High ImpACT Pilot Program: One-year update
Published on June 17, 2025
The City of Fort Worth's High ImpACT Pilot Program, which launched as a 17-month pilot on May 1, 2024, with the goal of reducing unsheltered homelessness in seven heavily impacted areas, is marking 12 months of progress.
Through a contract with My Health My Resources of Tarrant County (MHMR), and supported by Acclaim Health and Partnership Home as subcontractors, the program integrates targeted housing assistance and mental health services.
Why it matters: As unsheltered homelessness rises and emergency shelters near capacity, the need for focused, data-driven interventions is more urgent than ever. The pilot program targets individuals with severe mental illness and/or long-term homelessness who are living unsheltered in one of seven designated areas:
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Camp Bowie West/Las Vegas Trail (Council District 3)
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Seminary/Hemphill (Council Districts 9, 11)
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Downtown Fort Worth (Council District 9)
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Near Southside (Council District 9)
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Historic Southside/Near Eastside (Council District 8)
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Northside/Stockyards (Council District 2)
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Beach Street area from East Lancaster to North Tarrant Parkway (Council Districts 2, 4, 8, 11)
Client focus and services: The program focuses on individuals experiencing homelessness in the target areas that are experiencing long-term unsheltered homelessness and/or serious mental illness. Referrals are evaluated and connected to:
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Master-leased or housing with rental assistance
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Voluntary case management by the ACT (Assertive Community Treatment) team
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Mental and physical health services via MHMR, Acclaim Health and others
Key staffing includes psychiatric and medical physician assistants, mental health specialist, registered nurse, housing case managers, peer supporter and a landlord engagement coordinator.
First 12 months impact
The City set several performance measures and goals to meet by the end of the first 17 months of the program, and the program is on track to meet or exceed those goals at the 12-month benchmark of April 30, 2025.
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98 clients identified across the seven target areas.
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Neighborhood police officers played a critical role in identifying clients for the program, contributing 70% of all referrals.
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17-month goal: 40 clients provided housing services through High ImpACT master leases.
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17-month goal: 40 clients provided housing services via Homeless Housing Services Program (through Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs) and other housing programs.
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17-month goal: 80 clients receiving ACT team services.
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17-month goal: 70% of clients offered housing accepted it within six months.
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17-month goal: After one year of entering housing, at least 70% are still housed.
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The program is unable to report on a full year of housing at this point but is reporting a 98% total housing retention rate among housed clients (48 of 49).
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The median High ImpACT client has been homeless for 7.5 years, is 54 years old and accepted housing after one interaction with the ACT team.
What's next
The City is taking action to enhance and expand the program:
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Individualized area plans: The City is working with police officers, the HOPE team and other departments to identify attractors, such as panhandling, and develop tailored strategies in each area.
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Expanded outreach funding: Additional outreach resources are planned in FY2026 to boost program effectiveness.
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Long-term housing assistance: Staff are working to secure permanent housing options for existing clients and increase capacity for new referrals.
Upcoming City Council action
On Aug. 12, the City Council is scheduled to vote to continue the program with approximately $2 million in annual funding.
Photos: The HOPE Team approaches the homeless issue by working to find housing for those living on the streets.
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[PT1]Acclaim (JPS) is subcontractor also