The City of San Antonio will host five forums over the next three weeks to collect community input for the City’s first-ever Homeless Strategic Plan.
The plan is being developed by the City, South Alamo Regional Alliance for the Homeless, and Homebase, a consultant hired by the City.
The City commissioned the plan in October, and the report is expected to be completed and presented to City Council in April.
The plan will identify strengths and gaps in services for homeless people – or people on the verge of being homeless – in San Antonio and outline a five- to 10-year plan to enhance the city’s efforts.
Each meeting will be from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.:
- Monday, Jan. 27 at Frank Garrett Multi-Service Center, 1226 Northwest 18th St. RSVP here.
- Tuesday, Jan. 28 at Northeast Service Center (Tool Yard), 10303 Tool Yard. RSVP here.
- Wednesday, Jan. 29 at Great Northwest Library, 9050 Wellwood St. RSVP here.
- Thursday, Jan. 30 at Claude Black Community Center, 2805 East Commerce St. RSVP here.
- Monday, Feb. 10 at Palo Alto College/Ozuna Library (Legacy Ballroom, Room 101), 1400 West Villaret Blvd. RSVP here.
About 0.15 percent of Bexar County’s estimated 1,986,049 population were counted as homeless in 2019. The total number of homeless people decreased 6 percent in Bexar County last year, but the number of families without homes continues to increase. In 2019, 274 families were homeless, up 18 percent from 232 in 2018.
Since the city’s largest shelter, Haven for Hope, opened in 2010, it has placed roughly 4,000 people in permanent housing and homelessness downtown has decreased significantly. But some elected officials and homeless advocates have called for more resources and a more dynamic approach to combat the problem.
Homebase has conducted several meetings with nonprofits that provide homelessness services, housing developers, faith-based leaders, and other stakeholder groups over the past few months.
