San Antonio staff outline FY2026 human services budget, recommend short-term delegate‑agency awards

San Antonio Human Services Department Director Melody Woosley on Aug. 26 presented the department’s proposed priorities and funding approach for fiscal year 2026 at a City Council budget work session, including recommendations for delegate‑agency contracts and program realignments.

Woosley told the council that department programs serve vulnerable residents across a range of needs — Head Start, youth success programs, senior centers and emergency utility assistance — and emphasized the department’s aim to “work upstream” to prevent homelessness and other harms. She said the department’s children’s services are primarily supported by federal grants, while older‑adult and operational services rely mostly on the General Fund.

The presentation described a proposed FY2026 Human Services budget of roughly $94.8 million, split roughly between a General Fund contribution of about $42.4 million and approximately $52.4 million in federal/state grants. Staff said Head Start and Early Head Start serve about 3,330 children and the department’s programs reach nearly 50,000 individuals and families annually. The recommended delegate‑agency pool shown…