San Antonio organizations receive $14.5M HUD grant to end houselessness
San Antonio housing organizations have pledged to aid houseless people and families with a $14.5 million federal grant from the U.S. Housing and Urban Development. The grant funds were presented to the South Alamo Regional Alliance for the Homeless (SARAH) and its partner organizations Monday afternoon, April 17.
Candace Valenzuela, former Texas House candidate turned regional director for HUD, said Monday at a press conference that the funds would provide for a total of 47 stability housing vouchers and wraparound services within SARAH. Valenzuela talked about her time as a child attending school while hopping from place to place to look for shelter with her mom.
“Housing can help these kids that grow up here become anything,” Valenzuela said. “It can build our communities into something stronger than it already is.”
Suyapa Muñoz, from left, and Latonya Richard sit with Katie Vela, executive director of South Alamo Regional Alliance for the Homeless (SARAH), as they chat outside KGBTexas Communications in San Antonio.
Lisa Krantz /Staff photographer
Katie Vela, executive director for SARAH, says the grant will also allow the organization to provide permanent support of housing resources, street outreach, and expansion of its Social Security Disability Insurance and Supplemental Security Income and access recovery program. The SSI and SSDI program ensures people without a house have access to benefit income to ease the stress of health care systems.
In October 2022, SARAH along with San Antonio Metropolitan Ministry, helped San Antonio be the first city to beat its House America goal by placing 1,600 people into permanent, supportive housing. Earlier in April, the city of San Antonio created a new website and program called Housing Base San Antonio that will help people find affordable housing.
