San Antonio City Council on June 2 approved a total of $7.5 million in contracts with three community partners—SAMMinistries, Endeavors and the Salvation Army—to further provide tenant-based rental aid and homelessness prevention services.

City Manager Erik Walsh said funding these local nonprofit agencies will help boost rental assistance with case management services to tenants experiencing homelessness for up to two years. The funds, Walsh said, prioritize people experiencing chronic homelessness and people fleeing domestic violence.

“COVID-19 taught us all that we are a stronger, more resilient community when the city works with nonprofits and outreach specialists,” Walsh said in a statement.

SAMMinistries' President and CEO Nikisha Baker said the new city funding bolsters San Antonio’s overall homeless response system.

“These resources directly address homelessness by providing rent assistance and supportive services for local families and individuals, creating bridge opportunities for permanent supportive housing, and funding critical safety net services that help keep our neighbors stably housed,” Baker said in a statement.

A news release states homelessness prevention programs will also provide rental support with case management services but for people who are housed to keep those individuals from experiencing homelessness.

The goals of prevention programming are to ensure households never fall into homelessness and to help people at risk of experiencing homelessness who may be behind on rent and/or other utilities, city officials said.

Local officials added people seeking applicable assistance may visit www.sa.gov/Directory/Departments/DHS/Homeless-Services or call 210-207-1799 for details.