SAMMinistries has served more than 500 people through the low-barrier shelter since opening in 2023. Staff say 43% percent have secured permanent housing.
SAN ANTONIO — After nearly two years, a hotel-turned-homeless shelter in San Antonio has helped hundreds of homeless people secure permanent housing.
RJ Burness is among the 129 people currently living at the shelter and hoping to one day claim the keys to a home he can call his own.
“It was hard to get food, it was hard to survive,” Burness said.
After losing his job as a stagehand in Connecticut, Burness found his way to the Alamo City where he eventually ended up on the streets for at least a year. Numerous nonprofits were able to assist him with providing survival essentials like food and clothing.
After being referred to SAMMinistries, Burness said he’s enjoyed the variety of social services provided by his case manager so far.
“First I have to find a job, I have to get my Ps and Qs in order. My case manager and many people in this program, they’re really helping me get along,” Burness said. “If I keep on trying, there is a rainbow at the end of the tunnel.”
Since opening in December 2023, SAMMinistries’ low-barrier emergency shelter has served more than 500 people with 43% of clients seeking or securing permanent housing after exiting the program. That surpasses the national average of about 25%.
The shelter implements the Centralized Shelter Coordination process, which includes collaboration involving various community partners to perform street outreach and refer unhoused individuals to SAMMinistries’ emergency shelter.
“It is important to point out that the client population we are serving here has an average length of homelessness of 511 days, so just shy of two years,” said SAMMinistries President and CEO Nikisha Baker.
Baker said 88% of clients have a disabling condition, which includes physical, developmental, chronic and mental illnesses.
Over the last year, SAMMinistries has added an on-site health clinic for psychiatric support, primary physical health care and mental health counseling. Case managers are also able to help their clients with ID recovery resources and employment support.
Baker stressed one of the primary challenges is ensuring there’s enough housing.
“Finding availability of housing, that continues to be a struggle,” Baker said.
In situations of slim housing options, SAMMinistries is sometimes able to connect participants to live with friends and family or place them in a higher level of care such as skilled nursing facilities.
“There’s just so many things that we’re doing to build community, build support systems and help ensure that our clients are able to be successful when they exit this program,” Baker said.
The city had paid $8.8 million to lease the 200-bed Holiday Inn over two years. SAMMinistries was granted $7.1 million to operate the hotel as a shelter. The city is in the process of discussing a new lease agreement since the current lease expires in October.
On Thursday, San Antonio City Council will vote to adopt a proposed $4 billion budget—including a new round of funding to keep the shelter open.
“What has been proposed is $5.2 million in the city budget to operate low-barrier non-congregate shelter,” Baker said. “That is significant for us, because it helps us to ensure that this facility is secure, that we’re able to maintain, and that we’re able to continue and deliver on the critical services that our clients need.”