Tarrant County considers closing department, outsourcing services to nonprofits
A Tarrant County commissioner is raising red flags over the potential elimination of the Human Services Department without public discussion. The chief of staff of another commissioner said the decision to outsource the services is about blending compassion and fiscal responsibility.
“They are shutting down human services in Tarrant County and pretending no one will notice,” Democratic Commissioner Alisa Simmons of Arlington said in a TikTok video on July 23.
Tarrant County Department of Human Services provides temporary financial assistance and social services to individuals and families. According to Simmons, the department offers hygiene products, bus passes, emergency rent and help with utilities. The 22 employees were told in a letter on June 24 that the department would lose funding when the fiscal year ends on Sept. 30.
Republican Commissioner Matt Krause said he believes the letter was sent by the county administrator’s office so that if the decision to shutter human services is made, those staffers will have had time to make contingency plans.
Krause said no decision has been made, but discussions have been ongoing for “several weeks.” He did not say which nonprofits would be taking over for the Human Services Department, but that the decision to shutter human services will fall to the commissioners.
The next Commissioners Court meeting is Aug. 5, though an agenda has not yet been released.
Krause said he is confident that everything will be figured out so there would be a seamless transition on Oct. 1.
“The goal is for people not to even notice, right? There’s no cessation of benefits. There’s no certainly lessening of the benefits or help they’re going to get,” Krause said. “In fact, it may actually increase some of the services. And I think that’s the goal for everybody, right?”
Based on a budget briefing she had on July 18, Simmons said, she is doubtful services would continue to be available on Oct. 1. She said there is likely be a halt in assistance from Sept. 30 until a formal request for programs process had been completed and a vendor is selected by the Commissioners Court, which could take months.
Tracey Knight, the chief of staff for Republican Commissioner Manny Ramirez, said the employees were given 90 days’ notice. Some are retiring or looking for another position within the county.
“Tarrant County is committed to treating any potentially affected employee with dignity as we explore possible changes,” Knight said.
Knight said the county will partner with experienced nonprofit organizations that operate with lower overhead and strong community connections.
“The expectation is that there will be zero service impact,” Ramirez said in a statement. “In fact, we expect service will improve by shifting to this model.”
Knight said this switch would ensure tax dollars are being used wisely while continuing to swiftly and efficiently aid the people who need it. She said under the department of human services, administrative costs outpaced direct aid “by more than double.”
From October 2023 to September 2024, Knight said there was $2.42 of overhead spent for every $1 of aid distributed. The total aid distributed was over $1 million, with department personnel costs nearing $2.5 million. The department’s budget was 4.1 million.
By using nonprofits to provide the same services, Knight said the county will expand its reach, reduce duplication and deliver help faster.
Simmons’ post had gotten 98.1K views as of Tuesday morning. She has spread the video across her other platforms and posted a second video calling Tarrant County residents to action.
“They’re already shutting down the department before we’ve even voted,” Simmons said. “Senior citizens, working families, people in crises — abandoned with zero backup plan.”
She said in a statement to the Star-Telegram that this decision would throw county human resources staff or the county administrator’s staff under the bus “for poor execution of this DOGEing attempt.”
“The current inefficiencies are solvable through targeted investments in technology, staffing, and process improvement,” Simmons said. “Elimination creates service gaps, reduces accountability, and forces seniors to choose between life-sustaining utilities and other basic needs.”
This story was originally published July 29, 2025 at 4:02 PM.