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Bexar County adopts five-year housing framework to build or preserve 1,250 affordable units
Summary
The Commissioners Court approved a strategic framework to guide county investment in the historic urban core, aiming to develop or preserve at least 1,250 affordable units over five years using tools such as PFC charter changes, HFC financing, HOME funds, tax abatements tied to affordability, and project-based vouchers.
Bexar County Commissioners Court voted Oct. 14 to approve a five-year housing framework designed to develop and preserve no fewer than 1,250 affordable housing units in the county’s historic urban core. The framework is tied to a memorandum of understanding with San Antonio Independent School District and directs staff to return with project-specific funding recommendations for court approval.
The framework identifies five principal strategies: amend the Public Facility Corporation charter to broaden eligible projects; create a flexible housing fund; leverage the County Housing Finance Corporation to access tax-exempt bond financing and 4% low-income housing tax credits; develop multifamily tax abatement policy tied to affordability and family-sized units; and prioritize HOME program dollars to areas of greatest need inside the Community Revitalization Action Group (CRAG). "Expanding the PFC use and leveraging the HFC will allow us to deepen affordability and attract private investment," interim economic development director Jacqueline Ybarra said in the presentation.
Advocates and developers who addressed the court supported the plan. Walter Martinez of Prospera Housing highlighted the county’s prior investments and the need for family-sized units, while Jason Arachiga of NRP Group said he has identified preliminary sites that align with the county’s priorities. "This plan is a thoughtful and strategic response to the growing need for high-quality affordable and workforce housing," Arachiga said.
Some commissioners urged caution on the scale and the role of county subsidies. Commissioner Moody said he has "differing opinions" and questioned whether expanding subsidies downtown is the right long-term market approach, but a majority approved the framework after staff said it will be a working document returned to court with more detailed project proposals and implementation steps. The court instructed staff to coordinate closely with the City of San Antonio and SAISD, and to present follow-up policies, including the multifamily tax abatement structure, before specific projects move forward.
