 towards development of the Anti-Displacement Toolkit and The Dallas Foundation committed $150,000.00 to comprise an overall budget of $400,000.00. BOHCDC will have full control over the topics, methodology, and conclusions of the Anti-Displacement Toolkit. The City may implement the Anti-Displacement Toolkit pending review of final deliverables and alignment with Housing Department initiatives including City Council approval and appropriation of City financial resources to support BOHCDC’s recommendations.
City Council’s approval of this item will authorize the City Manager to execute a Memorandum of Understanding with BOHCDC.
PRIOR ACTION/REVIEW (COUNCIL, BOARDS, COMMISSIONS)
Information about this item was provided to the Housing and Homelessness Solutions Committee on February 27, 2023.
FISCAL INFORMATION
No cost consideration to the City.