July 23, 2021

Congressman Castro Announces $2 Million to Repair San Antonio Homes

Community Project for the City of San Antonio’s Equity-based Home Repair & Rental Preservation Program Included in Annual House Appropriations Spending Bill

WASHINGTON — Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20) announced $2 million for the City of San Antonio’s Equity-based Home Repair & Rental Preservation Program, which will assist 50 San Antonio low-income families in bringing aging homes and rental units up to code. Congressman Castro submitted this project on behalf of the City of San Antonio to the House Appropriation Committee for federal funding. It is now included in the House Appropriations Transportation, and Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies funding bill.

“This federal funding will help humble and hardworking families in San Antonio with updating and rehabilitating their homes,” said Congressman Joaquin Castro. “By bringing these homes up to code, we are enhancing the quality of life for families that otherwise may not have had the financial means to do so. I designated this community project for federal funding to ensure that San Antonio’s most underserved neighborhoods are not overlooked. I’m glad to see this housing program included in the Congressional spending bill, which is expected to pass the House next week, and I appreciate Mayor Nirenberg’s leadership on this issue in San Antonio.”

“The funding included for this program will be used to address the historical inequities that some neighborhoods in our city experienced due to underinvestment dating back decades,” said Mayor Ron Nirenberg. “Using an equity framework, this program will use data to supplement our existing rehabilitation programs, targeting homeowners who have contributed much to our community but haven’t been able to access the tools needed to preserve their homes.  Our request was made in alignment with our Housing Policy Framework which recognizes housing as essential infrastructure and recognizes our historical racial and economic segregation and aging affordable housing stock.”

Background:

The Equity-based Home Repair & Rental Preservation Program will rehabilitate a mixture of single-family homes for families earning up to 120% Area Median Income (AMI) and small-scale rental units serving families up to 60% AMI. The program will include minimum rehabilitation design standards to bring aging housing stock up to code, upgrading all systems. This program is expected to serve approximately 50 low-income families.  

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