City Continues Commitment to Addressing Housing Insecurity
Published on January 08, 2025
A City-supported redevelopment project aims to empower women and children through Women’s Live and Learn Center.
SAN ANTONIO (January 8, 2025) – The City of San Antonio has reaffirmed its commitment to addressing housing insecurity with a $4.3 million investment in the YWCA Women’s Live and Learn Center (WLLC), a redevelopment project on the city’s Westside that will offer life-saving resources for some San Antonio’s most vulnerable citizens.
The WLLC will roll out in three phases. Phase I of the project focuses on the adaptive reuse of an existing structure into a 30-unit transitional housing facility. It will serve young women aged 18-25, including those at risk of homelessness, domestic violence, aging out of foster care, or facing other challenges. The facility will also support residents earning at or below 150 percent of the Federal Poverty Level (or 30 percent of the Area Median Income AMI).
Alongside safe housing, residents will have access to various services, including workforce training, mental health counseling, early childhood care, and financial literacy education. Residents will begin moving in by February, with full occupancy anticipated in late Summer 2025.
Looking ahead, Phase II of the WLLC will see the construction of a child development center capable of serving up to 50 children, and administrative offices to support campus operations. Groundbreaking for this phase is slated for late January 2025. Phase III envisions a mixed-use development, potentially featuring additional residential units and expanded services through partnerships with mission-aligned organizations.
The redevelopment is backed by significant public investment. The City has contributed $1.4 million in Community Development Block Grant funds, $250,000 in fee waivers, and a $670,000 Inner City Incentive Fund development loan. The Westside Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone (TIRZ) also provided $2 million to support public improvements and infrastructure for Phase I.
This support underscores the City’s commitment to addressing housing insecurity and empowering its most vulnerable people.
Domestic violence remains a critical issue in San Antonio and across the state. According to the Texas Council on Family Violence, 205 Texans were killed in 2023 by a romantic or intimate partner. These numbers include 179 women, 26 men, and four LGBTQ+ victims. Of those victims, 14 were in Bexar County.
For more information on the YWCA Live and Learn Center, visit YWCASA.org.