SAN ANTONIO — The Bexar County Commissioners Court approved nearly $4 million to go toward permanent supportive housing for the homeless on the south side.
Two commissioners abstained from the vote after nearly two hours of debate and discussion with stakeholders, which included concerns raised about the perceived lack of community engagement on the project.
Local non-profit, SAMMinistries, will operate the Commons at Acequia Trails Apartments, which is set to be constructed off South Presa and Old Corpus Christi Road.
The 200-unit apartment complex will mark the organization’s second single-site permanent supportive housing complex in San Antonio following the opening of the Hudson apartments last year for the most vulnerable community members.
The addition of more housing for the chronically homeless, falls in line with the City of San Antonio’s goal to develop 1,000 new permanent supportive housing units over the next 10 years.
The Commons at Acequia Trails as well as the Hudson apartments are products of city, county and federal funds amounting to more than $40 million.
“I think this was a successful day in advancing permanent supportive housing in our community,” said Nikisha Baker, president and CEO of SAMMinistries. “Which includes on-site services like intensive case management, access to primary medical care, mental health services, all to ensure that this especially vulnerable population is able to maintain housing stability and achieve maximum independence,” Baker added.
Brady Alexander, head of the Hot Wells Mission Reach Neighborhood Association, voiced his concerns about the project during the meeting, calling it a “dis-investment” in the community despite what homeless housing advocates have argued.
“You cannot continue to support and not re-integrate those into society to have a meaningful place. It is just kicking the can down the road,” Alexander said.
Much of Alexander’s opposition stems from what he believes has been an absence of regular communication from city-county partners, including project leader SAMMinistries.
Precinct 4 Commissioner Tommy Calvert stressed his support for more housing for the homeless, but he noted his constituents should have been given more opportunity to provide input on the project.
“The lesson learned is inclusivity. The two neighborhoods closest to it, they had not been a part of the conversation, that didn’t start until January,” Calvert said.
Four meetings with neighbors living adjacent to the future apartment complex have been held, according to city-county officials.
Baker expressed her apologies before the court, emphasizing a commitment to improving community relations when it comes to future projects.
“SAMMinistries was made aware of the award of funding for this project in April of 2023 and our plan going forward would be to understand the neighborhoods around a site and engage them as early on as possible,” Baker said.
The Commons at Acequia Trails apartments is set to break ground by November 2024 and welcome residents in 2026.