The San Antonio City Council unanimously approved Affordable Housing Bond funding, which will supplement Bexar County funding, to be awarded to three housing projects designed with on-site supportive services for people who are chronically homeless.
“This joint city-county investment represents a commitment to align limited resources to address homelessness in our community,” said Mayor Ron Nirenberg. “Through solutions such as permanent supportive housing, I am optimistic we can reduce unsheltered and chronic homelessness in San Antonio.”
The three projects selected for award will collectively add 288 permanent supportive housing units to the affordable housing market. Additionally, 13 units will be designated as rapid rehousing units, which reduces the amount of time a family experiences homelessness and quickly re-houses families into permanent, affordable homes.
“Permanent supportive housing is a critical element in our community’s strategy to address homelessness,” said Mark Carmona, the City’s Chief Housing Officer. “Paired with on-site supportive services, these new communities allow us to take a holistic approach to an individual’s care and needs. As a city, we are taking the right steps to fill the existing system gaps and helping residents have access to affordable housing.”
Within the Strategic Housing Implementation Plan, a strategy was created to prioritize adding 1,000 units of site-based permanent supportive housing to the San Antonio and Bexar County market over the next 10 years. The goal is to decrease the percentage of unsheltered homelessness by 20%.
“This investment represents 29 percent of the Strategic Housing Implementation Plan goal to provide permanently supportive housing for chronically homeless individuals,” said Veronica Garcia, Director of the Neighborhood and Housing Services Department. “Housing is one of the most basic needs. The homes our partners are creating are affordable, accessible and life-changing for hundreds of individuals and families in our community.”
The projects will accept residents through the city’s Coordinated Entry system, which is a collaborative framework connecting persons experiencing homelessness to the best resources to meet their needs. It is also process for which households are connected to the appropriate housing resources based on their unique needs.
As outlined in the City’s five-year, $150 million Affordable Housing Bond, $25 million has been designated for Permanent Supportive Housing. A total of $94.8 million will be invested into the awarded projects: $13.5 million from the Affordable Housing Bond, $9.5 million from the City of San Antonio’s HOME Investment Partnerships American Rescue Plan Program (HOME-ARP) fund, $6 million from Bexar County Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery (SLRF) Funds, $2.1 million from Bexar County HOME-ARP funds and private funding sources through the developers. Bexar County Commissioners plan to consider the County’s designated funding in June 2023.
“Intergovernmental collaboration is essential for addressing the complex issue of homelessness and housing insecurity in Bexar County,” said Robert Reyna, Director of Community Development and Housing for Bexar County. “Therefore, Bexar County and the City of San Antonio collaborated on a joint Request for Proposal – allowing us to coordinate efforts, leverage resources, and maximize the impact of our investments. The partnership with COSA represents an important step towards addressing the critical need for permanent supportive housing in Bexar County.”
The awarded projects are:
TOWNE TWIN VILLAGE | $12 MILLION
Developed by Housing First Community Coalition, Towne Twin Village will serve chronically homeless older adults who are 50 years and older. The first phase is underway with 83 tiny homes and RV’s ready to welcome their first residents this month. The new funding allows construction to start on the second phase to include 41 tiny homes and shared amenity spaces for residents including a community kitchen, laundry facilities and gathering spaces. In addition, the funds include infrastructure for phase three, which includes a multi-family development also serving chronically homeless individuals. The overall award includes $2.1 million for on-site permanent supportive services for two years of case management, medical/dental/mental health services, hospice care, daily meals and addiction treatment. The development, located in District 2, is expected to be completed in August 2024.
THE COMMONS AT ACEQUIA TRAILS | $15 MILLION
San Antonio Metropolitan Ministry Inc., doing business as SAMMinistries, is developing the Commons at Acequia Trails that will have 200 multi-family efficiency and 1-bedroom permanent supportive homes. The community, located in District 3, is multi-generational housing designed as a walkable traditional neighborhood with ample green spaces and recreation areas. A playground and a 10,500-square foot community center are included. The award includes $1 million for case management and supportive services for two years to include primary and behavioral health care clinic collaboration with local agencies. Construction is expected to be completed in February 2026.
THE HUDSON APARTMENTS | $4.25 MILLION
San Antonio Metropolitan Ministry Inc., doing business as SAMMinistries, is fully rehabilitating The Hudson Apartments, which features 60 garden-style apartments, into 47 one- and two-bedroom permanent supportive homes and 13 rapid rehousing three-bedroom homes for families. The community, located in District 1, will have an exterior entrance for privacy and a 3,000-square foot on-site service center for a food pantry and afterschool program. The award includes $684,000 for case management services for two years. Construction is expected to be completed in September 2024.
“Reducing unsheltered homelessness is a top goal of our community’s Homeless Strategic Plan,” said Melody Woosley, Director, Department of Human Services. “These new permanent supportive housing units provide a proven intervention to end homelessness for the most vulnerable individuals in our community. The programs awarded today will be a crucial part of our community’s coordinated homeless system for years to come, and I look forward to further efforts in the near future.”
The permanent supportive housing developments are in addition to the 14 Affordable Housing Bond projects awarded in December for rental production, rental rehabilitation and homeownership production.
City of San Antonio News Release
