How a Dallas Housing Coalition Won Bonds for Affordable Housing

A coalition of affordable housing advocates in Dallas secured a $82 million bond to support housing programs, marking a major increase in the city’s investment in housing initiatives.

According to a Shelterforce article, “Dallas faces a shortage of 33,700 affordable rental units. Without action, this crisis is expected to grow as more people move to North Texas. Dallas homeownership rates also lie below the state average and, as of 2021, 48 percent of renters were considered housing-cost-burdened. By joining forces, DHC members aimed to raise awareness surrounding the upcoming bond and pressure policymakers to act.”

The article outlines lessons learned from the campaign, noting that while the $82 million is “a historic achievement,” it was whittled down from a $1.25 billion proposal. “As disheartening as the outcome was at the time, members of the DHC saw it as a proof of concept and vowed to redouble its efforts. The coalition is now well-positioned to make affordable housing a central issue in the spring 2025 municipal elections, holding those who wavered accountable and advocating for additional policy reforms and investments to meet the demands of Dallas’s escalating housing crisis.”