City presents first FY2024 homelessness annual report; officials highlight shelter capacity and funding concerns

The Planning and Community Development Committee received the City of San Antonio’s first FY2024 homelessness annual report during its Feb. 7 meeting. Patrick Steck, assistant director in the Human Services Department, presented system data, a budget overview and a set of accomplishments and priorities for the current fiscal year.

Steck said the city’s point‑in‑time snapshot in the presentation counted 888 people living unsheltered and about 2,484 people in emergency and temporary shelter on the night measured. He described a 6.8% year‑over‑year increase in the total point‑in‑time number and said the city’s per‑capita homelessness rate has remained relatively flat over the last decade, comparing favorably with growth seen in many other large Texas cities.

“Glad to present to you, this afternoon our first ever, homelessness annual report, which covers FY 2024,” Steck said as he opened the briefing. He described the city’s role coordinating with nonprofit partners, the county and federal funders and referenced Close to Home as the HUD‑designated lead continuum of care agency that operates the Homelink housing prioritization system and maintains the HMIS data platform.

Key findings and system flows: Steck told the committee the city’s HMIS data show system fluidity: in FY2024 roughly 2,200 people entered homelessness for the first time in the year, about 650…