San Antonio council discusses ordinance to bar denying veterans housing solely for using vouchers; advocates urge prompt action

City officials on April 1 briefed the San Antonio City Council on a proposed policy that would prohibit landlords from denying a veteran tenancy solely because the applicant intends to use a housing choice voucher, prompting advocates to press for fast action and council members to call for further committee review and complementary incentives.

"Source of income protections ensure qualified renters do not get turned away from housing solely on the basis of their source of income, such as a housing choice voucher," Veronica Garcia, director of the Neighborhood and Housing Services Department, told the council. Garcia noted that federal voucher programs (including VASH for veterans) are administered locally by public housing authorities and that state law limits the city's options: "The state of Texas is clear on what cities can and cannot do…