The City of San Antonio proudly partners with Texas RioGrande Legal Aid (TRLA) to offer legal aid services to households with low incomes who are experiencing eviction or other housing issues that threaten their housing status.

If you have received a notice to appear in Court or have a judgement against you, please contact the Right to Counsel (RTC) program immediately.

Apply for the City of San Antonio’s Right to Counsel Program:

• Free Legal Aid for those experiencing housing issues who income qualify.
• Attorney services are available on request for those in need, call 210-212-3703.
• Complete the Pre-Screen Intake Form here and email it to [email protected].

The Housing Assistance Program (HAP)* provides financial assistance to renters experiencing emergency hardships from COVID-19 and to keep families in their homes.

To help with emergency housing needs, HAP has two components: rental assistance and relocation assistance for qualified households facing housing instability.

This program, based on federal and state Housing Stability Services guidelines, is designed to provide relocation assistance to low-income households impacted by financial hardship and housing instability.

Assistance can cover: 

• Security Deposit
• Application and Administrative Fees (for an approved dwelling)
• Moving Cost Assistance (3 moving quote/invoice submissions are required)
• Temporary Lodging (up to two weeks allowed with a confirmed move-in date at the new leased dwelling)
• Landlord Incentive Payment - Risk Fees (non-refundable fee to the property owner with a confirmed lease term of at least 6 months)
• Pet Fee (excludes monthly pet rent charges, must not exceed $500 per pet or $1,000 for all pets)
• Utility Security Deposit (CPS and SAWS only)
• Assistance with applicable move-in charges will be paid directly to the property owner, utility company, and other vendors on behalf of the applicant.
• Assistance per eligible household will be up to $3,000 maximum for relocation-related expenses per 12-month period (moving expenses, deposits, and fees). Rent is not an allowable expense.

To qualify, applicants must:

• Be the primary leaseholder in a multifamily unit or single-family home, and the address must be within the city limits of San Antonio (living in City Council Districts 1-10)
• Must not have received previous relocation-related assistance from the Housing Assistance Program in the last 12 months
• Assistance per eligible household will be up to $3,000 for relocation-related expenses per 12-month period. Households with older adults (Age 62 or older) or individuals with disabilities are eligible to receive an additional $500
• Households must be experiencing homelessness or be at risk of experiencing homelessness or housing instability AND one or more members of the household must attest in writing that they have either:
  • Qualified for unemployment benefits, OR
  • Due to or during the pandemic:
    • Experienced a reduction in income,
    • Incurred significant costs, or
    • Experienced other financial hardship,
• AND one or more individuals within the household must attest that:
  • They are at risk of experiencing homelessness or housing instability, which may include a past-due utility or rent notice or an eviction notice, OR
  • Unless the household receives rental assistance, they would have to move to an unsafe/unhealthy environment like a shared living situation or emergency shelter
• Must have a household income at or below 80% of the Area Median Income (AMI)
  (show below)

The final decision on this assistance will be made after the Neighborhood and Housing Services Department verifies the tenant meets all eligibility requirements.

A new signed binding lease is required before payment can be made to various vendors.

Click here to apply.

If you are facing an eviction and want to speak with someone, click here or call or email the Neighborhood & Housing Services Division's Eviction Help Desk.

Click here to learn more about the eviction process and to obtain additional resources.

The goal of the Fair Housing/ Housing Counseling Program is to help residents maintain housing stability, which is key to family well-being. The program is a Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)-approved housing counseling agency.

The Fair Housing Program provides the following services to rental tenants, homeowners and landlords:

• Tenant and landlord mediation
• Default counseling to homeowners
• Housing Discrimination Complaints
• Referrals and community outreach
• Rent Assistance
• Mortgage Assistance
• Utility Assistance

Limited resources available. Call for information. Re-apply frequently.

The Neighborhood & Housing Services Department (NHSD) offers homebuying assistance with to eligible City uniformed firefighter and police employees

• Homes located inside the boundaries of the City of San Antonio, but outside the Community Revitalization Action Group (CRAG) area will receive a flat loan amount of $20,000.

• Homes located inside the boundaries of the City of San Antonio, and inside the CRAG area will receive a flat loan amount of $40,000.

Click here for more information.

To apply, visit NHSD at 1400 S Flores St or call 210-207-6459.

This program is only available to City of San Antonio uniform police and fire employees.

• For Prospective Homeowners

HIP 80 lends between $1,000 and $30,000 as a 0% interest / no payments second loan. It can be used for the down payment required by your lender and some of the additional costs associated with purchasing a home.

• 100% of the loan between $1,000 - $15,000 will be forgiven over a 5-year period
• 100% of the loan between $15,001 - $30,000 will be forgiven over a 10-year period 

Home Purchase Price Limits:

• Existing Home: $263,000
• New Construction: $278,000 

Household Income Limits: 

• Updated by the Department of Housing & Urban Development. Combined household income needs to be below income limits

Only homes located within the city limits of San Antonio are eligible for this program. Click here and enter an address to see if it is within San Antonio city limits.

• For Homeowners

HIP 120 lends between $1,000 and $15,000 as a 0% interest / no payments second loan. It can be used for the down-payment required by your lender and some of the additional costs associated with purchasing a home.

• 25% of the loan will be perpetual.
• 75% of the loan will be forgiven over a 10-year period.

Home Purchase Price Limits: 

• Existing Home: $283,200
• New Construction: $301,200

Household Income Limits:

Updated by the Department of Housing & Urban Development. Combined household income needs to be below income limits.

Only homes located within the city limits of San Antonio are eligible for this program. Click here and enter an address to see if it is within San Antonio city limits.

• For Homeowners

This program provides counseling to consumers on seeking, financing, maintaining, renting, or owning a home. The program also addresses homelessness through counseling and assists homeowners in need of foreclosure assistance.

The Housing Counseling Assistance Program enables anyone who wants to (or already does) rent or own housing-whether through a HUD program, a Veterans Affairs program, other Federal programs, a State or local program, or the regular private market-to get the counseling they need to make their rent or mortgage payments and to be a responsible tenant or owner in other ways.

The counseling is provided by HUD-approved housing counseling agencies.

• Grantees. Only HUD-approved housing counseling agencies and State Housing Finance Agencies are eligible to apply for Housing Counseling grants. To become HUD-approved, an agency must contact the HUD Office of Housing Counseling to confer about the agency's eligibility and submit an application for approval. Grantees must file quarterly invoices, mid-term performance reports, and a final report. The HUD Office of Housing Counseling reviews the performance of each agency to evaluate whether the agency can keep its HUD approved status.
• Customers. Individuals, families, or groups who are tenants, homeowners, homeless, or homebuyers, may receive counseling from HUD-approved and HUD funded housing counseling agencies.
• Activities. Eligible housing counseling activities can include: rental, default, homeownership, homeless and reverse mortgage counseling for senior homeowners.

The Owner-Occupied Rehabilitation Program assists qualified homeowners with low to moderate income to rehabilitate their properties by providing deferred forgivable loans to cover the cost of the needed repairs. These repairs focus on health and safety, accessibility, and major system concerns.

Click here for eligibility requirements and terms.

Applications are accepted in the fall after the City Council has approved the program budget.

Application Checklist: 

• Complete application (signed & dated)
• Proof of Property Insurance (not required to apply but is a requirement if selected)
• Texas Driver’s License/ID for all occupants over 18 (expired TXDL/ID’s not accepted)
• Government issued Social Security card for all homeowners
• Student ID for occupants attending college
• 3 months of the most recent paystubs for applicant and occupants in household
• Self-employed: provide copy of Income Tax Return for past two years (2017-2018)
• Social Security Award letter and/or SSI for 2019, Retirement Benefits, Child Support, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), documentation provided must be current
• 6 months of current bank statements, checking and savings accounts, for all occupants
• 2 months of current CPS and SAWS bills in the name of the homeowner
• Current mortgage or home equity loan statement (payments must be up to date)
• Marriage License, Divorce Decree, Death Certificate, Probated Will, or Affidavit of Heirship may be required, if related to title.
•  

The City of San Antonio’s Green and Healthy Homes (SAGHH) provides assistance to homeowners and landlords of residential properties (both single-family and multi-family ) in creating healthy, safe, energy-efficient and sustainable homes for families and children.

The SAGHH is working to prevent and correct housing-related health and safety hazards, such as addressing lead-based paint, household asthma triggers and fire hazards

Click here for more information.

Eligible requirements:

• The house must have been built prior to 1978; and
• House must be located within one of the City of San Antonio's 10 City Council Districts; and
• A child age 5 or under must reside in the home or spend at least 6 hours per week in the home; and
• Establish sufficient ownership interest
• The household must meet HUD-established Income Guidelines for families earning 80% or below of Area Median Income.

These documents must be included with your application:

• Proof of Identity - Current Picture I.D. (Texas Driver's License or Texas Department of Public Safety I.D.) and social security card(s) for all members of the household
• Proof of Income
• If employed, copies of pay stubs for the last three months for all employed household members.
• If you receive social security or disability benefits, copy of all award letters dated for the current year from Social Security (i.e. SSI, Survivor Benefits, Disability, etc.) and/ or retirement checks (Social Security, Civil Service, Pension, etc.).
• Copy of child(ren)'s lead test results for children between 1 and 5 years old (if available)
• 3 months of bank statements for all accounts (if applicable)
• For rental properties, please provide copy of lease or proof of rent.

Click here to apply.

U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Certified housing counselors are trained to resolve disputes between residential tenants and landlords - free of charge.

Counselors can assist with the following:

• code violations
• evictions
• lease disputes
• occupancy standards
• provide clarification on legal rights and obligations
• repairs
• security deposits
• utilities billing and termination
• other related issues

The Certified Housing Counselors are not attorneys and do not provide legal advice.

Free

The Under 1 Roof Program assists homeowner with replacement of worn and damaged shingles with new, energy-efficient white shingle roofs and solar underlayment proven to improve energy efficiency. Roof shingle replacement is limited to the primary house on the property. Roofing on detached structures will not be replaced (no detached garages, car ports, sheds, etc.).

The program provides a one-time grant and the City of San Antonio will place a restrictive covenant on the property requiring homeowners to maintain ownership and occupancy for five years after project completion.

Homes larger than 1,700 sq. ft. are subject to approval based on cost assessment and needs of the home. Metal roofs, gravel roofs, clay tiles and wood shingles are cost prohibitive and will be subject to review of current condition and costs to determine eligibility.

If insured, homeowner must not have received insurance payout for full roof replacement claims in the last five years. Claim documentation must be submitted. Neighborhood & Housing Services (NHSD) staff will review insurance claim history from the last five years to confirm eligibility.

Program eligibility requirements include but are not limited to:

• The property must be within San Antonio city limits (Districts 1-10)
• Must have a current year Homestead Exemption on the property
• Property taxes must be current (or must have proof of payment plan or deferral)
• Be a US citizen or Legal Resident
• The property must be solely owned and occupied (all owner(s) must reside there)
• Gross income must not exceed 80% of the Area Median Income (AMI)

The Home Rehab Application is available online for the Under 1 Roof and Green and Healthy Homes Programs. If selected for assistance, staff will review the application and determine the program for assistance based on home needs and current conditions.

Application Checklist:

• Completed & Signed Application
• Copy of Property Insurance declaration page if currently insured
• Current Picture ID or Driver’s License for all homeowners
• 3 Months Worth of current paystubs for all occupants in household (must be current and consecutive)
  • Only if self-employed: Copy of most recent Income Tax Return
• Current Award Letter from Social Security, Retirement Benefits, or Child Support
• Current Award Letter for any state or federal assistance program.
  • Provide documentation from the supportive agency stating the current amount being received or awarded for all occupants. (SNAP, TANF, Medicaid, Etc.)
• Return form to 1400 S. Flores St. San Antonio, TX 78204.