$43 million Southside housing for unhoused gets Bexar County nod

A major, $43 million supportive housing project for San Antonio’s unhoused population got a funding boost from Bexar County, giving the project the nod it needs to continue moving forward. Bexar County commissioners approved $3.9 million in funding Tuesday from American Rescue Plan Act money. 

The project is being led by SAMMinistries and will bring 200-unit apartment-style permanent housing with support services for the unhoused. It will be located on 7 acres of land off Old Corpus Christi Road near the South Presa Street. The project will also have a playground and 10,500-square foot community center surrounded by plenty of green space. 

“Approximately 200 people who had formerly been homeless will now have a place to not only live, but also receive other support services such as food, addiction recovery assistance and counseling,” said Judge Peter Sakai in an emailed statement. 

Bexar County’s funding joins the over $11 million coming from the city, which makes for a total around $15 million. Nikisha Baker, president and CEO of SAMMinistries, told MySA that $16 million will come from a tax credit equity investment. The investor has yet to be identified. SAMMinistries has also submitted applications for approximately $6.4 million funding from the Texas Department of Housing and Community, Federal Home Loan Bank of Dallas and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

Those applications are still pending along with fee waivers from San Antonio and SAWS, solar credits and the area TIRZ fund.

“Permanent Supportive Housing provides a permanent solution for some of our most vulnerable neighbors, offering housing stability and the supportive services needed to achieve maximum independence,” Baker said in a statement.