San Antonio’s leaders are urged to act against veteran housing discrimination, as 93% of rentals reject federal vouchers, impacting veterans’ stability.
SAN ANTONIO — The American GI Forum is calling on San Antonio leaders to join the fight against veteran discrimination, particularly when it comes to housing issues.
The organization is holding a press conference Thursday to demand San Antonio City Council members pass an ordinance banning descrimination against veterans using housing vouchers.
The veteran housing vouchers they are referring to are federally-funded through the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs. The organization says less than 800 San Antonio veterans rely on vouchers, yet there are more than 250,000 rental properties in the city.
The organizations says they have identified hundreds of these rental properties that are unavailable options for veterans with vouchers. As a result, the organization says veterans have limited living options, which contributes to housing instability and could negatively impact their health and finances.
They say this has been an ongoing issue they have also dealt with on a state level. In 2024, State Rep. Ray Lopez filed House Bill 617 to make it illegal for landlords to reject veteran housing vouchers, but that bill expired on the House floor.
At this point, only 7% of rental properties in San Antonio accept veteran housing vouchers.
Leaders speaking at Thursday’s press conference includes Mayor Gina Ortiz Jones, a military veteran herself, and State Representatives Ray Lopez and Josey Garcia.
Local veterans and other veterans organizations will also be at Thursday’s press conference at 11 a.m.