The City of Fort Worth is celebrating six months of progress in its High ImpACT Pilot Program, an initiative aimed at tackling the complex intersection of mental health issues and unsheltered homelessness. On Tuesday, the City Council approved the renewal of a $2.2 million contract with My Health My Resources (MHMR) of Tarrant County to continue the program for an additional 17 months.
Since its launch in May 2024, the High ImpACT Pilot Program has made significant strides in both addressing homelessness and providing psychiatric care for individuals experiencing severe mental illness. The program focuses on individuals in seven target areas across the city that are seeing high levels of long-term unsheltered homelessness, as well as individuals with severe mental health needs.
As of October 31, the program has identified 98 eligible individuals for housing, with 70% of referrals coming from Fort Worth Police Department Neighborhood Police Officers (NPOs). A crucial component of the program’s success has been the establishment of a highly trained Assertive Community Treatment (ACT) Team, which provides mobile psychiatric services and housing assistance.
A key achievement of the program is its success in housing individuals who have long struggled with homelessness. The program has successfully housed 30 individuals, with the median client having experienced homelessness for 7.5 years and being 55 years old. More than 90% of clients who were offered housing accepted it within six months, with most needing just one interaction to agree to the offer.
The program serves individuals living in the following areas:
- Camp Bowie West/Las Vegas Trail (Council District 3)
- Seminary/La Gran Plaza/Hemphill (Council District 11)
- Downtown (Council District 9)
- Near Southside (Council District 9)
- Historic Southside/Near Eastside (Council District 8)
- Beach Street intersections, from East Lancaster Avenue to North Tarrant Parkway (Council District 4)
- Northside/Stockyards (Council District 2)
The ultimate goal of the pilot is to ensure that over 70% of clients offered housing accept it within six months and that more than 70% of those clients remain housed for at least one year after leasing. The program also aims to provide housing assistance to 80 individuals, with half receiving assistance through High ImpACT and the other half through other housing programs. Additionally, the program seeks to deliver ACT services to 80 severely mentally ill clients.
The High ImpACT Pilot Program is part of Fort Worth's broader strategy to address the rise in homelessness, which has increased by 18% from 2020 to 2024, particularly following the COVID-19 pandemic. The program’s compassionate approach provides tailored services designed to address the specific needs of those experiencing both mental health crises and homelessness.
“We are leading on innovative solutions to address complex issues, like the deep impacts of the intersection of unsheltered homelessness and severe mental illness,” said Mayor Mattie Parker. “High ImpACT is addressing this challenge with compassionate, tailored efforts that have lasting impacts not only on our homeless system but also on our neighborhood and business districts.”
