The American Rescue Plan was signed into law by President J. Biden in March of 2021. This was done in response to COVID-19 pandemic that economically affected millions of Americans.This plan aimed to alleviate financial hardship for vulnerable populations, families, and small businesses. The American Rescue Plan distributed funds throughout states and counties to provide support at a state and local level to communities. The city of Dallas received $355.4 million in funds and they have $43 million left to spend by September of 2024. We urge the city of Dallas to allocate these funds appropriately in order to continue to aid individuals and businesses struggling financially.

The link below is provided by Dallas County public county portal where if you wish, can submit your comments regarding where you would like the funding to be allocated.

https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?i...

A BIG thank you to everyone who takes the time to read and/or sign!

Jack Ireland

Chief Financial Officer

Dallas City Hall

1500 Marilla St.

4CH

Dallas, Texas 75201

Dear Jack Ireland and whomever this may concern,

As I am sure you are aware, in March 2021 President Biden signed into law the American Rescue Plan in response to the economic effects of COVID-19. The intention of the American Rescue Plan was to help ease the financial hardships that many Americans are currently facing, specifically those who own small businesses, families, and individuals who belong to vulnerable and marginalized populations.

Although the American Rescue Plan allows the state and local governments to decide how the relief funds should be allocated, we as citizens are concerned about how the city of Dallas has chosen to implement the budget and distribution of funds. We understand that Dallas has $43 million remaining from the original $355.4 million given through the American Relief Plan left to spend before September 2024.

After reviewing the budgeting plan members of your team have made public we implore you to reconsider the programs and projects that you have selected to be financed from the American Relief Plan funds.

Although we recognize that there are benefits to improving city management such as purchasing more squad cars and creating a new operation for an economic development corporation. We ask you to consider using the funds to focus on more immediate and direct efforts towards aiding your citizens as they attempt to rebuild and sustain themselves during this period of financial uncertainty and instability.

We appreciate the contribution that you have already made towards providing funds for housing for unsheltered persons. However, we ask that you increase the $3,657,631 to an even $6,000,000 in order to allow unsheltered assistance centers to further expand their operations and services to accommodate the larger unsheltered population following the increase in the economic crisis.

Following asking for a change in the funds provided to these shelters, we ask that $1,500,000 be reallocated to provide financial assistance to food banks and centers that provide provisions to those below or near the poverty level. Many small businesses, families, and marginalized individuals suffered greatly following COVID-19 and the rise in inflation. Many Dallas citizens are in need of not only financial assistance but clothing, food, and other daily necessities. By reallocating these funds and providing them to shelters there would be a more direct impact on those in need. Although there is wisdom in making changes and using the funds for futuristic improvement and assistance, your citizens need the help now.

We understand that there was a lot of effort in creating this current budget and that you act on what you believe to be in the people’s best interest. However right now many of your voters and people are struggling to get by each day, and they need help and assistance right now instead of down the road. You are currently in a position to give them the aid that they need and help them get back on their feet and down the road that they were on before COVID-19.

To reiterate, we want $3,657,631 that was set aside for unsheltered centers within Dallas to be increased to $6,000,000 to better serve the influx of those in need of services. Additionally, we wish for $1,500,000 to be reallocated and reserved for food banks and other services that provide no- to little-cost goods to Dallas citizens near and below the poverty line.

Thank you for your consideration and for working towards the needs of the people.

Sincerely,

TWU social work students: Sydney Moser, Daniela Olvera Ramos, Ellie Leslie, and other Texas Woman’s University Students