Community Initiatives

The mission of the Community Initiatives Department is to provide the resources, supportive services and programs which will enhance the physical and economic well-being of our residents. We continually seek ways to enhance and enrich the lives of our senior citizens and people with special needs and partner with individuals and organizations to provide education and employment opportunities for families of modest means to become self-sufficient and improve their quality of life.

The Division also administers grants such as the Public Housing Drug Elimination Grant (PHDEP), Senior Service Coordinator, and Senior Nutrition Program. These programs enhance services to residents by increasing employment opportunities through resident-owned businesses, providing recreational programs for youth, and funding special programs that address other needed services.

One of the Authority's key initiatives is the Family Self-Sufficiency Program, which is designed to promote economic independence among low-income families residing in Public Housing. The Division staff also collaborates with locally based community/government agencies to bring such services to benefit residents of Public Housing.

Senior Services 
Family Self-Sufficiency Program 
Moving to Work Program 
Homeownership 

Senior Services (top of page)
Senior Resident Services was established in 1993 to promote quality of life, opportunities and choices to the elderly and disabled residing in subsidized senior housing. Today, 50% of our public housing developments are for Senior Citizens and our Resident Services Department provides a myriad of support services to improve the lives of residents by linking them with the resources and services they need:

Service Coordination
Help is available to seniors and the disabled through Senior Service Coordinators who advocate on behalf of our residents. Social, emotional, physical and nutritional needs of residents are addressed through appropriate community resources, including:
• Senior Companion Program
• The Salvation Army;
• The Center for Health Services;
• Adult Protective Services.

Transportation
Senior Resident Services provides supplemental transportation assistance to medical appointments, grocery shopping, group field trips, and other needs. Residents must reserve transportation service at least one day in advance of need.

Nutrition Program
Annually, our nutrition program serves over 40,000 meals to our seniors at selected nutrition sites and in the general vicinity of those sites. Meals are provided free of charge, although voluntary contributions are accepted.
• Blanco Apartments
• Col. George Cisneros Apartments
• College Park Apartments
• Jewett Circle Apartments
• Madonna Apartments
• Pecan Hill Apartments
• Pin Oak Apartments
• Sun Park Lane
• Sunshine Plaza Apartments
• TarryTowne Apartments
• Victoria Plaza
• Villa Tranchese Apartments
• William Sinkin Apartments

Resident Associations
SAHA believes that involving residents in their development will help them develop pride and a sense of personal investment in their community. Training programs assist Resident Association officers with basic principles and functions and officers work with staff to provide input on such items as the annual budget and upcoming proposals.

Resident Training
Training residents to fill entry level clerical position vacancies in the workforce is a program that benefits both the resident and the city of San Antonio. Residents participate in a six-week training course which involves on-the-job training and enrollment in a typing course on the campus of San Antonio College. This A potential, productive employee is the end result.

Family Self Sufficiency Program(top of page)
 The Family Self Sufficiency (FSS) program pulls together training, skill development and supportive resources to foster the self-confidence necessary to earn an income that can support the family without further public assistance. The FSS coordinators work with families to identify personal and professional goals and prepare a written 5-year plan and participation contract for achieving self-sufficiency. Each plan is tailored to the family and guides them in overcoming their personal barriers. When educational and employment goals are met, the family will be able to live without public assistance.

An escrow account is established for each contracted FSS family. The rent they pay, when the FSS contract is signed, is used as a base. As their rent increases, due to their increased employment income, the family’s escrow account is credited with these increases. After 12 consecutive months of independence the family is eligible for the funds in their escrow account. The funds can be used to further education, purchase a home or other FSS eligible expenses.

To date, over $400,000 in escrow funds has been distributed.

Moving to Work Program (top of page)
In August of 1999, The San Antonio Housing Authority, along with 13 other high performing Housing Authorities, was selected by HUD to participate in the Moving to Work Demonstration Program. In 1996 Congress mandated the Demonstration, the program has three goals which Congress will use to measure:
• Move families to work
• Increase housing choice
• Reduce the federal contribution to housing assistance
When chosen to participate SAHA established eight additional goals:
• Increase the share of residents who are working
• Increase the share of residents making progress towards self-sufficiency
• Increase homeownership among residents
• Achieve greater income mix
• Reduce the number of residents moving out of assisted housing
• Reduce and/or reallocate administrative, operating and/or maintenance cost.
• Increase rent revenues from residents.
The Housing Authorities selected were given the ability to be creative in the rent structure and housing policy issues in creation of the implementation plan and program guidelines. The San Antonio Housing Authority began the Moving to Work Program April 1, 2000. The Housing Authority selected three sites to participate in the program: Lincoln Courts, Mission Park Apartments and Wheatley Courts.
For more information on this program please contact us at (210) 220-3392.

San Antonio Home Ownership Opportunities Corporation (top of page)
Through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), SAHA received $48.2 million from a HOPE VI Urban Revitalization Demonstration to carry out a comprehensive revitalization of Mirasol Home on the city’s west side. An additional $48.2 million has also been allocated for the revitalization of Springview and other east side locations.
Under the federally funded HOPE VI grant, qualified families can now purchase a home through SAHA’s Public Housing Homeownership Lease Purchase Program. The major benefit of this program is that it gives participants the option to lease their home for up to five years, with a portion of the lease payment set-aside for down payment assistance.
SAHA partners with HUD approved credit counseling agencies, local mortgage financial companies and others to assist potential home buyers in realizing their dream by addressing and resolving such issues as credit-worthiness, etc. SAHA also provides training seminars to enable the resident to successfully make the transition to home ownership.
The three, four, or five-bedroom, 2- or 2-1/2 bath homes are located on the city’s west side, at Palm Lake (NW 34th St), the villas at Fortuna, Blue Ridge (W. Poplar and NW 27th) and the Sunflower subdivision (S. San Joaquin and S. San Ignacio). Prices range from $77,000 to $98,000. Amenities include central air/heat, carpeting, ceiling fans, motion-sensor lighting in front and back yards, modern appliances and garbage disposals.
The homes at Spring View, are part of a mixed income community, and are expected to be ready for occupancy by Summer of 2003.