Program would connect older unsheltered residents to housing, services

Fort Worth City Council is considering a new initiative designed to help older adults experiencing unsheltered homelessness connect to housing, supportive services and critical benefits.

The proposed Flora Brewer Bridge Program would serve 105 unsheltered residents age 55 and older and supports the City's ongoing effort to focus resources on reducing unsheltered homelessness.

The program was developed following extensive community engagement conducted in Fiscal Year 2025. Nearly 300 stakeholders — including City elected officials and staff, homeless service providers, neighborhood and community partners, and individuals with lived experience of homelessness — participated in discussions about homelessness priorities. Feedback emphasized focusing City resources on resolving unsheltered homelessness and related community concerns.

Response to homelessness increase

According to the January 2026 Point-in-Time Count, 1,083 people were experiencing unsheltered homelessness in Fort Worth, an increase of approximately 70% since 2020. Unsheltered homelessness includes people living outside, in vehicles, abandoned buildings, underpasses, parks and similar locations.

To strengthen its response, the City has expanded its investment in street outreach, increasing the number of City-funded outreach workers through DRC Solutions from two to six. Outreach teams proactively engage unsheltered individuals, build relationships and connect people to available resources with the goal of helping them exit homelessness.

Older adults represent a significant share of the unsheltered population being served through outreach efforts. DRC Solutions reports that 34% of individuals served by street outreach are age 55 or older, and 42% have experienced homelessness for more than five years. Nationally, adults over age 50 are the fastest-growing population experiencing homelessness.

The program responds to findings that older adults experiencing homelessness often need a different pathway to housing and care. According to the U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness, people experiencing homelessness die nearly 30 years earlier than the average person. Due to age, length of time homeless and health challenges, many individuals over age 55 are unlikely to exit homelessness through employment and may require a different strategy.

What the program would provide

The proposed Flora Brewer Bridge Program combines housing assistance, focused case management, benefits assistance and connections to higher levels of care when needed. The program's goal is to connect 105 unsheltered individuals age 55 and older to housing and services. As participants "bridge” to mainstream benefits, space in the program can be opened to serve additional clients.

Housing assistance would be provided through 105 tenant-based rental vouchers set aside by Fort Worth Housing Solutions. The vouchers have an estimated annual value of $1.7 million in federal funding. The Fort Worth Housing Solutions Board of Commissioners revised its administrative plan on Sept. 17 to support the program. If implemented, vouchers would begin being committed monthly in January 2027, with the program reaching 105 clients over approximately 18 months.

Supportive services would be delivered by DRC Solutions. Each participant would receive a needs assessment and individualized service plan that may include primary and behavioral healthcare, addiction services, money management skills, housekeeping assistance and meal preparation support. A core focus of the program is helping participants bridge to mainstream benefits such as Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid that can support access to a higher level of care when needed.

Supportive services funding is structured as a one-to-one match between the City and the Flora Fund through the North Texas Communities Foundation. The Flora Fund has pledged $1.7 million over five years to support the effort.

The program is named in honor of Dr. Flora Brewer, former president of Paulos Properties, a social-purpose real estate development company. Brewer was deeply involved in the homeless response system through investments and advocacy. She left funding with the North Texas Communities Foundation through the Flora Fund to continue providing housing and services.

Next steps

The next step is City Council consideration of a contract with DRC Solutions on Oct. 27. If approved, outreach teams would begin identifying eligible participants and helping gather required documentation.

Client matching and the first voucher issuances are anticipated to begin in January 2027, with the program scaling to serve 105 clients over the following 18 months.

Learn more about City and regional programs directed at reducing homelessness.

Photo: City officials and community partners prepared to launch the Flora Brewer Bridge Program at City Hall on Tuesday.

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