More than 10,000 people in Dallas joined the Harmony Community Development Corp this week. thankful. We are among them.
Harmony is celebrating its 20th anniversary this month, starting out as a pantry at Concord Church in Red Bird. It has become a clearinghouse for coordinated services including rental advice, legal assistance, financial planning and advice. It is housed in an office building in the Red Bird neighborhood of south Dallas, where 18 full-time employees and dozen of volunteers help people in need move towards wholeness.
In fact, the word “wholeness” is on the lips of everyone we have spoken to at Harmony.
“We try to take a holistic view of a person and help them find wholeness by providing them with resources in key areas,” said Bryan Carter, Chairman of the Board of Directors, who is also a senior pastor at Concord’s 8,000-strong company. “We have found that providing these services can help people continue their journey so that they can be self-sufficient. It’s all connected. “
Executive Director Mark Porter described Harmony’s enrollment process, which includes a detailed questionnaire and a “self-sufficiency matrix”. Volunteer coaches help clients develop a tailored plan to achieve self-sufficiency. This plan may include a job fair, temporary rental support, therapy, or other services, all of which take place on Harmony campus.
“It will become a one-stop shop for supportive and comprehensive services,” said Porter. “We try to bring everything to bear right here in our own backyard.”
We asked if it ever felt like they’d bitten off too much.
“It can be a bit overwhelming at times,” Carter said. “But we feel that this approach can serve the person better.”
Carter pointed out that Harmony works with other organizations including several other churches, United Way, the City of Dallas, Momentus Health Services, Legal Aid of Northwest Texas, and the North Texas Food Bank.
So far this year, Harmony has helped 10,920 people with food, provided 670 families with $ 2 million in rental allowances, completed 24 financial empowerment courses, helped 17 people find employment, and raised four other people. One of the most important and most up-to-date metrics is this: Harmony’s four licensed professional consultants served 1,564 customers this year, an increase of 19% over the previous year. Porter said the surge is being driven by the stress of a pandemic, but also by a younger generation of customers who are less stoic about mental health needs.
Harmony’s mission statement is not just to help individuals or families, but to transform entire communities.
“Instead of thinking about giving them a fish or teaching them how to fish, we want to teach them how to own the pond,” Porter said. “How do we give them the resources and ways to build wealth, own a home and start their own business? It’s a long journey. It’s long and dirty. “
There are hundreds of people in our town this Thanksgiving day with a job, a raise, a home, or a Thanksgiving dinner because Porter, Carter, and their coworkers are ready to make this long and dirty journey. One can be grateful for that.
Editor’s Note: Each year, the Dallas Morning News Charities sponsor an important group of organizations in North Texas dedicated to helping the hungry and homeless among us. During this Christmas gift-giving season, the editorial team is highlighting the work of some of the 23 nonprofits that DMN Charities work with. We hope you are reading these stories and considering joining us in helping those who make better lives around us. To offer your assistance, please visit dmncharities.com.
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