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Southside Community Center urges Hays County to fill $25,000 funding gap for housing-stability program
Summary
Southside Community Center leaders told the Hays County Commissioners Court that ARPA funding for their housing stability program ends in April and asked the court to allocate additional county funds—noting Southside currently receives $25,000 annually and arguing that a modest increase could prevent homelessness for hundreds of families.
Deborah Giles Webster, secretary of the Southside Community Center Board, told the court that Southside — a faith‑based nonprofit serving San Marcos and surrounding communities — has expanded beyond its original neighborhood mission and now serves people across Hays County. "Southside Community Center will be celebrating 100 years of service here in Hays County in 2027," Webster said, and she asked the court to consider continued funding for the center’s housing stability program before federal ARPA funds run out in April.
Claude Churchwell, Southside treasurer, and Todd Salmi, a board member, expanded the request with finances and outcomes. Churchwell said philanthropic partners are willing to match county support if the county “comes alongside and partners with them.” Salmi told the court Southside currently receives $25,000 a year from Hays County and urged the commissioners to find roughly 0.1% of the county’s $248,000,000 operating budget to preserve the program. "We're asking you to support us with just 0.1 of 1% of the overall county budget," Salmi said, adding the program prevents evictions and keeps families housed.
Commissioners praised Southside’s century of service and asked staff to follow up with budget details. The court did not make an immediate appropriation during the meeting; Southside leaders asked the court to place a funding item on the docket within the next month so the program can continue after ARPA support ends.
Provenance: first related transcript segment began at SEG 110 and the discussion concluded around SEG 288.
