[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6485617,"mediaKeyId","5610143-a5fe3bbdba120c53838cda1534cb5de0","parentId",5610143,"title","San Antonio proposes $26.1 million for new Homeless Services & Strategy department, funds low‑barrier shelter for one year","audioSeconds",1035,"startMs",81000,"endMs",1116000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5610143-a5fe3bbdba120c53838cda1534cb5de0&start=81&end=1116","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5610143-a5fe3bbdba120c53838cda1534cb5de0/thumbnail_81000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6485617/San-Antonio/Bexar-County/Texas/San-Antonio-proposes-261-million-for-new-Homeless-Services-Strategy-department-funds-lowbarrier-shelter-for-one-year","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6485617-fe427bf3ac972ee62ff948a89dabbc42/orig.mp4?Expires=1770450799&Signature=fFrVVkE7oWgrPoMi3bhaBmUEDbXWMN-guo1cYitbnbNYx4OQIRswZmqy6BF~~9uIm9TRgizjgcqZMRcR7F43sLg3L3FlA459d9GVO5~omHMI3MCOxVvMyF4SIKSwk3KIbvveU5bFVf7QOQrVCB90UtZ2-pEpXdzubU8v0~L7Bnv29Sy~i4hBOnetdrqAtIPQVr4pmEP4uu2rVAsvEMD~1Tn4vcyoPwl~gXdRodkz1d6j4w-ol3TFnBK1qHe5ZN2erEyqhyoG6Z7q2FNEKwnG~i~OFJ0AnJb5Z9dw41PEFT29dpSrbasN1w~keVNO36~VVudRx-yC~plZRoUCOIkOkA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","San Antonio","date","2025-08-20T00:00:00Z","article","The City of San Antonio on Aug. 20 presented a FY2026 budget proposal that would fund a newly created Homeless Services and Strategy Department with $26,100,000 and direct $4,800,000 to extend operation of a downtown low‑barrier, hotel‑based shelter for one additional year.

City officials said the new department — housed under existing human services resources and staffed with 43 positions — will focus on reducing unsheltered homelessness, decreasing family homelessness and preventing new episodes of homelessness through prevention, diversion and cross‑system coordination.

The department will \"work upstream in the areas of prevention and diversion ... to include financial assistance, case management, housing stability services, and legal services,\" Director Mark Carmona told the council. Carmona, who introduced the department, described partnerships with local nonprofits, health and justice system partners and the San Antonio Housing Trust.

Patrick Steck, the department's assistant director, told the council the FY2026 proposed budget for the homeless response system totals about $30,500,000 when other departmental and indirect costs are included. Of the $26,100,000 carried inside the new department, Steck said roughly $21,500,000 would be contracted services and $4,500,000 would fund staff salaries and operational costs.

Steck said roughly $8,200,000 is budgeted for investment on the Haven for Hope campus, about $1,000,000 for other shelters (including battered women’s services) and $5.2 million for a low‑barrier, non‑congregate shelter. The city estimates indirect public safety costs related to homelessness at roughly $23,200,000, of which about $20,000,000 are estimated police costs and about $3,000,000 are fire/EMS costs.

The low‑barrier shelter operates in a leased hotel downtown; Steck said the building has 313 rooms and that the nonprofit operator Sam Ministries has historically operated 185 rooms. Over a two‑year funding period the shelter reported 266 \"positive exits,\" Steck said, and a recidivism rate following placement of about 11.1 percent — slightly below the national HUD average of 11.8 percent cited in the presentation. Steck said the proposed FY2026 budget includes funding to lease that facility for one more year while the city pursues longer‑term options.

Encampment abatements and outreach: the presentation summarized the city's abatement and outreach process. Staff said the city expects to abate about 1,369 sites this fiscal year (a bit above a 1,300 target), average response time from report to abatement is 13 days (goal 14 days) and solid waste crews removed more than 2,500 tons of material from encampments. Steck said the direct solid waste and human‑services cost per abatement averages about $2,046; that estimate excludes indirect police and fire support costs.

Council members asked for more data and longer‑term planning. Mayor Jones and several council members emphasized the need to develop a business case that lays out the capital and operational requirements for shelters, transitional and permanent supportive housing and asked staff to pursue county and health‑system partnerships for longer‑term financing. Councilman Manny Munguia said one‑year lease extensions are not a sustainable long‑term strategy; Carmona and Steck said the department will return with recommendations that include multi‑sector funding options.

Why it matters: the city cited a recent point‑in‑time count that identified 3,625 people experiencing homelessness and said the shared data dashboard shows system‑wide movements: roughly 3,800 people moved from the streets into a better living situation over a recent 10‑month period and about 2,000 people moved from shelters into permanent housing during the same window. The presenters and council members flagged a rise in new people entering homelessness and highlighted young adults (ages 18–24) as a growing subpopulation.

Council follow‑up: council members requested more precise data — including the split between one‑time federal funds (ARPA and other HUD grants) and ongoing city funding — analysis of program outcomes (for example, duration of stays and post‑exit housing stability) and a clearer long‑term plan for the downtown low‑barrier shelter in the absence of recurring federal funds.

The presentation closed with staff contact information for service referrals and encampment reporting: 311 for encampments and the Community Connections hotline 207‑1799 for service connections and referrals.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","San Antonio - City Council Special Session Aug 20, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","The City of San Antonio on Aug. 20 presented a FY2026 budget proposal that would fund a newly created Homeless Services and Strategy Department with $26,100,000 and direct $4,800,000 to extend operation of a downtown low‑barrier, hotel‑based shelter for one additional year.","taxTitle","San Antonio, Bexar County, Texas","taxId",2771,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6485608,"Animal Care Services requests $33.6 million for FY26; expands clinics, outreach and spay/neuter efforts",1285,1984000,3269000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5610143-a5fe3bbdba120c53838cda1534cb5de0&start=1984&end=3269","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5610143-a5fe3bbdba120c53838cda1534cb5de0/thumbnail_1984000.jpg","/articles/6485608/San-Antonio/Bexar-County/Texas/Animal-Care-Services-requests-336-million-for-FY26-expands-clinics-outreach-and-spayneuter-efforts","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6485608-c6454138f1972ad0f1de4ceef99ff206/orig.mp4?Expires=1770450799&Signature=Zw8YnX4O2md0i3ix9a8IgxPrjHTOY7wUYQ-sbkbeNv0a-pwhfQfItSGD7MZwv3hMjOZJrE1TYZnzRXZHzomcWkUr47dKbyOF97V5nlkI~PLqylUhVVQ-D2SvxqJxW56fUTTSQ7nEhna4foGKzPLBCTf0hP1LPUA4DPjYXnytaNHivq~pPimQu8AAhwVjxM~i-rviNHZkphPccl0ZCaUsfAKuDSE9ebMxC0setIntTzJrwmTajNxlPTcbO0ehu7Ysu53BEBZ4X1YjARBfgHxseNjfwKfGTD5Myi0T0EPtjdiQJZ2OKAjovUgySEqMFyxQkkva-0H0cidyeSUNhj8QWA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","John Gary, director of Animal Care Services (ACS), presented the department's FY2026 proposed budget to City Council Aug. 20, asking for $33,600,000 and describing investments in field operations, clinic capacity and community outreach programs.

Gary said ACS would operate with 245 authorized positions under the FY2026 proposal. He told council that roughly 27 percent of the budget (about $9,000,000) supports field operations — public safety responses, dangerous‑dog investigations, cruelty investigations and follow‑up services — and that ACS spends about $6,000,000 annually on spay/neuter programs.

Gary highlighted operational improvements: ACS increased critical‑call response rates from about 44 percent in FY2023 to roughly 83 percent overall and achieved a 94 percent response rate for critical calls in July, a staffing milestone Gary said was aided by recent academy classes. Noncritical call response (strays, public nuisance calls and permits) rose to about 32 percent from 19 percent at program start.

Pet Care Connect: Gary described a neighborhood‑level pilot that identifies areas with high call volume and deploys multi‑division teams for door‑to‑door outreach, pop‑up vaccination and microchip clinics, and delivery of supplies. The program has reached roughly 4,000 homes with about 600 direct interactions and distributed more than 1,400 pet care resources (food, collars, microchips). Gary said staff have removed six dogs from chains and distributed over 100,000 pounds of donated dog food as part of the program.

Clinic expansion and placement: ACS opened two city‑run clinics this summer (West and East). Gary reported the clinics had completed about 700 surgeries so far and that the department's target for the coming year is 6,000 surgical procedures. He also said the department acquired a South Kennel Building to add roughly 30 kennels and additional small stainless kennels to improve placement of harder‑to‑place animals.

Outcome metrics: intake has risen (about 2,100 more animals entered shelter this year so far), but Gary said placement and transfer work has increased as well, including more than 12,000 transfers to rescue partners and a rise in pets returned to owners. Gary cited live release rates of roughly 85 percent for dogs, 90 percent for cats and 86 percent overall — figures he said rank second highest among large Texas municipal shelters.

Budget adjustments and revenue: Gary said proposed FY2026 reductions primarily affect temporary salaries and microchip procurement lines; he said no positions would be cut and core services would continue. ACS is proposing some fee increases for permits to boost revenue. Council members and board volunteers urged continued investment in spay/neuter clinics, full utilization of clinic surgery capacity and exploration of long‑term strategies to increase veterinary capacity, including possible tuition or workforce programs for veterinarians.

Why it matters: council members cited improved response rates and rising live‑release metrics as strong indications that recent ACS investments are paying off. Council members asked staff to track the Pet Care Connect pilot's impact on subsequent call volumes and to find ways to increase clinic throughput and surgical capacity.","Animal Care Services Director John Gary presented a FY2026 proposed budget of $33.6 million and highlighted two new spay/neuter clinics, a Pet Care Connect neighborhood outreach pilot, improved critical call response rates and gains in live‑release metrics for dogs and cats.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6485611,"Neighborhood and Housing Services proposes $90.5 million budget; housing bond has $22 million left to allocate",1163,1041000,2204000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5610143-a5fe3bbdba120c53838cda1534cb5de0&start=1041&end=2204","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5610143-a5fe3bbdba120c53838cda1534cb5de0/thumbnail_1041000.jpg","/articles/6485611/San-Antonio/Bexar-County/Texas/Neighborhood-and-Housing-Services-proposes-905-million-budget-housing-bond-has-22-million-left-to-allocate","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6485611-dbf57cf6886b61cb5dd843f42da4959f/orig.mp4?Expires=1770450799&Signature=T5ILb8T5LaHnoHxdBGQoyWq4WU8z2jggegdaOt1vb5ycjV~dJmq4LIFlVnaxeLUrUShqC7svXE5KpGzIYDyVsYbLioEqu8De3HOptD0TvI6U7-3SuNu09DDIa5tznlN8xQdE~962k5WTZ-vOsIiacj8CVAo9VFZGSwRTshH1J1lzRgAJCDRYI7H0wnFFVJ718AuOzRiB~Xvl7dUNTfvkP1jcjsMteX8B9JfcgCF8ClA~3Ntrjl3jTEyhpavrsDjvQWhDwpPQVWiiQl5dVUj-4AYQSUsSSo9LsiYFLYNV7eO1OJsV5Y~Pnx130WeitTWXyJlrRmbKZWxwwf4Z~j~DIQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Neighborhood and Housing Services Department (NHSD) Director Veronica Garcia briefed the City of San Antonio City Council Aug. 20 on the department's FY2026 proposed budget, its strategic housing implementation plan, and progress on the $150 million affordable housing bond approved by voters in 2022.

Garcia said the department — formed in 2017 and currently staffed with about 121 employees — administers housing policy, housing stability programs, home rehabilitation and preservation, development oversight, HUD grant management and implementation of the affordable housing bond.

\"The SHIP is our community's 10‑year vision for housing affordability,\" Garcia told council. The presentation reiterated the SHIP goal to build or preserve over 28,000 affordable homes in 10 years, with half of those units targeted to households at or below 30 percent of area median income (AMI). Garcia noted that a three‑person household at 30 percent AMI earns less than about $26,000 a year (approx. $12.55 per hour).

Budget and bond status: Garcia said the proposed departmental total for FY2026 is $90,500,000, including roughly $30,400,000 for affordable housing programs and additional bond‑related expenditures in delivery. The general fund portion would decrease from $24,400,000 to $22,000,000, a $2,400,000 reduction the department described as a rightsizing tied to more efficient program delivery.

Garcia reported the voter‑approved $150,000,000 housing bond has committed about $127,800,000 and has about $22,000,000 remaining. She said the bond has helped support production or preservation of more than 5,000 homes to date, leveraged approximately $822,000,000 in private and state investments and produced nearly 1,500 deeply affordable homes. The average sales price of a bond‑funded home cited in the presentation is $170,000, and the department anticipates more than 4,300 homes completed by 2026 as a result of the bond.

Key programs: the presentation reviewed several high‑priority programs and funding levels:

- Rental assistance and relocation: $5,700,000 proposed to help roughly 1,800 households with short‑term rent, utility or relocation assistance.
- Home repair and preservation: major and minor repair programs combined at about $14,700,000 to assist nearly 500 families next year; major rehab can include foundation work, rewiring and full reconstruction when needed.
- Down‑payment assistance: forgivable loans up to $40,000 for first‑time homebuyers.
- Eviction prevention and legal aid: continued investment, including $100,000 to support a legal aid partner that provides free counseling to more than 300 families annually.

Garcia said the department will continue to pursue density bonuses and code amendments to increase affordable options near transit corridors, coordinate land acquisition with the San Antonio Housing Trust and update the city's five‑year consolidated HUD plan next year.

Council members asked for additional, updated demand data (for example, the number of households at 30 percent AMI seeking housing) and for continued discussion about leveraging bond funds, land banking and gap financing for permanent supportive housing. Garcia and council members also discussed partnerships with SAWS for lateral sewer connections and the role of nonprofit partners in stretching city dollars for home repair work.

Why it matters: the NHSD presentation tied housing preservation, rental assistance and targeted incentives to the broader city goal of preventing homelessness and stabilizing households. Council members asked staff to return with more granular demand and program performance data to inform possible future bond or program investments.","Neighborhood and Housing Services Director Veronica Garcia presented a FY2026 budget proposal emphasizing preservation and production goals tied to the 10‑year Strategic Housing Implementation Plan (SHIP). The presentation reviewed home‑repair programs, rental assistance, down‑payment assistance and status of the 2022 voter‑approved housing bond.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

San Antonio proposes $26.1 million for new Homeless Services & Strategy department, funds low‑barrier shelter for one year

Animal Care Services requests $33.6 million for FY26; expands clinics, outreach and spay/neuter efforts

Neighborhood and Housing Services proposes $90.5 million budget; housing bond has $22 million left to allocate