A coalition of local government and civic leaders is aiming to move 2,700 people experiencing homelessness into housing by October 2023 through a private-public partnership.

• Much of the public funding, which will go toward housing vouchers, comes from the American Recovery Plan Act.

Why it matters: Dallas rehousing programs have long relied on public funds to pay for rents. The private donations will incentivize landlords to accept government housing vouchers.

• "With an incentive, landlords are much more likely to take our clients as tenants," said Peter Brodsky, the board chair of the Metro Dallas Homeless Alliance.
• Private donors met a $10 million fundraising goal this week as part of the $72 million rapid rehousing initiative.

What’s happening: More than 600 housing vouchers will go toward domestic violence survivors, families and individuals with significant health issues.

• An additional 2,000 individuals will receive vouchers to subsidize rent for 12 months.

Context: Like many large cities, Dallas has grappled with ending homelessness and has seen increases in the unsheltered homeless population in recent years.

What we’ll be watching: Brodsky, MDHA’s chair, was heavily involved with the $200 million redevelopment of Red Bird Mall in southwest Dallas, and he was tasked by former Mayor Mike Rawlings with leading the Dallas Animal Commission, which was aimed at addressing the city’s loose dog problem. Let’s see how he handles an issue this complex.

Read the full story.

Dallas County is the second most popular destination for Californians relocating to Texas, according to data analysis from StorageCafe.

• Tarrant, Collin and Denton counties are also all high on the list.
• Harris County, which includes Houston, was the top destination.

Why it matters: Nearly 700,000 people moved from California to Texas over the last decade, transforming entire local economies and political landscapes.

• Drawing people from the Golden State has long been a priority of Gov. Greg Abbott. He tweeted an Axios story about it last week.

The details: The study points out that the average salary is higher in California, but the cost of housing and unemployment rates are markedly lower in Texas.

By the numbers:

• More than 23,800 Californians relocated to Dallas, Tarrant, Collin and Denton counties in 2019 alone. Most came from Los Angeles County, according to the study.
• A typical home in North Texas is 52% cheaper than in LA County, an average difference of $438K.
• About 200 California residents moved to Texas every day on average in 2019, and that number likely went up during the pandemic.

🏖️ Our thought bubble: Yes, the weather and scenery are nicer in California (when it’s not burning or earthquaking), but some developers in our flat, sprawling suburbs are also building weird artificial lagoons.

Texas Monthly may have named nearly a dozen North Texas barbecue joints in its Top 50 for the state, but the list notably left off a few local favorites.

Why it matters: The smoked meat scene has evolved so rapidly over the last few years that there are more options — and more competition — than ever.

• The list included considerably more pitmasters of color than in previous years.

Topping this year’s list is Fort Worth’s Goldee’s Barbecue.

Dallas Morning News restaurant writer Sarah Blaskovich lamented the exclusion of another famed Fort Worth eatery — Heim Barbecue.

• Texas Monthly editor Daniel Vaughn told the DMN that Heim “helped put this style of barbecue in Fort Worth on the map.”

Of note: Also absent from the Top 50 was Deep Ellum’s Pecan Lodge, which almost always has a line for lunch.

• Lockhart Smokehouse in Bishop Arts, which has been on the list twice before, was left out this year, too. The Plano location was put on the honorable mentions.

Two other local spots made the top 10: Panther City BBQ in Fort Worth and Cattleack BBQ in Dallas.

The bottom line: This conversation reignites every few years, and this is just the beginning of this chapter.

🗳 Texas AG Ken Paxton is launching a unit to investigate claims of voter fraud during the November election. (KERA)

🙅 About 200 protesters opposed to vaccine mandates gathered outside the Southwest Airlines headquarters. Some carried signs that read, “No jabs for jobs.” (NBC DFW)

🎁 Amazon is hiring 6,500 seasonal workers in North Texas with starting pay of $18 per hour and signing bonuses of up to $3,000. (CBS DFW)

🎡 More than 2.2 million people went to the State Fair of Texas this year, down from the approximately 2.5 million who attended in 2019. The fair was a drive-thru event in 2020. (FOX 4)

🏈 Quarterback Dak Prescott has a strained calf but should be ready for the Cowboys’ next game, against the Vikings on Halloween. (DMN)

If all that talk about smoked meat didn’t get you hungry enough, it’s Taco Tuesday!

This week’s taco tour takes us to the aptly named Taco Joint in Lakewood, part of a popular and growing local franchise.

• Taco Joint has four locations now, with new spots opening in Plano and North Dallas this winter.

What to order: Crispy Taco Platter with literally any filling. (We did beef.)

Where: Taco Joint 6434 E Mockingbird Lane, Dallas (or one of the other locations).

Cost: $10 for three tacos, plus beans and rice.

Pro tip: Salsa bar is legit. Utilize appropriately.

Six word review: Crunchy comfort for our craving souls.

🤔 Know of a taco we should try? Hit reply and let us know.