Vulnerable SAHA residents in need of donations in aftermath of winter storms
SAN ANTONIO – The San Antonio Housing Authority is asking the community for donations to help some of the city’s most vulnerable residents in the aftermath of historic winter weather, which left many with no access to necessities. SAHA is asking community members to donate water, non-perishable food items and adult diapers for elderly and disabled residents who were severely affected by the winter storms. They also said many of these residents have limited mobility or transportation to go to grocery stores. SAHA is accepting donations at its main office, located at 820 S. Flores Street, from noon to 4 p.m. on Saturday. The housing authority has partnered with the San Antonio Food Bank to coordinate a food box drop-off at several properties.
Vulnerable S.A. residents in need of non-perishable food items
Some of San Antonio's most vulnerable residents are in need of basic necessities after losing power and water and seeing the limited food they did have expire, according to the San Antonio Housing Authority. All 99 of SAHA's properties have been without water or electricity to some degree. Some residents were given the option to relocate to a hotel but many decided to shelter in place, according to Andres Picon of the San Antonio Express News.
mysanantonio.comWork starts on mixed-income development where San Antonio's Victoria Courts once stood
click image Vimeo / San Antonio Housing AuthorityA screen capture from SAHA's 100 Labor virtual groundbreaking video. San Antonio Housing Authority has broken ground on a new residential complex intended to expand affordable housing near downtown San Antonio.SAHA conducted a virtual groundbreaking Thursday for the new 100 Labor complex in partnership with Franklin Development. The new development — in the works for two decades — will create a master-planned community called Victoria Commons where the Victoria Courts public housing project once stood.The multi-family units will offer affordable accommodations for downtown service-industry workers, SAHA officials said.“When SAHA first began the revitalization effort of this neighborhood, we wanted to be intentional about the atmosphere we create, because we promised a better tomorrow for our families," SAHA chief legal and real estate officer Tim Alcott said in a press release.The development will consist of 220 units along with amenities such as a coffee bar, pet grooming center, fitness center, conditioning studio and on-site retail.“We’re trying to maintain as much affordability as we can," Franklin Development Vice President Ryan Wilson said in a statement. "We realize the importance of maintaining affordable units in the urban core.”100 Labor Virtual Groundbreaking from San Antonio Housing Authority on Vimeo.
sacurrent.comSan Antonio council member calling on city to address termination of Alazan Apache Courts redevelopment project
SAN ANTONIO – San Antonio District 5 Councilwoman Shirley Gonzales is calling on the city to address the termination of the Alazan Apache Courts redevelopment project on the West Side. In a memo to City Manager Erik Walsh, Gonzales said San Antonio Housing Authority interim CEO Ed Hinojosa had reached an agreement to terminate the two-phase project. She said this made the tenants ineligible for leasing redeveloped units under Housing and Urban Development rules. “SAHA is committed to the redevelopment in a method that will not displace our residents and maintain our commitment to maintain and grow public housing to serve the most vulnerable residents of San Antonio. “There are also increasing possibilities under the new Biden administration for new federal funding to increase public housing.
Over half of the toys collected for kids at Alazan Apache Courts were stolen, SA Housing Authority says
Over half of the toys collected for children living at the Alazan Apache Courts were stolen just one day before they were to be handed out, according to the San Antonio Housing Authority. The distribution event scheduled for Saturday afternoon will still go on as planned, according to SAHA. “Volunteers will continue with the toy distribution with the limited toys to provide families with something for the holidays,” SAHA said in a statement. The toys were stolen during a break-in on Dec. 18 in the community room, SAHA officials said. The holiday assistance provided to the families at the Alazan Apache Courts is part of a 20-year tradition, according to SAHA’s website.
Virtual San Antonio Housing Authority groundbreaking sparks West Side protest
SAN ANTONIO – The San Antonio Housing Authority’s decision to air a four-minute video Monday morning on Facebook Live to mark a virtual groundbreaking of its newest development, The Legacy at Alazan, is being questioned by some of its critics. Near that same vacant lot where the SAHA video was shot, the Rinconcito de Esperanza each year has had its own community altar and celebration. With more than 45,000 families on the waitlist in dire need of affordable housing, we believe creating new housing opportunities is the priority. The Esperanza Peace and Justice Center is welcome to use the nearby Alazan-Apache SAHA Community Center, Alazan Park, Guadalupe Plaza, the future Legacy at Alazan community center breaking ground today, as well as other nearby venues to host their one-day event." During all of these years, both organizations and the Botello Family extended the vacant land to the Esperanza Center to host their events as a courtesy and free of charge.
The shift away from public housing to mixed-income housing, explained
SAN ANTONIO – Editor’s note: This content was created exclusively for KSAT Explains, a new, weekly streaming show that dives deep into the biggest issues facing San Antonio and South Texas. In 1938, the federal government authorized the first public housing development under the U.S. Housing Act. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has moved away from creating communities that have such high concentrations of public housing units. Mixed-income developments. Robles said that the San Antonio Housing Authority does not receive enough money from the federal government to sustain public housing and keep it maintained.
Why is there a battle to preserve the Alazan Apache Courts? KSAT Explains
Editor’s note: On Jan. 19 the San Antonio Housing Authority terminated an agreement with a private developer to redevelop the Alazan Apache Courts, according to a memo from District 5 Councilwoman Shirley Gonzales. Click here to learn more.
SAHA breaks ground on new affordable housing near Alamo Ranch
SAN ANTONIO – With golden shovels in their hands, some local movers and shakers broke ground on what is expected to be a golden opportunity for some families in need. The San Antonio Housing Authority held the ceremony Wednesday to symbolically mark the beginning of construction on what it calls “affordable housing in the Alamo Ranch area.”An artist’s rendering, courtesy of SAHA, shows the exterior of the complex. The location along Loop 1604 and just a stone’s throw from Alamo Ranch, was chosen by SAHA to give people options. SAHA will look at income and other factors to determine who qualifies for the affordable housing units. For information on applying, contact the San Antonio Housing Authority.
SAHA breaks ground on new affordable housing near Alamo Ranch
SAHA breaks ground on new affordable housing near Alamo RanchPublished: July 29, 2020, 12:14 pmWith golden shovels in their hands, some local movers and shakers broke ground on what is expected to be a golden opportunity for some families in need.
San Antonio Housing Authority to suspend non-criminal evictions
San Antonio – In a series of moves meant to prevent the spread of COVID-19, the San Antonio Housing Authority laid out several precautionary measures to limit in-person interactions and keep non-criminal tenants in their homes for public housing and Beacon mixed-income housing. In an announcement on the its website, the SAHA Executive Team listed several actions that will take effect on Monday, March 16. Suspension of Notices to Vacate and lease violationsSuspension of evictions for non criminal activitySuspension of transfers, move-ins, move-outsSuspension of routine work ordersSuspension of housekeeping inspectionsSuspension of food distributionsSuspension of late feesSuspension of all resident activities to include Resident Council and Youth ActivitiesClosure of all property management offices and community rooms; residents should email or callFor residents at elderly communities, Metro Health will allow food to be taken into their unitsEmergency work orders will require additional troubleshooting via phone callsExisting repayment agreements will be extendedRecertification deadlines will be extendedRent payments should be made either online or by mailVisitors for social purposes, especially at elderly properties, are discouraged; Medically-related visitors and caregivers may continue to visit residentsPest control services will be conducted on the exterior of buildings and common areasPest control services will temporarily be suspended in residents unitsAccording to their website, SAHA provides housing assistance to more than 65,000 children, adults and seniors through its Public Housing, Housing Choice Voucher and Mixed-Income housing programs. The Agency also has 525 employees with an annual operating budget of $186 million.
Alazn-Apache Residents Accuse Housing Authority of Wrongful Fees, Eviction Campaign
More than two dozen Alazn-Apache Courts residents and advocates attended the Citys Housing Commission meeting on Wednesday to condemn what they say is harassment by the San Antonio Housing Authority and to ask for an investigation into residents complaints. The association, founded in 2017, has been working to help Alazn-Apache Courts residents with their complaints about management at the public housing complex. Three Alazn-Apache Courts residents said Wednesday that they are facing or have faced unjustified fees and fines, as well as targeted eviction campaigns. The data speaks not for itself, it corroborates what the residents are asking and demanding.Francisco Perez was recently evicted from Alazn-Apache Courts. She also said she has witnessed inappropriate treatment of residents by SAHA Alazn-Apache officials and their attempts to intimidate tenants.
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