San Antonio staff say the city is making steady progress on its long-term effort to expand affordable housing, even as a bipartisan federal housing bill awaits President Donald Trump’s signature.
City Council’s Planning and Community Development Committee received an update Tuesday on the Strategic Housing Implementation Plan, or SHIP—a 10-year initiative San Antonio leaders adopted in 2021 with the goal of building or preserving more than 28,000 affordable homes by 2031.
“We’re at 41% of the way to our SHIP goal,” Neighborhood and Housing Services Department Director Veronica Garza told the committee, calling the SHIP plan “a living document” that continues to incorporate the latest findings and community feedback.
Much of that progress has come through the development of affordable rental housing, of which nearly 3,000 units have been created. But the city has made its greatest strides in new home construction, reaching nearly 90% of its target in that category with 1,116 homes built over the last five years.
“I think SHIP is one of the best policy things the city has done,” Committee Chair and District 4 Councilman Edward Mungia said. “Certainly what I would call a crown jewel of the city.”
District 5 Councilwoman Teri Castillo – a stanch advocate for affordable housing – said the city’s investments reflect what residents have consistently identified as a top priority in annual surveys.
“We’re not only responding to the needs of the market, but also what our constituents are calling for budget survey after budget survey,” Castillo said.
The city is able to make headway on SHIP’s goals through four federal grants provided through the Housing and Urban Development Department (HUD). Those grants are able to be used for different projects and resources.
The city expects to receive approximately $23.4 million in federal grant funding in 2027 to support SHIP initiatives, as well as programs for vulnerable populations, first-time homebuyers and street repairs. San Antonio City Council is expected to decide how those funds will be allocated later this summer.
The local housing update comes as Trump has not yet signed the bipartisan 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act, legislation aimed at expanding the nation’s housing supply and improving affordability. San Antonio Mayor Gina Ortiz Jones, who made affordable housing a key part of her mayoral campaign, criticized the delay in a post on X, calling it a “gut punch” for families.
“San Antonians struggling with rent, waitlists, and homeownership costs cannot afford to be a bargaining chip,” Jones said in the post. “Mr. President, please sign the bill.”
Meanwhile, Opportunity Home San Antonio is expected to unveil “Strategy 2037: A Centennial Vision” on Friday. The public housing authority describes the plan as a “bold roadmap to build, preserve and finance nearly 15,000 affordable homes across the city.”
The announcement comes as demand for affordable housing continues to be at the forefront. Opportunity Home said it had about 66,000 active housing applications this week; for perspective, the authority currently serves just over 62,000 individuals.