By Jade Esteban Estrada - Staff Writer, San Antonio Sentinel

On Thursday, San Antonio City Council approved $25 million to fund the COVID-19 Emergency Housing Assistance Program, which will provide housing relief to residents who are experiencing financial hardship due to the coronavirus crisis. A cash assistance program will also be in place to aid individuals who need help purchasing groceries, fuel or medication.

“I am proud of this vote to ensure that San Antonio workers who have been laid off or furloughed because of the COVID-19 pandemic will be able to pay their rent and stay in their homes,” said San Antonio Mayor Ron Nirenberg. “It is our duty to help our neighbors in times of need, and this crisis has created a true emergency.”

Later that evening, Assistant City Manager Lori Houston joined Nirenberg and Bexar County Judge Nelson Wolff for their nightly COVID-19 address.

“To qualify for the program, you must be a San Antonio resident and you must provide proof that you are experiencing hardship as a result of COVID-19, and we will assist you in paying your rent or mortgage related to your housing needs,” Houston said. Additionally, eligible applicants must be the primary lease or mortgage holder in a multifamily unit, mobile home, or single-family home within the city limits of San Antonio and have an income at or below 100% of the Area Median Income. Under these Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) guidelines, a San Antonio family earning $72,000 a year or below would qualify for the program.

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Once approved, the funds will be paid directly to the landlord, financial institution, internet provider and utility provider. Houston estimates this assistance will help somewhere between 15,000 to 19,000 families and individuals.

In late May, the program will be evaluated by the City Council to determine whether additional funds will be needed. If residents learn that they are ineligible for the program, Houston said that the County and other nonprofit partners would also be moving forward with similar assistance.

The cash assistance initiative will help a family of one with $150 via bank wire or a prepaid debit card. For each additional family member, $50 will be added to the subsidy, which caps at $300.

The COVID-19 Emergency Housing Assistance Program is proposed to end on July 31, 2020. For more information about the application process, visit the City’s fair housing website.

Jade Esteban Estrada is a staff writer at the San Antonio Sentinel, where he covers public health and other citywide issues. He can be reached at jade@sasentinel.com.