Challenges remain as Bexar County addresses homelessness
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More people in Bexar County have moved off the streets and into housing in recent years, but progress in addressing homelessness remains slow.
Why it matters: Rising housing costs and limited affordable housing options are significant factors in homelessness in the San Antonio area, per this year's point-in-time count report.
The latest: Close to Home, a nonprofit that provides funding and data to address homelessness in Bexar County, released the annual report last week.
How it works: The count is a snapshot of how many people are experiencing homelessness, sheltered and unsheltered, on a given night.
- It is required by the federal government and helps determine how much federal funding local agencies receive to address homelessness.
- Some say point-in-time counts may underestimate the true number of people experiencing homelessness.
Yes, but: This year's count was conducted in late January during extreme winter weather. As a result, Close to Home changed how it counted people, and says this year's report can't be directly compared to last year's count of people without shelter.
- The organization counted people staying in emergency winter weather shelters, instead of people who are unsheltered and living on the streets.
State of play: This year's report focuses on multiyear trends going back to 2022.
Zoom in: The data suggests some people could be getting the help they need. The number of people returning to homelessness decreased 18% from 2022 to 2025.
- Meanwhile, the number of people who moved from being unsheltered on the streets to living in permanent housing increased 11%.
Flashback: Towne Twin Village, a first-of-its-kind housing development offering on-site support for people who have experienced chronic homelessness, opened on the East Side in 2023.
Reality check: More people in Bexar County are seeking homeless services than the area has the capacity to serve, per the report.
- Requests for homelessness assistance increased about 4.5% from 2022 to 2025. At the same time, the number of people staying in emergency shelters declined nearly 8%.
Zoom out: Domestic violence and chronic health conditions also continue to put people at risk of becoming homeless.
- The number of people experiencing homelessness who also reported domestic violence increased more than 13% from 2022 to 2025, from 643 people to 729.
What they're saying: "We know more about what is driving homelessness, where the gaps in our system exist, and which strategies are helping people return to stable housing," Katie Wilson, Close to Home CEO, said in a statement.
- "Our next step is making sure we align our resources and our community around one plan to accelerate that progress."