Donation fund created after San Antonio fire displaces 22 households

A local organization has set up a fund for people who lost their homes to a fire that destroyed numerous apartments on March 11 and shut down a road on San Antonio’s Northside. SAMMinistries, a local organization that works to find permanent supportive housing for unhoused people, is seeking donations to help support people displaced by the blaze. 

SAMMinistries says on its website that 22 households were displaced when the Hudson Apartments at 6014 Blanco Rd. caught fire and led to structural and water damage to multiple units. San Antonio Fire Department spokesperson Woody Woodward said in an email there were no injuries and all people were evacuated.

However, all of the people that were evacuated have the trauma of “chronic homelessness,” as well as physical disabilities and mental health issues, according to SAMMinistries website. SAMMinistries received $4 million in funding from the city in April 2023 to further rehabilitate the Hudson Apartments to provide permanent support housing for San Antonio’s unhoused population. 

The funds will go toward helping those affected replace essential items, access transportation, and meet basic needs while SAMMinistries helps them recover and stabilize their lives. 

Mayor Ron Nirenberg tweeted about the fundraising effort on Friday, March 15, and shared a link to SAMMinistries website where people can donate. 

“Our hearts go out to the 22 households displaced by a devastating fire at SAMMinistries’ Hudson Apartment complex,” Nirenberg said.