Fort Worth’s Day Resource Center for the Homeless has shortened its name and adopted a new service approach suggested by the city that extends the reach of its services for people facing homelessness.
Now called DRC, the 16-year-old agency located on East Lancaster Avenue is expanding its service structure with the Housing First approach, which places individuals or families in housing as quickly as possible, then provides support services that help people remain housed.
“We’ve been called DRC for nearly our entire history,” said Bruce Frankel, executive director. “While shortening our name, we’re expanding and building on DRC’s core capabilities like social services system navigation, critical documents support, victims’ advocacy and family reunification as well as rapid rehousing placement.”
The nonprofit’s new model also encourages collaboration among funders and providers of services for homeless people, one of several recommendations of the 2014 City of Fort Worth ad hoc committee report on ending homelessness.
Colocation agreements, for example, rotate DRC specialists through offices of allied social services agencies and faith community partners.
Colocation extends the reach of DRC housing and other services to areas with unmet need and links people served by DRC with complementary services of partner agencies such as YWCA Fort Worth & Tarrant County, Community Crossroads and others.
DRC social services and day shelter staff will continue to provide services at the agency shelter at 1415 E. Lancaster Ave. as long as needed, and its partnership with 22 local churches that make Room in the Inn for men or women facing homelessness will remain a part of its programming, Frankel said.
DRC serves more than 3,000 people a year and an average of 350 people each day.
Betty Dillard
bdillard@bizpress.net