The Bridge homeless assistance center in Dallas is facing a brutal $200,000 budget shortfall. And while the facility has been struggling to stretch its limited resources to assist ever-increasing numbers of homeless individuals, it was dealt a particularly harsh blow when Dallas County decided to cut its contribution by 10% this year.

The Bridge, a city-owned facility, opened in 2008 to offer shelter, counseling, health care and meals to 600 people a day. It now serves 1,400 each day. The facility has worked tirelessly this year to cover costs with its $8.1 million dollar budget, provided by government funding and private donations, but dramatic rises in homelessness over the past year and the partial elimination of County funding has placed them in a difficult spot.

By helping to reduce chronic homelessness in the city by 57 percent, The Bridge has saved government agencies millions of dollars by assisting people who might otherwise need other, more expensive institutions. The numbers alone speak to how important funding a facility such as The Bridge can be, and should serve as a clear indication to Dallas County that they are not only doing a disservice to the county's estimated 6,000 homeless individuals by cutting funds, but they are also negatively affecting the entire county.

Cash-strapped municipalities across the country are having to make due with less, but now is not the time to eliminate funding that helps support our most vulnerable citizens. Ask Dallas County to restore and maintain critical funding for The Bridge homeless assistance center.

Photo credit: Terry Shuck