SAN ANTONIO — The number of unhoused Texans is increasing, so the City of San Antonio plans to continue investing in housing solutions. 

What You Need To Know

  • As a budget priority for 2024, the city allocated $16 million to create a low-barrier shelter downtown, leasing a hotel with 185 rooms as clients wait for permanent housing

  • The city’s latest move is getting the unhoused off the streets. The San Antonio City Council approved its fiscal year 2025 budget, allocating $44 million for homeless services, including the cleanup of 1,300 encampments, which also requires investing in housing those who’ve been displaced

  • According to the Texas Homeless Network, more than 10,000 people were counted as unhoused in Texas this year, 63% of them unsheltered

“You can’t help but be excited for the opportunity to do more,” said Rex Brien, SAMMinistries’ vice president of emergency services.

For a decade, Brien has worked with SAMMinistries, a local resource that helps individuals and families experiencing homelessness, serving the San Antonio community.

As a budget priority for 2024, the city allocated $16 million to create a low-barrier shelter downtown, leasing a hotel with 185 rooms as clients wait for permanent housing.

“People are grateful for the opportunity to have a place to sleep, a roof over their heads and opportunity to keep up with personal hygiene. The opportunity for three meals a day. All of that matters," Brien said. 

The city’s latest move is getting the unhoused off the streets. The San Antonio City Council approved its fiscal year 2025 budget, allocating $44 million for homeless services, including the cleanup of 1,300 encampments, which also requires investing in housing those who’ve been displaced.

“The city committed to housing 400 to 500 people from the street that would be impacted by the encampment abatements,” said Melody Woosley, San Antonio's human services director. “We reached that and exceeded it. Plan to get to at least 500 again next year.”

Better serving those without a home has been an issue in major cities across the state. According to the Texas Homeless Network, more than 10,000 people were counted as unhoused in Texas this year, 63% of them unsheltered. 

“That’s the best way to reduce homelessness is to keep people housed,” Woosley said.

Brien says SAMMinistries is working to hire more staff to accommodate the growing need. Someone must be referred by an outreach worker to access this emergency shelter, which can be a scary step for some. 

“Although the length of stay is 110 days on average, we do have people that stay here one night…and they’re like no I don’t want to stay here,” Brien said.

The majority of those residents have a physical or mental disability. The staff helps connect them to benefits and employment. So far, 32% of residents have moved on to permanent housing.

“I think homelessness is an issue that all big cities are having to work with right now,” Brien said. “Funding is critical to be able for us to continue doing that work.”

Although the city plans to invest $35 million in its affordable housing inventory, that will take time.