Dallas, August 20, 2025
News Summary
The Stewpot has acquired the CitySquare Community Center in Dallas to enhance its services for individuals facing homelessness and poverty. This acquisition will allow The Stewpot to maintain and expand important programs such as the Food Pantry and Neighbor Resource Center, serving approximately 12,000 people annually. As the organization has tripled in growth, securing a larger facility became essential. A $10 million fundraising campaign is underway to support the transition and renovations, with various community events scheduled for 2025 to bolster these efforts.
Dallas — The Stewpot Acquires CitySquare Community Center to Expand Services for People Experiencing Homelessness
The Stewpot, the community outreach program of the First Presbyterian Church of Dallas, has acquired the CitySquare Community Center building at 1610 S. Malcolm X Blvd to expand capacity and preserve essential services for people experiencing homelessness and poverty. Church members approved the acquisition offer on December 8, 2024, and the purchase is scheduled to close on December 13, 2024. The Stewpot plans to begin relocating and moving operations into the new facility later in December 2024.
Key details and near-term plans
The new building will allow The Stewpot to absorb and continue programs previously run by CitySquare, including the Food Pantry and the Neighbor Resource Center, which together serve approximately 12,000 people annually. The Stewpot will also maintain daily meal service at The Bridge downtown, where it serves over 1,000 meals each day.
Leaders of The Stewpot say the acquisition is necessary to maintain vital services as the program has outgrown its current space at 1835 Young St. Growth at the organization has tripled in recent years, creating an urgent need for a larger, more central facility. The CitySquare organization announced earlier in 2024 that it would cease operations and sell the property before year-end, prompting the transition.
Financial and fundraising information
The Stewpot has launched a fundraising campaign with an overall target of $10 million to cover the costs of purchasing the new property and completing planned renovations. Members of The Stewpot Alliance will support these efforts through event planning, volunteering, and public awareness activities. A signature fundraising event, the annual Soup’s On Luncheon and Art Show, is scheduled for February 2, 2025, and a presentation highlighting The Stewpot’s initiatives and accomplishments is planned at Galleria Dallas in January 2025.
Programs and services to continue and expand
The Stewpot intends to continue CitySquare’s Neighbor Resource Center and Food Pantry operations from the new location, offering food assistance, casework, and referrals. In addition to meal service, The Stewpot provides practical supports that help clients stabilize their lives, including assistance obtaining legal identification, help connecting with healthcare services, and providing a mailing address for people who lack one.
The organization also operates an Art Program that supplies art classes and materials to people experiencing homelessness, enabling creative expression and opportunities to sell artwork. These services are part of the broader effort to address immediate needs while connecting individuals to resources that promote long-term stability.
Impact on homelessness in Dallas
The Stewpot cites measurable impact in its community work: the organization reports it has served nearly nine million meals since opening in 1975 and will mark 50 Years of Loving Our Neighbors in 2025. Local initiatives, including the work of The Stewpot and partner organizations, correlate with a reported 21% decrease in the number of unhoused individuals in Dallas since 2021. The Point-in-Time count for January 2024 recorded 3,718 individuals experiencing homelessness across Dallas and Collin Counties.
Transportation access is supported by the Dallas Connector Project, which provides free bus service to transport people to essential agencies, including The Stewpot, improving reach for clients who rely on public transportation to access services.
Organizational background and operations
The Stewpot is operated by the First Presbyterian Church of Dallas and has provided direct services to people experiencing homelessness and poverty since 1975. The program’s growth in recent years has strained its current facilities at 1835 Young St., prompting the search for a larger site and culminating in the acquisition of the CitySquare property.
The organization’s volunteers and alliance members play a critical role in daily operations, fundraising, and community outreach. The upcoming events in January and February 2025 are part of a coordinated effort to raise funds for the building purchase and renovations and to showcase program outcomes to the community.
FAQ
What property did The Stewpot acquire?
The Stewpot acquired the CitySquare Community Center building at 1610 S. Malcolm X Blvd. The church membership approved the acquisition on December 8, 2024, and the closing is scheduled for December 13, 2024.
Why was the acquisition necessary?
Growth in The Stewpot’s programs, which has tripled in recent years, made the previous location at 1835 Young St. too small. The acquisition secures a larger facility to maintain and expand services, including the Food Pantry and Neighbor Resource Center.
Which programs will continue at the new site?
The Stewpot plans to continue CitySquare’s Food Pantry and Neighbor Resource Center, daily meal service at The Bridge, assistance with legal IDs and healthcare referrals, mailing services for clients, and the Art Program that offers classes and sales opportunities.
How many people will be served from the new facility?
The combined programs served by CitySquare’s Neighbor Resource Center and Food Pantry support about 12,000 people annually. The Stewpot also serves over 1,000 meals daily at The Bridge.
How is The Stewpot funding the acquisition and renovations?
The organization has set a fundraising goal of $10 million to cover purchase and renovation costs. Events and presentations in January and February 2025 are planned to support the campaign.
How does this acquisition relate to homelessness trends in Dallas?
Local providers, including The Stewpot, report progress in reducing homelessness; a 21% decrease in unhoused individuals in Dallas since 2021 is cited, while the January 2024 Point-in-Time count recorded 3,718 people experiencing homelessness in Dallas and Collin Counties.
Key features and facts
| Feature | Detail |
|---|---|
| New facility | 1610 S. Malcolm X Blvd (CitySquare Community Center) |
| Previous location | 1835 Young St. — reported as too small after growth tripled |
| Approval & closing | Church vote: Dec 8, 2024; Closing scheduled: Dec 13, 2024; Move: later in Dec 2024 |
| People served | CitySquare programs serve ~12,000 annually; The Stewpot serves 1,000+ meals daily |
| Meals served historically | Nearly 9 million meals since 1975 |
| Fundraising goal | $10 million for purchase and renovations |
| Upcoming events | Presentation at Galleria Dallas (Jan 2025); Soup’s On Luncheon & Art Show (Feb 2, 2025) |
| Homelessness data | 21% decrease in unhoused individuals since 2021; Jan 2024 PIT count: 3,718 |
Deeper Dive: News & Info About This Topic
HERE Resources
Additional Resources
- Dallas News Commentary
- Dallas Innovates
- NBC DFW News
- NBC DFW Community
- CultureMap Dallas
- Wikipedia: Homelessness in the United States
- Google Search: homelessness organizations Dallas
- Google Scholar: homelessness interventions
- Encyclopedia Britannica: homelessness
- Google News: Dallas homelessness
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