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San Antonio task force to deliver Jan. 15 report on housing for veterans, people with disabilities, older adults and LGBTQ+ youth
Summary
A city task force convened panels, site visits and a community survey and will share initial findings by Jan. 15; council members urged moving beyond ADA standards and coordinating vouchers, service partners and local design standards.
Veronica Garcia, director of the Neighborhood and Housing Services Department, told the Planning & Community Development Committee on Nov. 17 that a task force created Sept. 23 will deliver initial findings on increasing housing supply for veterans, people with disabilities (including deaf and blind residents), older adults and LGBTQ+ youth by Jan. 15.
The task force has hosted panel discussions and site visits, released a community survey and is reviewing local and national models to inform recommendations, Garcia said. Panelists who participated in an Oct. 23 session on disabilities included representatives from the Arc of San Antonio, the San Antonio Area Foundation and Collective Impact, Def Link, Franklin Apartment Management, Changing SA, Morgan's Inclusion Institute and the National Federation of the Blind of Texas.
Committee members and staff said the panels surfaced recurring barriers: no single searchable resource for accessible units, inconsistent definitions of accessibility across properties, uncertainty about what constitutes a reasonable accommodation and unclear cost responsibility for modifications. "There's no central resource to help individuals search for accessible homes," Garcia said, and panelists urged going beyond baseline ADA standards in new developments.
The task force is also studying voucher use. Garcia reported that, at a recent meeting of the voucher-focused group, "veterans using vouchers have a lease up rate of 19%," and participants emphasized the need for case management and on-site services to help voucher holders stay housed. The Valor Hill Apartments — an acquisition-and-renovation project with on-site services and VASH voucher support for veterans exiting homelessness — was cited as a local model.
Council members asked the task force to consider the San Antonio Housing Trust—s universal-design standards as a baseline for local proposals and to reconvene stakeholder groups ahead of any proposed Unified Development Code amendments. Councilmember Castillo suggested exploring unconventional funding sources, such as U.S. Department of Justice grants for people with conviction histories, and engaging reentry partners to address barriers for residents with criminal records.
Chair Munguia asked staff to include in the Jan. 15 report "proximity or location priorities," any state or federal lobbying needs, and a full accounting of recommended actions beyond requests for more funding. Garcia said the task force will use the community survey, census data, HMIS and partner data to inform recommendations and will present initial findings at the city—s annual housing event on Jan. 24.
The briefing was for information only; the committee did not take a formal vote on policy at this meeting. The task force will present its initial report on or before Jan. 15 and follow with a community discussion at the Jan. 24 housing event.
