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Dallas' The Bridge Homeless Center's Progressive Approach May Actually Make a Difference

With a no-hassles approach to panhandlers, Dallas' new shelter hopes to kill homelessness with kindness

A A A Comments (13) By Naomi Zeveloff Friday, May 9 2008

...continued from page 6

Faenza asks if he'd be willing to go to The Bridge when it opens.

"I'm going to see what kinds of services they have. I'll try to take advantage of it. But..." Gary clasps his hands together, sounding a bit paranoid. "It's like—they're holding the funds back."

Courtesy of Metro Dallas Homeless Alliance

From its inception, The Bridge was envisioned as a campus where the homeless, after receiving social services, would be primed for re-entry into a new life.

MARK GRAHAM

Mike Faenza likes to tell his staff that the more times a person has been in jail, arrested or beaten up, the more welcome he will be at The Bridge.

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Faenza re-focuses Gary's attention on tonight. "At the Life center, could they take you in?" He's referring to the Dallas Life Foundation, a shelter behind the convention center. "Could you get in, if you had the money?"

"I'd really like something to eat." He says he's only had a slice of ham today.

"If you had the money to go wherever you'd like, where would you eat?"

"McDonald's. I'd get me some burgers and fries."

"You want food, but in terms of sleeping, are you OK?" Faenza presses.

"I've got blankets," he says.

Gary hunches through a hole in a chain-link fence, entering to retrieve his army jacket. He'll be right back, he says. Faenza waits on the street, wary of the "No Trespassing" signs that mark the structure. When Gary returns, Faenza asks him one last time whether he'll try out The Bridge when it opens.

"I'll be glad to," Gary says. "A person like me can take advantage of that situation. And I don't mind working."

"I'll see you over there," Faenza says, handing Gary a $20 bill for food. "I'll be over there a lot."

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kentoria 03/10/2010 11:02:00 PM

OMG THIS PLACE LOOKS SO AWSOM MY GRANDPA LIVES IN HERE FRANK KAISLER AND I SO LOVE HIM LOVE U POPS

LINDSEY CALHOUN 09/17/2009 5:15:00 PM

I FIND IT VERY REFRESHING SEEING THE CEO OF METRO DALLAS HOMELESS ALLIANCE OUT ON THE STREETS TRYNG TO GET THE HOMLESS INTO SHELTERS. I WORK IN THE MENTAL HEALTH FEILD AND FROM EXPIERENCE I KNOW FIRST HAND ABOUT THE HOMELESS. AT ONE POINT IN MY LIFE I ALMOST BECAME HOMELESS. MY HEART GOES OUT TO MIKE, AND HIS ATTEMPT TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN SO MANY LIVES. MAY GOD TRULY BLESS HIM. YOU LIKE SO MANY SHOW THAT PEOPLE DO HAVE A HEART,AND IT'S NOT ONLY DURING THE HOLIDAYS. THANK YOU

sarah_m 03/18/2009 6:36:00 PM

At the bridge, many must sleep with lights on, and any napping during the day must be done sitting up. There is no day, or even one hour, allowed, to recover from a knock your socks off day of job hunting, or a week of working overtime. Or of being just in need of rest, like people in homes or apartments are allowed. Imagine being in your apartment, and not being allowed to recline in any fashion for months. If you get the flu, too bad for you. Recovery is more difficult, and much slower, when you cannot lie down to nap, or relieve a headache, or to rest, and you are not allowed saltines, or Gatorade, or special purchases of bland foods so needed in your bodies effort at recovery. AND YOU CANNOT LIE DOWN WITHOUT A FIGHT WITH STAFF. NOT AFTER 6 AM. And most likely, not even then. And if you argue, you are risking being removed from even sitting in The Bridge.

sarah_m 03/18/2009 6:10:00 PM

The statement, "re-entry into a new life" is too vague. What do you think that means? What does the person who first spoke that as a reason for the Bridge's exsistence think that means? Any ideas? Who spoke it? Is it The Bridge's mission statement? If not, what is? Other than placement in indoor housing, with food, of those who do not have it that very day, "re-entry into a new life" cannot mean anything concrete. Does not having the capability of attaining shelter for one night mean that person is looking for a new life? What if they cannot attain shelter for three months? Is the solution a new life? If unattainable for one year, is the solution a new life? All people entering the Bridge seeking shelter enter into what becomes a very old life- a life of loss of privacy and individuality and protection from mental distress. People enter into The Bridge and become treated in a way void of normal allowances normal life requires. Now, what would happen, if, say, just one of those many "recession's hitting, newly jobless, lost their lease" people entered those 20 people's perception, of those who's goal it is to get for those 20 people, "a new life?" Or, are those 20 people, by definition, even "homeless?"

Guest 01/11/2009 11:09:00 PM

I've seen it. "We take care of their Needs" BS! Every homeless that walks in The Bridge's door is automatically labeled addicted/mental and ran through the One-Size-Fits-All prison model. The beds for veterans are actually mandated by the VA to force all the homeless veterans into never-ending group therapy and the forced 12-step religion or "hit the road". I challenge anyone to walk in those doors and tell them "I need real house, real training for a trade/career, and a job using my new trade certification." They will laugh and then tell you you are in DENIAL and it will be years of going through their programs before that happens, if ever. These POVERTY PIMPS have got to stop this insane labeling of people mental and their Evangelical Christion 12-step religious absolute sobriety nonsense.

jeanie miller 01/09/2009 6:21:00 PM

my son is homeless and has eaten at the bridge since it opened, he has a day/night pass that they gave him, now all of a sudden they won't let him in to eat or nothing, they said his badge don't matter. who do these people think they are that work there, i thought this $23 million place was to help the homeless not put the money in there own pockets. they won't even let him sleep there even tho they are the ones who gave him the pass, they pick and choose who they let in. something needs to be done about that place. when there is write up in the paper they make it sound like this place is great for the homeless but it picks and Chooses who they will feed, i never thought they would turn someone away from FOOD. would you please help. my sons name is DANIEL SONNEY. i think he has a mailbox at the bridge, if they still will lt him get his mail. THANK YOU VERY MUCH

BX 07/21/2008 5:00:00 AM

Hey, August, thanks for your input all the way from San Francisco. Too bad you don't have the opportunity to visit and volunteer in this place or I guess you would know that religion is not forced on these people. You would also come to learn that nothing is forced on any of the people that approach the shelter. Despite this, the homeless do get the chance to receive the services they dearly need and might not otherwise get meandering the streets. Thanks for reading the article, though....

Jenny 07/10/2008 5:06:00 AM

I was homeless and in shelters for 2 years. Mentally ill, I thought I had reached the end of the line. But, some people helped me and I made it out, have Social Security income, and an apartment, and stay stable most of the time. So, it can be done. But nobody gets off the street without help. Hurray for The Bridge. It's the best thing to hit Dallas downtown in years. And beautiful too. People in Dallas should be happy that if THEY ever lose their job there might be a place for their weary bodies and minds to recover and get help. And hopefully, the extreme homeless will finally get a real boost up without sacrificing their "souls" to a variety of different religious organizations. God is love but not when he is forced on you.

Guest 07/09/2008 2:20:00 AM

These homeless centers are all the same; forced religion & 12-step witchcraft, never-ending groups, worthless life skill,rules-rules-and more rules, nasty overcrowded bunk-bedded warehouses, no privacy anywhere, shared showers & toilets like jail, more religion, and when finished with their programs.....Still homeless, still no real career training, still credit destroyed, still homeless ticket criminal records, and back to the safety under the bridge campsite.

Tamara 05/29/2008 7:42:00 PM

I need help!!! Please tell me the address of The Bridge & a phone number!!! Tamara

RCA 05/28/2008 11:34:00 PM

I applaud the efforts of all who are involved with this project. For years now I along with six Godchildren had looked out for an elderly man in the vicinity of Meadow & Central Expressway. He is a very sweet person and at times he rants and raves (who wouldn't living in such conditions on the street)? We give him food and water to drink and on many occassions I'll give him five or ten dollars. I typically don't like to give money but I do so to him BECAUSE HE HAS NEVER asked me for money. I am teaching these Godchildren of mine to be loving, caring and compassionate human beings which seems to be traits that the majority of society has lost in there GREED to be self serving.

Larry James 05/12/2008 4:55:00 AM

We are extremely fortunate to have Mike Faenza leading the effort at the Bridge. Boo birds are always plentiful. Courageous leaders are few and far between. Give Mike and his team a chance. The single attitude that identifies the homeless as "just like the rest of us" encourages me. I have found this point of view to be true. I'll be down there to see you, Mike. Way to go, buddy. Just keep the faith! Larry James Central Dallas Ministries

Disgusted 05/08/2008 4:18:00 PM

Downtown Dallas became deserted after the Kennedy assassination, with a burst of revitalization only within the past couple of years. The Bridge will stifle what the healing hands of 40 years time has mended.

Dallas' The Bridge Homeless Center's Progressive Approach May Actually Make a Difference

With a no-hassles approach to panhandlers, Dallas' new shelter hopes to kill homelessness with kindness

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