Although it's been a month since SAHA's eviction moratorium ended, no evictions have started. SAHA and the city are committed to helping families in need.

The Texas Rent Relief program stopped taking new applications at 5 p.m. Friday, citing more requests than money available. However, the City of San Antonio says its Emergency Housing Assistance Program (EHAP), which pays rent or mortgage, and utility bills for San Antonio residents affected by the pandemic, still has enough money to last through the end of the year.

More than a year into the coronavirus pandemic, San Antonio families are still struggling to pay rent and other bills.

San Antonio’s Emergency Housing Assistance Program has helped 37,000 households during the pandemic with rental, mortgage, and utility assistance, city officials say, calling the program a success.

The Emergency Housing Assistance Program has already allocated more than $93 million to more than 34,000 households

SAN ANTONIO – A program to help residents who are struggling because of the pandemic pay their rent and other bills still has tens of millions of dollars to dole out. The Emergency Housing Assistance Program (EHAP) has received a total of $133.6 million in chunks over the past year from various funding sources. That’s before any additional rent assistance money from a stimulus bill passed by Congress is added to the mix. Bexar County residents appear only to be eligible for rental assistance, while city residents can also get help with water, power and internet service. However, they won’t be able to get assistance for the same period of time for which they already got help.

San Antonio – The City of San Antonio has received $46.7 million dollars from the federal government to bolster its efforts to keep struggling residents in their homes. It appears this could extend the life of the city’s popular Emergency Housing Assistance Program (EHAP) for several months. Excluding the federal money, the total amount allocated to the program, including some $10.1 million on Wednesday, amounts to about $86.8 million. At least 90% of the incoming federal dollars must be used for direct financial assistance, which includes rent, rental arrears, utilities, and home energy costs. If you have been affected by the pandemic and need help with your bills, you can get information on the Emergency Housing Assistance Program HERE.

One of the most high-profile uses of that money, and other funding sources, is the city’s Emergency Housing Assistance Program (EHAP), which helps struggling residents pay their rent, mortgage and other bills. As of Wednesday, $64.8 million had been approved through the program, and city staff members have plans to keep it funded into March. In a briefing to city council members on Thursday, staff members said the city will receive $3.6 million in Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds from the state as part of the Texas Emergency Rental Assistance Program. The city has also been notified it will get an additional $10.2 million in CDBG dollars through the CARES Act. City staff members recommend using $4.6 million for EHAP, which Assistant City Manager Lori Houston said could take the program into “most likely early March.”A full recommendation is expected in January to the Culture and Neighborhood Services Committee.

SAN ANTONIO – The city council sent another $24.1 million on Thursday to a widely used assistance program that has helped thousands of San Antonio residents pay their rent and other bills during the COVID-19 pandemic. The COVID-19 Emergency Housing Assistance Program has already received $52.5 million through two previous phases of funding - $50.9 million of which will end up going to San Antonio residents. However, with the assistance being doled out at a rate of $400,000 to $500,000 per day, the city expects to run out of those funds by early October. The emergency housing assistance program has been open to anyone earning less than 100% of the Area Median Income (AMI), and recipients can collect up to three months, or $5,000, worth of help. Those earning 51% to 80% of the AMI are only eligible for the rental or mortgage assistance.

SAN ANTONIO – The San Antonio City Council is considering adding another $21.9 million to the city’s COVID-19 Emergency Housing Assistance Program, which helps struggling residents pay their rent, mortgage, and other bills, along with providing some cash. Of the $52.5 million the city had previously sent to the emergency assistance program, Gonzales said $50.9 million will actually go to helping residents. However, city staff are recommending that future recipients of the program only get one month of full assistance. City staff have also presented connected residents to the new Workforce Development Program, which provides stipends to participants to provide more assistance. The City Council is expected to vote on the issue on Thursday, along with a plan to move more money toward the city’s health response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

SAN ANTONIO – A city program meant to help struggling families affected by the COVID-19 pandemic pay their bills has paid out more than half of the money available, and city staff expect it to run out of funds sometime in September. City staff said 97% get help for more than one month. So there’s a lot more awareness from people facing eviction about our program,” Soto said. Most of the denials were because someone did not live within the city limits of San Antonio, Soto said. The budget year begins Oct. 1, and city staff are scheduled to present a proposed budget to city council members on Aug. 6.

An additional $10 million would provide child care services for 4,000 children as their parents pursue training or workforce opportunities. City Council approves $25M emergency program that gives rent, utilities, mortgage assistanceAnother strategy would provide grants worth between $10,000 and $75,000 to “micro businesses” with 20 or fewer employees. City Manager Erik Walsh, though, said the plan assumes the city balances its budget for fiscal 2021, which begins in October. The city is using the rest of the CRF money for things like testing, contact tracing, personal protective equipment, and safety supplies. Group angry over anti-hate resolution, Cenotaph removal creates ruckus at City Council meeting