District 4 Councilmember Commends Fiscal Year 2025 Adopted Budget
Published on September 20, 2024
District 4 Councilmember Commends Quality of Life Investments in Housing and Health in Fiscal Year 2025 Adopted Budget
SAN ANTONIO (September 20, 2024) –The following statement is from District 4 Councilmember Dr. Adriana Rocha Garcia regarding the adoption of the Fiscal Year (FY) 2025 Operating and Capital Budget totaling $3.96 billion:
“With American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding set to be spent by the end of 2026, I commend our continued investments in housing and health. Addressing homelessness, increasing access to affordable quality healthcare, and providing more housing options for residents are top priorities for residents across San Antonio. With rising costs of living and stagnant wages, we know residents struggle to cover basic needs, including housing and healthcare. We know there is a housing shortage, and there are families with children who are experiencing homelessness. Health disparities continue to impact the lives of residents, especially those who live in east, west and south San Antonio.
“Access to quality healthcare, especially mental health services, is critical for the well-being of residents. Without a healthy workforce, our city loses millions of dollars and opportunities to build a resilient regional economy. Housing and healthcare go hand in hand, so I am proud of our continued investment in implementing Metro Health’s Community Blueprint, SA Forward. The adopted FY 2025 Budget includes $600,000 for the Center for Health in South Texas to help address disparate life expectancies and health inequities that will be part of a multi-phase collaborative effort with local leaders, healthcare professionals and community members.
“The FY 2025 adopted budget includes more than $35 million in affordable housing investments. Through this funding, residents will have access to home rehabilitation and repair opportunities, and rental and down payment assistance. Providing housing stability and homelessness intervention support to 1,483 families and housing rehabilitation and preservation to 507 households exemplifies our commitment to housing security. Additionally, City Council also approved $1 million for housing assistance to help approximately 650 families. At the end of FY 2025, we are projected to have reached 40 percent of our Strategic Housing Implementation Plan (SHIP) goal of building 28,094 homes by 2031.
“The $44.2 million for homelessness services will help 500 unsheltered individuals and facilitate the abatement of homeless encampments across the city, especially near areas frequented by children, such as schools. The progress we have made is thanks to the work of City staff, including outreach coordinators and nonprofit partners who directly assist people experiencing homelessness.”