Dallas Leaders Divided Over Housing Crisis and Solutions

City officials debate whether Dallas has an affordable housing shortage and how to address it.

Apr. 5, 2026 at 10:05am

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Dallas city leaders are divided over whether the city is facing a housing affordability crisis and what should be done about it. Data shows a significant shortage of affordable rental units, especially for lower-income households, as rapid population growth has outpaced housing production. However, some council members question the need for tax incentives and subsidies, arguing the city should focus more on encouraging single-family home development. The city's proposed 'Dallas Is Home' framework aims to increase housing production and preservation, but council members disagree on policy priorities and funding tools.

Why it matters

The debate over Dallas' housing challenges reflects a broader conversation about housing choice, affordability, and the role of government in addressing these issues. The outcome could have significant impacts on the city's ability to provide accessible and attainable housing options for residents across income levels.

The details

City data indicates Dallas is short about 46,000 affordable rental units for households earning 50% or less of the area median income. While multifamily construction has increased, much of it has been market-rate or luxury units, leaving a gap in 'workforce housing' affordable for teachers, first responders, and service workers. Single-family home production has also lagged behind neighboring cities. Some council members argue the city is overusing tax incentives and should focus more on encouraging attainable homeownership, while others support more subsidized multifamily development. The proposed 'Dallas Is Home' framework aims to streamline housing production, increase shelters and attainable units, and improve community engagement, but council members disagree on policy priorities.

  • In 2025, evictions in Dallas more than doubled compared to 2020 as COVID-era protections ended.
  • Last year, the city's previous housing plan, Dallas Housing Policy 2033, was sunsetted due to federal guidelines prohibiting funding tied to racial equity initiatives.

The players

Ashley Flores

Senior director at the Child Poverty Action Lab, who presented data showing a growing rental housing supply gap affecting households up to 60% of the area median income.

Cullum Clark

Economist and director of the George W. Bush Institute-SMU Economic Growth Initiative, who discussed Dallas' underperformance in single-family home construction compared to other Sun Belt cities.

Thor Erickson

Director of the city's Housing & Community Empowerment Department, who stated that the cost to build a 1,300-square-foot home is around $270,000-$300,000, making homeownership unaffordable for many Dallasites.

Cara Mendelsohn

Dallas City Council Member who questioned the effectiveness of tax abatements and argued the city should focus more on supporting residents with the greatest housing needs.

Bryan Tony

Executive director of the Dallas Housing Coalition, who called for increased investment in 'hard subsidies' and regulatory relief for builders to address the city's housing challenges.

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What they’re saying

“We're still a lot better than San Francisco and LA, but relative to the other places that have seen demand growth, we have underperformed pretty dramatically relative even to our neighbors in Fort Worth.”

— Cullum Clark, Director, George W. Bush Institute-SMU Economic Growth Initiative

“That's terrible fiscal policy, and it's terrible housing policy. Tax incentives should be used for residents with the most need rather than used to subsidize mixed-income developments that include a split of affordable and market-rate units.”

— Cara Mendelsohn, Dallas City Council Member

“If there's not good communication with the neighborhoods, if the neighborhoods aren't considered significantly in these solution-based proposals for all these items that we're talking about, then those solutions are not going to be viable.”

— Bill Roth, Dallas City Council Member

“We shouldn't be forcing people to live in shared housing or intergenerational housing just because they don't have a choice. That's not the thriving Dallas that I think of personally or our members envision.”

— Bryan Tony, Executive Director, Dallas Housing Coalition

What’s next

The proposed 'Dallas Is Home' framework will continue to be refined as city council members debate policy priorities, funding tools, and development incentives.

The takeaway

The debate over Dallas' housing challenges reflects a larger conversation about balancing housing choice, affordability, and the role of government. Resolving these issues will require city leaders to find common ground on the nature of the problem and the best solutions to provide accessible and attainable housing options for all residents.