San Antonio area sees more federal funding to address homelessness

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development recently increased funding for homeless housing and services in the San Antonio area by $2.9 million over fiscal year 2021, according to a local nonprofit charged with supporting unsheltered persons.

The South Alamo Regional Alliance for the Homeless, the Continuum of Care lead agency for homeless services in Bexar County, said March 29 that the new federal allocation brings up total local funding for homeless housing and services to more than $17.1 million for fiscal year 2022, which began Oct. 1 and ends Sept. 30.

The newest funding allocation is part of HUD’s FY 2022 Continuum of Care Competition Awards to local homeless housing and service programs nationwide.

HUD said the Continuum of Care program promotes a communitywide effort toward ending homelessness, and is the biggest source of federal grant funding for programs serving people experiencing homelessness.

According to SARAH officials, the $17.1 million supports 33 local projects, including five new or expanded initiatives, carried out by 12 organizations:

• SARAH;
• American GI Forum National Veterans Outreach Program;
• Endeavors;
• Family Violence Prevention Services;
• Haven for Hope of Bexar County;
• San Antonio AIDS Foundation;
• SAMMinistries;
• Society of St. Vincent de Paul;
• Salvation Army;
• University of Texas at San Antonio;
• Thrive Youth Center; and
• Providence Place.

SARAH officials said more than $7 million of the newly awarded money is dedicated to permanent supportive housing, which pairs housing with wrap-around supportive services to aid disabled persons.

SARAH officials also said another $2.75 million will support projects assisting persons fleeing domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, stalking and human trafficking.