San Antonio committee backs task force to boost housing for veterans, seniors, people with disabilities and unhoused LGBTQ+ youth

The Planning & Community Development Committee on Sept. 23 voted to recommend creation of a task force to develop strategies to increase housing supply for four priority groups: veterans using housing vouchers who seek units within five miles of a Veterans Affairs health care facility, people with disabilities (notably residents who are deaf or blind), older adults and unhoused LGBTQ+ youth.

The proposal, presented by Veronica Garcia, director of the Neighborhood and Housing Services Department, would staff the task force through her department in partnership with Mark Carmona, the city’s chief housing officer, and Pete Alaniz of the San Antonio Housing Trust. Garcia told the committee the task force was requested by the mayor in a committee memo and is expected to submit initial findings and recommendations to City Council by Jan. 15.

The plan ties into existing city housing efforts. Garcia said Oct. 1 begins year five of the Strategic Housing Implementation Plan (SHIP) and that the task force’s work will align with the SHIP update and the city’s five-year HUD Consolidated Plan. She also described ongoing partnerships with the San Antonio Housing Trust, Bexar County and local nonprofits.

Garcia noted federal accessibility requirements that the city incorporates into funded multifamily projects: “we do have a federal requirement that mandates that 5% of new multifamily construction projects include mobility modifications, and 2% specifically must include units with modifications specifically for hearing and visually impaired individuals.” She said, as of the last quarter, the SHIP-tracked pipeline contains units that meet universal design standards (wider doorways, zero-step entries and other features) and that those standards are included in competitive solicitations for city housing funds.

Committee members who spoke broadly supported the task force and suggested additions and priorities. Councilman Galvan urged public accessibility for task-force meetings and recommended briefing relevant city boards and commissions, including veterans and public-safety advisory groups. He also asked that the task force review existing local research (health reports, needs assessments) rather than starting from scratch.

Councilwoman Castillo raised concerns about access to housing for people with criminal records and recommended including organizations that serve justice-involved individuals. She also urged exploring UDC (Unified Development Code) amendments to ensure “ultra accessible” projects that meet Disability SA and Housing Trust expectations and suggested leveraging vacant-building programs, land banking and community land trust work.

Councilman Court and others emphasized data gaps and outreach. Court asked for better ways to quantify need for subgroups such as LGBTQ+ youth and suggested combining quantitative data with focus groups and community meetings. Several council members asked for frequent updates to the committee; Chair Munguia directed that the committee would have a November check-in and asked the tri-chairs to send monthly status emails summarizing meetings and outreach.

Garcia outlined existing work on veterans’ voucher acceptance: a REACH working group (created by the committee and the Housing Commission) produced nine recommendations to encourage more landlords to accept vouchers; two are implemented. She said one of the completed actions was working with the San Antonio Board of Realtors and the National Association of Retail Property Managers to mark MLS listings that accept vouchers; the other addressed landlord accounting problems for multiple vouchers. The REACH group will continue quarterly meetings and its recommendations will be incorporated into the task force report.

The committee approved a motion to recommend creation of the task force; the voice vote carried and the chair announced the motion passed. Committee members asked that the task force consider county, state and federal policy needs in its recommendations and noted the role of funding sources (including CDBG and future housing bond funds) and potential legislative items that the task force might recommend for local, state or federal agendas.

Garcia said outreach strategies will include stakeholder invitations, a digital survey for broader input and coordinated work with the Housing Commission, which she described as advising SHIP implementation and related affordable housing efforts. She named Housing Commission Chair Katie Wilson of Close To Home and noted other commissioners including Pete Alaniz and Michael Reyes of Opportunity Home would be engaged in task force discussions.

The committee’s action moves the recommendation to the full City Council for final consideration. The task force’s next public check-in will be in November, with the committee expecting to receive the task-force report by Jan. 15 and to discuss findings at the city’s annual Housing in San Antonio event (planned Jan. 24 in District 3).