FAQ
We are devoted to providing the best possible level of service to each Guest who walks through our gate.
Our Day Shelter Services are available to anyone 18+ and are Free of Charge.
Whether you are a current, or potential Guest, this page will give you more information on services that may be helpful to you.
If you have additional questions, please email us at info@bridgehrc.org.
Day Shelter Services FAQ
Basic Needs Services
We provide services that meet practical and basic human needs for shelter, food, and safety. These services are the initial points of contact at The Bridge and provide a new sense of stability and freedom to make an exit plan out of homelessness.
I do not have any identification. Can I receive services?
Identification is not a requirement to go through the intake process and receive services at The Bridge. A Bridge ID will be issued upon completion of intake that will allow you access to our campus.
I have used drugs and/or alcohol within the last few days. Will I be tested before entering?
Drug testing is not a requirement to receive services at The Bridge. Illegal drugs and paraphernalia are not permitted and will be confiscated and turned in to the police. Approved prescription medications are permitted with proper documentation.
Cigarette smoking is permitted in designated areas on campus.
I do not have money. Will I need to pay for services?
All services are free of charge to Guests. Money will never be required or exchanged for any reason.
Is The Bridge safe?
Safety is our top priority, and The Bridge is staffed 24 hours a day, 365 days a year with our trained and certified safety officers. Illegal weapons are not allowed on campus and will be confiscated upon entry. If a Guest requires tools for work, they can check it in upon entry and check it out upon exit.
Each time a guest enters our campus, they are required to participate in a screening, similar to security at an airport. Guests are asked to walk through a metal detector and their bags are run through an electronic baggage screener.
What are your hours?
Day Shelter services are from 6:00 am – 5:00 pm.
Guests residing at The Bridge are required to check in by 6:00 pm.
*Talk to your Care Manager if you need to make alternate entry arrangements due to an evening job.
The Bridge is the only Day Shelter available to all adults experiencing homelessness. You can receive Day Shelter services even if you are sheltered at different shelter at night.
Daytime Intake Process
Each Guest is required to meet with an intake specialist when they first arrive at The Bridge. This initial screening allows The Bridge to provide you with information, and referrals for night shelter and other recovery services, connect you with a Care Manager, and provide you with a Bridge ID that will allow you access to our campus.
Can I bring personal items with me?
Guests are allowed to bring personal items with them, such as clothing, blankets, and toiletries. Space is limited and all necessary items for bathing, hygiene, food, and water will be provided once inside.
Guests are not allowed to bring outside food or drinks for health and hygiene purposes. Reusable water bottles are welcomed, as there are several water fountains on campus for Guests.
What items are not allowed on campus?
Items that are not allowed on campus include: illegal drugs or drug paraphernalia, alcohol, food, snacks, drinks (other than water), weapons (tools required for work will be checked in and out of The Bridge at the Safety Box in the Intake Building), and animals other than approved dogs.
I am homeless and I have a dog. Will I be able to bring it with me?
We have an onsite kennel for Guests with dogs, please let the intake staff know that you have a dog when you arrive on campus.
Guests are responsible for caring for their dogs while staying at The Bridge. All food and supplies will be provided by The Bridge at no cost to our Guests. We also have a partnership with Operation Kindness and local veterinarians to ensure the dogs receive proper care and medical treatment.
Will The Bridge give out information about me if anyone inquires?
Guest safety, security, and anonymity are of highest importance and Bridge staff will not confirm or deny if someone is staying here, with the exception of The Dallas Police Department and parole officers. If a loved one wants to leave a message for you, we will make sure your Care Manager delivers it to you. It will then be up to you if you want to respond.
Day Shelter
The Bridge serves about 800 people a day with day shelter services. A monitored courtyard and climate-controlled indoor pavilion are a safe environment when Dallas environmental factors might put Guests at risk on the street.
Food
The Bridge serves three nutritious meals a day. Breakfast and Lunch are available to every Guest who comes on campus. Because of our curfew, dinner is offered to overnight Guests only.
Meal Hours:
- Breakfast: 7:30 am to 8:30 am
- Lunch: 12:00 pm to 1:00 pm
- Dinner: 6:00 pm to 7:00 pm
What kind of food is served?
Through our partner, The Stewpot, fresh meals are prepared daily and always include a balance of nutrients and flavor. Each meal will include a recommended serving of proteins, fruit, vegetables, and water or milk. The team works with a dietician to ensure that the meals are both nutritious and enjoyable. Careful planning is put into what might be best and easiest for our Guests to eat. Sack lunches are available for guests who work during the day.
You will not find instant food or all canned meals in our kitchen! Additionally, The Bridge recently planted a community garden on campus where fresh vegetables and herbs will go into the guest meals.
Clothing
We provide emergency clothing items such as underwear, socks, pants, shirts, and shoes as well as clothing for job interviews. Go to the Welcome Center desk or talk to your Care Manager about your clothing needs and they will help you.
Interested in making an In-Kind Donation? Find out how you can donate clothing and other items.
Showers and personal hygiene.
Safe and private restrooms, showers, and personal hygiene supplies are available on our campus. An additional restroom is available in intake for those spending the night on the street.
Interested in providing these items for our Guests? Find out how you can donate hygiene kits.
Need a haircut? Mack’s Barbershop at The Bridge is our on-campus barbershop that provides haircuts to our Guests thanks to the generosity of the McManemin Family Fund at the Communities Foundation of Texas.
Barbershop hours are posted in the Welcome Building.
Supplementary Day Shelter activities.
Volunteers and staff work together to provide extra services to our Guests. An on-campus library has computer access and books. Weekly activities like art class, spiritual journey groups, and philosophy groups are also optional regularly scheduled services.
Interested in donating your time? Find out how you can volunteer at The Bridge.
Recovery Oriented Services
We provide recovery-oriented services to provide for more than just basic needs. These services help men and women develop tools to make achievable, long-term changes in their lives based on their housing plans. Recovery-oriented services are the gateway to a more stable and better quality of life.
The Bridge’s Recovery Oriented Services Include:
Care Management
Care Managers at The Bridge are licensed social workers who assess each individual Guest on a one-on-one basis to determine where they are in their journey and create a path out of homelessness. Care Managers make referrals for employment, housing, addiction recovery, medical needs, and governmental benefits.
On Campus Healthcare
We are privileged to offer both behavioral and physical healthcare directly on our campus in partnership with MetroCare and Parkland clinics.
Metrocare is a behavioral healthcare clinic that offers chemical dependency care, dual diagnosis services, and recovery services. Parkland is a physical healthcare clinic that offers screenings, acute and chronic disease care, and prescriptions.
Hours:
Metrocare and Parkland Clinics are open Monday – Friday from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm.
Emergency Medical Technician (EMT)
The Bridge provides an EMT on our campus through Dallas Fire Rescue for 12 hours each day to address emergency needs as well as assist Guests with minor health concerns. To access the EMT please notify a safety officer or visit the EMT office.
This helps to reduce the number of unnecessary ambulatory visits on our campus and reduce the number of people going to the Parkland clinic for minor concerns.
Counseling
The Bridge has a Licensed Counselor on campus five days a week to offer additional help and tools to maximize the mental health of interested Guests. Care Managers connect their Guests to this service.
12 Step Groups
Anonymous 12-step groups like AA and NA have regular meetings on The Bridge’s campus. There is access to a peer group and sponsors who are available to help.
Peer Support
Individuals who have successfully recovered from homelessness and/or addiction work with Guests to help encourage them in their recovery. They lead support groups and provide an additional source of support and understanding.
Employment & Income
Dallas Workforce Solutions provides on-campus employment services to our Guests through job preparedness and job search activities as well as connections to local job fairs. The Bridge and our partners work to help our Guests gain income through Medicare, Medicaid, disability services, social security, veteran’s benefits, and other income sources the Guest may qualify for.
Kennel
The Bridge has an on-campus climate-controlled kennel with sixteen individual spaces for Guests who are staying at The Bridge and have dogs. There is a grooming area and an outside fenced play area. Guests are responsible for taking their dogs out and feeding their dogs. The Bridge works with donors and volunteers to provide dog food for feedings and basic veterinary care. A part-time Kennel Coordinator is on hand to offer supplementary care and ensure the needs of the dogs are being met.
Interested in helping in the kennel? Find out more about volunteering in the kennel or offering veterinary services.
Housing
Housing Follow-Up Services
Guests in our Intensive Care Management program receive up to three months of scattered-site follow-up to ensure they can transition smoothly from The Bridge. Care Managers help with any issues that may arise to ensure financial stability, health, and the Guest’s ability to keep housing.
Night Shelter Services FAQ
We are devoted to providing the best possible level of service to each Guest who walks through our gate. On-site night emergency shelter is available for high demand guests. If the on-site shelter is at capacity (249), off-site shelter referrals and placements are provided in collaboration with housing and shelter partners.
Are there any requirements to receive services at The Bridge?
An individual must be homeless and 18 and older to be eligible for services at The Bridge.
Government IDs, background checks, and sobriety checks are not required to receive services at The Bridge.
If you have children under the age of 18 in your care and are seeking shelter with them, please contact Family Gateway for help.
How do I get help at The Bridge?
An individual must be homeless and 18 and older to be eligible for services at The Bridge.
Government IDs, background checks, and sobriety checks are not required to receive services at The Bridge.
If you have children under the age of 18 in your care and are seeking shelter with them, please contact Family Gateway for help.
What is the Night Shelter Intake process?
To receive night shelter at The Bridge you must go through our initial intake process with an intake specialist when you first arrive at The Bridge. This initial screening allows The Bridge to provide you with information, and referrals for night shelter and other recovery services, connect you with a Care Manager, and provide you with a Bridge ID that will allow you access to our campus.
Once you are assigned a bed at The Bridge you must arrive on The Bridge’s campus by 6:00 pm (talk to your Care Manager if you need to make alternate accommodations due to your work schedule).
Since The Bridge’s campus is open 24 hours a day, there is no need to line up to be admitted for night shelter. Simply be on campus by 6:00 pm.
Will I be guaranteed a bed?
- Austin Street Center
- Dallas LIFE
- The Salvation Army
- Union Gospel Mission
I do not have any identification. Can I receive services?
Identification is not a requirement to go through the intake process and receive services at The Bridge. A Bridge ID will be issued upon completion of intake that will allow you entrance onto our campus.
I do not have money. Will I need to pay for a bed?
All services are free of charge to guests. Money will never be required or exchanged for any reason.
How long can I stay at The Bridge?
There is no time limit on how long you can receive night shelter services at The Bridge. As long as you show up for night shelter each night and attend Care Management appointments you will be able to keep your bed at The Bridge.
Can I bring personal items with me?
Guests are allowed to bring personal items with them, such as clothing, blankets and toiletries. Space is limited and all necessary items for bathing, hygiene, food and water will be provided once inside.
We also provide lockers for Guests who are staying at The Bridge’s night shelter to store personal items.
Guests are not allowed to bring outside food or drinks for health and hygiene purposes. Reusable water bottles are welcomed, as there are several water fountains on campus for Guests.
I am homeless and I have a dog. Will I be able to bring it with me?
We have an onsite kennel for Guests with dogs, please let the intake staff know that you have a dog when you arrive on campus.
Guests are responsible for caring for their dogs while staying at The Bridge. All food and supplies will be provided by The Bridge at no cost to our Guests. We also have a partnership with Operation Kindness and local veterinarians to ensure the dogs receive proper care and medical treatment.
Will I receive dinner?
All Guests staying at The Bridge’s night shelter will receive three meals a day including dinner.
Dinner is from 6:00 pm – 7:00 pm.
Supplementary evening activities.
Volunteers and staff work together to provide extra services to our Guests. Guests staying at The Bridge’s night shelter have access to on-campus library computer access and books as well as daily AA Meetings. Monthly opportunities such as BINGO night and karaoke are also available thanks to our volunteers. Interested in volunteering? Find out how you can volunteer at The Bridge.