They weighed whether to devote more than $5 million to address the city\u2019s housing crisis during a work session meeting Jan. 13<\/a>. This year\u2019s bond election is expected to be the first in Fort Worth that includes a proposition dedicated to affordable housing.\u00a0<\/p>\n Tuesday\u2019s debate came as several members and local housing advocates demanded increased bond dollars to fund affordable housing projects across the city, arguing that the current proposal is not enough to meaningfully address<\/a> the need, as it would pay for the building of about two dozen houses.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cFrom just public comment, the commentary that I have and just what we know about our community, affordable housing is a crisis,\u201d council member Mia Hall said during the meeting. \u201cSo I think if there\u2019s an opportunity to increase what\u2019s been allotted or proposed, I would like to explore those opportunities.\u201d<\/p>\n Six of the 10 council members \u2014\u00a0Hall, Elizabeth Beck, Michael Crain, Chris Nettles, Jeanette Martinez and Deborah Peoples \u2014 said they support increasing the dollar amount for the affordable housing proposition.\u00a0<\/p>\n Council members Alan Blaylock, Macy Hill and Charlie Lauersdorf said they want street maintenance to get more funding instead, arguing that road improvements are the most common concern they hear from constituents.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cSure, it\u2019s a problem. I don\u2019t think it\u2019s this council\u2019s problem to solve,\u201d Lauersdorf said of the housing crisis. \u201cI don\u2019t think it\u2019s a taxpayer\u2019s problem to solve directly, whereas the streets are directly our problems to solve.\u201d<\/p>\n The current bond proposal divides the $840 million among six propositions: streets and mobility, parks and open space, public libraries, public safety, animal care and shelter facilities; and affordable housing.\u00a0<\/p>\n Council member Carlos Flores said he needed to consult more with city staff before deciding whether he supports more dollars for affordable housing. Mayor Mattie Parker did not give an opinion during the meeting.\u00a0<\/p>\n Hill suggested taking some of the $10.8 million currently designated for public art and pouring it into housing.\u00a0<\/p>\n The meeting followed a monthslong public engagement campaign to gauge residents\u2019 feedback on how the money should be spent.\u00a0<\/p>\n Over the fall, the city hosted 11 public meetings across the city that drew a combined 260 people. Fort Worth also launched an interactive webpage where residents could create and suggest their own bond allocations, as well as submit comments on projects.<\/p>\n The webpage saw 177 bond allocation submissions \u2014 0.03% of Fort Worth\u2019s 689,988 residents of voting age \u2014 and 329 comments, officials said.<\/p>\n Taking all the feedback into account, City Manager Jay Chapa said he had no recommendations for changes.<\/p>\n \u201cThere are certainly pockets of support for a variety of projects,\u201d Christianne Simmons, director of the FWLab department that leads the bond-planning process, told council members. \u201cBut saying it another way, staff feel that the engagement sort of validated the general direction of the bond.\u201d<\/p>\n Parker noted that once bond allocations are finalized in February, council members and city staff are not legally allowed to advocate for any proposition. They are only allowed to encourage people to vote.<\/p>\n Cecilia Lenzen and Drew Shaw are government accountability reporters for the Fort Worth Report. Contact them at cecilia.lenzen@fortworthreport.org<\/a> and drew.shaw@fortworthreport.org<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n![\"(Maria](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/0805-CityCouncilWorkSession-19--1024x683.jpg\")
Fort Worth City Council meets for a work session in Fort Worth Aug. 5, 2025. (Maria Crane | Fort Worth Report\/CatchLight Local\/Report for America)<\/p>\n