Volunteers at Close to Home count the number of unhoused people in Bexar County on Jan. 23. Credit: Stephanie Koithan

San Antonio advocacy nonprofit Close to Home this week won a $22 million federal grant to help combat homelessness in Bexar County.

The 2024 Continuum of Care grant provided by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development will go to support services for unhoused individuals. The grant amounts to a 25% increase from compensation HUD provided the group in 2023, officials said.

“This funding is a significant investment in our community, made possible by the collaboration of local leaders, service providers and advocates working to tackle homelessness,” Close to Home Director of Communications Development Katie Hubble said in a statement.

Specifically, the money will fund programs promoting rapid rehousing, permanent supportive housing and transitional housing for unhoused individuals. Close to Home also will use the grant to help pay for projects for youth, young adults and veterans experiencing homelessness as well as those escaping domestic abuse.

“While this support helps address growing needs and rising rents, additional resources are essential moving forward,” Hubble said. “As [American Rescue Plan] funds wind down in 2025, it is crucial to continue seeking funding to strengthen the support networks helping individuals and families break the cycle of homelessness.”

San Antonio had the second-highest number of unhoused individuals among cities in Texas, according to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s 2024 Point-in-Time count.

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This article appears in Jan 22 – Feb 4, 2025.

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,...