DRC: A new name & mission

Fort Worth’s Day Resource Center for the Homeless has a new name and mission that expands the depth and reach of its services for people facing homelessness.

Now simply the DRC, the agency adopted a new service structure that puts Housing First and extends the agency’s reach to areas with unmet needs.

The DRC’s new mission closely aligns the 16-year-old nonprofit with the Housing First approach, which places individuals or families in housing as quickly as possible, then provides support services that help people remain housed. It also encourages collaboration among funders and providers of services for people who are homeless, one of several recommendations of the 2014 City of Fort Worth ad hoc committee report on ending homelessness.

Colocation agreements, for example, rotate DRC specialists through offices of allied social services agencies and faith community partners. Colocation extends the reach of DRC housing and other services to areas with unmet need and links people served by the DRC with complementary services of partner agencies like YWCA Fort Worth & Tarrant County and others.

“While shortening our name, we’re expanding and building on DRC’s core capabilities like social services system navigation, critical documents support, victims’ advocacy, and family reunification, as well as rapid rehousing placement.”

DRC social services and day shelter staff will continue to provide services at the agency shelter at 1415 E. Lancaster Ave. as long as needed, and its partnership with 22 local churches that make Room in the Inn for men or women facing homelessness will remain a cherished part of its programming, Frankel said.