The purpose of this petition is to propose a call to action regarding housing displacement affecting long-term residents in South Dallas. The Child Poverty Action Lab (2026) revealed that Dallas is encountering a “shortage of affordable rental units for low-income households.” Dallas has a shortage of 46,000 affordable housing units, meaning low-income residents have little to no access to affordable units (Child Poverty Action Lab, 2026). South Dallas residents are already facing housing disparities with the lack of affordable units, but with the increase in redevelopment, they are at greater risk of being displaced. The City of Dallas is working to address the anti-displacement issue by emphasizing support for affected long-term residents. With help from District 7 Councilmember Adam Bazaldua, the Housing and Homelessness Solutions Committee, and the Department of Housing and Community Empowerment, a well-established, city-funded community-based program will allow long-term South Dallas residents to remain in their homes as redevelopment continues.

The first strategy would focus on helping the long-term residents of South Dallas remain in their homes and communities as housing prices increase. This would show action to the community through multiple resources and provide assistance. The assistance support forms will then help with home repair grants, title and estate planning, and affordable housing options. These would be backed by the city's full support for development. If the community were to successfully obtain home-repair grants, this could help homeowners who meet the requirements make the necessary repairs without leaving their homes. This would remove them from any additional debt and from the pressure to sell for redevelopment. It is important to have resources like this because if any owner faces potential homeownership issues, the community will also offer title and estate-planning assistance. 

The proposed interventions will help shift the focus to housing stability, making them more successful than focusing solely on an individual's personal issues, which has led to limited housing stability. A resident being in their home can be affected not just by natural economic disasters but also by housing policies and government development. This will create a conflict theory because government officials' decisions about South Dallas housing can halt efforts to place low- and moderate-income residents at greater risk of displacement. These measures will address several issues at hand that contribute to the dysfunction caused by losing housing. Rather than increasing the number of homeless individuals, the community can focus on providing residents with financial assistance or transitional living options. Housing individuals for up to 6 months, allowing them to properly gain employment opportunities to sustain housing expenses. Continued access to affordable housing would strengthen the South Dallas community, giving residents reassurance that they will continue to live there. The initiative would therefore support housing stability while enabling joint partnerships with community development centers without forcing anyone out of their homes. 

Housing displacement can lower quality of life by creating financial stress, housing instability, and the loss of community connections. Protecting long-term South Dallas residents supports housing equity and social justice by giving residents a fair opportunity to remain in their homes as redevelopment continues. This petition is directed toward District 7 Councilmember Adam Bazaldua, the Dallas City Council, the Housing and Homelessness Solutions Committee, and the Department of Housing and Community Empowerment. Signing this petition supports funding for home-repair grants, estate-planning assistance, affordable housing, and other anti-displacement resources. South Dallas can grow and improve while also protecting the residents who have helped build and sustain the community.