San Antonio: District 1’s Homeless Outreach Initiative

Press release from the City of San Antonio:

August 20, 2020

SAN ANTONIO —This summer, District 1 implemented a pilot Homeless Outreach program that offers support and resources to the unsheltered community. The initiative has allowed the team, including the Department of Human Services, Solid Waste Management, and SAPD to better understand the barriers to providing services and fostered input for a variety of solutions.

Councilman Treviño has recommended the ID Recovery Program, which currently is administered by SAPD’s Bike Patrol Division, be managed by Department of Human Services in partnership with the City Clerk’s Office.

The Councilman’s proposal seeks to incorporate personal identification recovery as a service, similar to those currently offered by the City Clerk’s Office, given their work with individuals to obtain public records and essential documents like birth certificates and passports.

“Not having personal identification is a challenge that has become evident in the process of assisting people wanting help,” Treviño said. “It limits their access to resources and services—especially now during the pandemic when organizations have increased restrictions in their protocols to reduce the risk of infection and spread of COVID-19 at their facilities.”

“Re-directing the ID Recovery process to DHS in coordination with the City Clerk’s Office, seemed like a logical and natural move. DHS provides funding for the fees and costs associated with recovering identification documents and the City Clerk’s Office already understands what’s needed to help individuals acquire credentials like a birth certificate or passport. To include IDs as part of the functions they oversee gives SAPD’s Bike Patrol Division the capacity to readily respond to emergencies and matters that support the safety of our community.”

DHS assisted District 1 in establishing a plan that provides support services to homeless individuals the area – including ID recovery. The plan outlines both long and short-term goals with solutions that included an on-site outreach representative.

Since the beginning of this initiative, the District 1 office and their partners have successfully helped 30 people off the street and into appropriate service areas that can assist them on their path toward a better quality of life.

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