San Antonio/Bexar County Launches A Coordinated Homelessness Prevention Response

Press release from the City of San Antonio:

May 26, 2021

SAN ANTONIO (May 26, 2021) – The City of San Antonio, Department of Human Services, and the South Alamo Regional Alliance for the Homeless (SARAH) are pleased to announce the launch of a coordinated homelessness prevention and eviction response system to assist people facing housing instability due to the COVID-19 pandemic. San Antonio/Bexar County is one of the few communities nationwide to implement such a system.

For years, our community has had many effective service providers and tools to keep people housed. In response to the pandemic, those programs rapidly expanded to meet the community’s needs. The Homelessness Prevention Response announced today fully coordinates these services, streamlining referrals and warm handoffs to make it easier for people to receive the proper assistance. A unique aspect of our response system is the addition of an equity-driven intake and screening tool that ensures the most vulnerable residents get the extra supportive services they need. The timing of this implementation is crucial with the impending end of the eviction moratorium and ongoing pandemic-related struggles with employment and housing.

Planning for the Homelessness Prevention Response has been a collaborative effort among several partner agencies: SARAH, City of San Antonio Human Services and Neighborhood & Housing Services Departments, Bexar County Department of Community Development, Endeavors, The Salvation Army, SAMMinistries, St. Vincent de Paul, SA Hope Center, Catholic Charities, Haven for Hope, San Antonio Community Resource Directory (SACRD), and ICF International (HUD technical assistance providers).

The next step in implementing the Homelessness Prevention Response will be adding a Homeless Prevention landing page to SACRD.org, a comprehensive online directory of compassionate resources offered in and around San Antonio. Residents can access prevention resources through the following means:

• City of San Antonio, Department of Human Services Homeless Connections Hotline at 210-207-1799, Monday to Friday from 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM
• City of San Antonio, Neighborhood & Housing Services Department Emergency Housing Assistance Program (EHAP) at covid19.sanantonio.gov/Services/Rent-and-Mortgage-Help-Housing
• SARAH’s help and access to housing page at sarahomeless.org/housing

This press release was produced by the City of San Antonio. The views expressed here are the author’s own.