The City of San Antonio’s Department of Human Services released a report revealing that 44% of residents in Bexar County are unable to afford basic necessities like food and housing. While 15% of the county’s population lives below the official poverty line, an additional 29% earn above that threshold yet still cannot meet essential costs.
How the numbers are measured
The report relies on the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2024 poverty threshold – $16,320 for a single person under 65 – and also incorporates the United Way’s ALICE (Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed) metric. Under the ALICE definition, the 29% of residents identified are employed but their incomes are insufficient to cover basic expenses.
Poverty hotspots and demographic impacts
Geographic analysis shows poverty is concentrated inside Loop 410 and in the city’s southern neighborhoods, where ZIP codes report rates above 20%. The data also highlight that children’s poverty rates have modestly declined, while the share of adults 65 and older in poverty has risen.
Groups disproportionately affected include Black and American Indian residents, women, and people with disabilities. The report notes that even modest salary increases often fail to keep pace with rising living costs, underscoring the challenge of achieving true economic security.
Implications for the community
City officials emphasize that having a job does not guarantee a household can cover its basic needs, pointing to the need for targeted assistance and policies that address cost‑of‑living pressures. The findings aim to guide future initiatives by local agencies and nonprofit partners to better support families struggling to make ends meet.
Original reporting: San Antonio, TX News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
