Southside Councilmembers advocate for funding to address disparities

Published on August 20, 2024

Proposed reallocation of ARPA funding would support the Center for Health Equity in South Texas

SAN ANTONIO (August 19, 2024) – During last week’s discussion about the City of San Antonio’s Fiscal Year (FY) 2025 Proposed Budget, District 4 Councilmember Dr. Adriana Rocha Garcia proposed reallocating a portion of the $2.7 million in available funding from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) to be used in addressing health disparities on San Antonio’s southside. A request to allocate $600,000 to span across two years from FY2025 through FY2026 for seed funding to support the development the Center for Health Equity in South Texas (CHEST) was supported by District 3 Councilmember Phylis Viagran, District 5 Councilmember Teri Castillo, and District 1 Councilmember Dr. Sukh Kaur.

“Since the closure of the Texas Vista Medical Center, I’ve been working with public health advocates and healthcare providers, including Dr. Lyssa Ochoa of the San Antonio Vascular and Endovascular (SAVE) Clinic, to develop a plan of action focused on reducing health disparities and increasing access to healthcare on the southside,” the District 4 Councilmember stated. “Investing in CHEST can be the catalyst for bringing health equity to more than half a million southside residents.”

Approximately $26.6. million in ARPA funds were allotted to address health disparities, specifically to support communities with pre-existing health disparities that face public health and economic challenges. 

“As ARPA funds are expended, the need to secure funding to sustain our City’s public health infrastructure is critical, the District 4 Councilmember added. “The COVID-19 pandemic wreaked havoc in communities with socially disadvantaged populations. Residents in these communities experience shorter life expectancies, higher mortality rates, higher rates of chronic diseases and premature deaths.”