The City of San Antonio is set to end its funding for a hotel-turned-homeless shelter, raising concerns about the future of this vital community resource. The shelter, operated by SAMMinistries, has been a refuge for individuals facing long-term homelessness, particularly those with disabling physical or mental health conditions. The facility, a 313-room former Holiday Inn, has served over 526 people in its first two years, with more than half achieving positive housing outcomes.
Funding Challenges and Future Plans
City funding, previously sourced from pandemic-era federal relief dollars, will cease after the lease ends on October 31. This year, the city allocated $4.8 million from its budget to cover lease costs, while SAMMinistries managed operational expenses. The city’s future plans involve leveraging bond dollars to expand shelter capacity, assuming the continued availability of the 300-plus beds at SAMMinistries.
Nikisha Baker, President and CEO of SAMMinistries, expressed hope that both the city and county will continue to support the shelter. However, without city funding, operating the current facility size is deemed unsustainable. SAMMinistries is seeking $7.5 million in funding from the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs to establish a permanent site, with a decision expected by late summer.
Community and Government Response
San Antonio Chief Housing Officer Mark Carmona indicated efforts to absorb the shelter’s current residents into the broader homeless response system. Meanwhile, Councilwoman Sukh Kaur has advocated for continued support, highlighting the community’s prioritization of homeless services. Bexar County, which currently does not fund the shelter, is open to considering future support as part of its budget discussions.
As the city and county prepare to finalize their budgets in September, the fate of the shelter remains uncertain. SAMMinistries continues to explore temporary relocation options, but the challenge of sustaining operations without external support looms large.
Original reporting: San Antonio, TX News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
