The Day Resource Center was born from a dream and a real life experience that included collaboration from the entire community of Fort Worth , TX . Our history began in 1997 when the Tarrant County Homeless Coalition conducted a homeless survey. The purpose of this survey was to determine the size of the homeless population, reasons for their homelessness as well as identify any gaps or barriers to care. The following year, reporter Jeff Guinn of the Star Telegram, lived on the streets with the homeless for one week. He then wrote a feature article in the Sunday newspaper about his experience. The community responded with a call for immediate action. A committee was formed to determine a course of action. As a result, in 1997, the committee decided to form the Day Resource Center for the Homeless (DRC).

     DRC would provide a safe place for the homeless during the day. In addition, DRC would facilitate access to basic services our clients may otherwise have difficulty accessing. Day Resource Center was incorporated as a Texas corporation in January 1998 and received its non-profit tax-exempt status form the Internal Revenue Service May 1998. In June 1998 an agreement was reached with the Union Gospel Mission to lease the current property located at 1415 East Lancaster. Per the lease agreement, DRC will pay $1.00 over a fifteen-year period of time. In the months to follow, volunteers raised over $850,000 for renovation of property. The Center's building renovation was totally funded by local concerned individuals, foundations, businesses and faith based organizations. On March 7, 1999 , the Day Resource Center opened its doors to prove a safe place for men, women and children who are homeless in our community. The City of Fort Worth opened its heart. In record time, citizens saw a need and had the operation of the DRC up and running within a year.

     During its first full year of operation, from January 1 to December 31, 2000 , services were provided for 53,202 homeless men, women and children at the DRC. There were 17,162 bags of laundry washed and dried. Twenty-three thousand eight hundred and forty (23,840) showers were taken and 35,102 individuals used the restroom. The numbers are staggering and yet there is a still a great need to serve the homeless of Fort Worth .