Council will vote on a pair of ordinances next month designed to make it easier for veterans and others to rent a place to live. Credit: Wikimedia Commons / Public Domain

San Antonio veterans soon may have an easier time getting a roof over their heads.

San Antonio’s Planning and Community Development Committee on Tuesday unanimously agreed to send two new veteran-targeted housing proposals to a full City Council vote. Both of those measures would make it easier for vets using federal housing assistance to rent homes or apartments in the city.

The first proposal, authored by the American GI Forum and championed by Mayor Gina Ortiz Jones, would prohibit San Antonio landlords from refusing to lease their properties to veterans who use vouchers to pay rent.

“I am proud to stand side by side with my brothers and sisters in arms to call for ending housing discrimination against veterans simply because they are using a housing voucher,” Jones, a former Under Secretary of the Air Force, said in a statement. “In Military City USA, we have a responsibility to help veterans. No excuses. No delays. Fort Worth passed this ordinance two years ago. Let’s pass this ordinance as soon as possible.”

At the same time, the committee also agreed to bring an old Council Consideration Request (CCR) authored last year by District 5 Councilwoman Teri Castillo to the dais.

If approved by a majority on council, that proposal would complement Jones’ ordinance by giving $500 to any landlord who leases to a tenant who uses a housing voucher.

“Every family deserves access to safe, stable, and affordable housing, and that includes our veterans, seniors, and working families who rely on housing vouchers to keep a roof over their heads,” Castillo said in a statement. “This recommendation is a meaningful step toward removing barriers that prevent voucher holders from finding housing and ensuring more landlords can confidently participate in these programs.”

San Antonio’s Neighborhood & Housing Services Department suggested funding Castillo’s initiative by allocating $500,000 from the Fiscal Year 2027 Rental Assistance Program budget toward the perks offered to landlords. Those incentives could support around 900 households, according to city staff.

Although the stipend would be available to all landlords who lease to voucher recipients, Castillo proposal stipulates that veterans should be prioritized.

Both proposals will be put to a council vote next month.

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Michael Karlis is a multimedia journalist at the San Antonio Current, whose coverage in print and on social media focuses on local and state politics. He is a graduate of American University in Washington,...