A city-owned emergency housing facility in Dallas, the Family Gateway Center, has been forced to close housing units and a child care center due to mold. The building was damaged in a storm on May 28 and has still not been repaired. Dallas city staff claim that repairs were delayed while they tried to determine who is responsible for the repairs.
City Councilwoman Cara Mendelsohn expressed frustration over the neglect of the building, stating that the mold damage poses a health risk to families in need. Council members grilled city staff about the delay in replacing the roof and questioned why it has taken so long to address the issue.
This is not the first city-owned property to face neglect and disrepair, as previous stories highlighted squatters taking over a vacant building next to City Hall. The Family Gateway Center was the previous occupant of that building before moving to its current location. Despite the nonprofit group raising $3 million to renovate its new location, the city’s neglect has led to mold issues at the original location.
City Council members have called for a follow-up meeting to address the neglect of city-owned properties and ensure that emergency housing facilities are properly maintained in the future. The information from this article comes from a meeting of Dallas’ Council Government Performance & Financial Management Committee on August 26, 2024.
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