From Opportunity Home San Antonio's press release:
The United States Congress approved two Community Project Funding (CPF) requests submitted by Opportunity Home San Antonio as part of its final Fiscal Year 2024 budget, which will help preserve the income-based housing stock in San Antonio.
The organization received $850,000, secured by Congressman Joaquin Castro, for the Critical Needs Infrastructure for Affordable/Workforce Housing Communities. Opportunity Home also received $850,000, secured by Congressman Greg Casar’s office, for the Alazán Expansion project.
“We are deeply appreciative of the federal funding made possible by Congressmen Castro and Casar,” said Opportunity Home President and CEO Ed Hinjosa, Jr. “With the profound income-based housing shortage in the city and across the nation, these funds provide critical support in preserving housing for some of our communities in need of it the most.”
Castro’s Critical Needs Infrastructure for Affordable/Workforce Housing Communities funding is for maintenance, renovations and critical repairs, identified through conducting a physical needs assessment, at Towering Oaks Apartments and Courtland Heights Apartments. Both properties are owned by Opportunities Home.
In March, Castro announced that his office secured $10.6 million through the Fiscal Year 2024 federal appropriations process to support thirteen community projects, including affordable housing. The funding is included in HR 4366, the Consolidated Appropriations Act.
“For decades, Opportunity Home San Antonio has built and maintained affordable housing for tens of thousands of San Antonians,” said Castro. “Every year, it’s a privilege for me to secure well-deserved federal funding for organizations across San Antonio to continue their great work, and I was glad to work with Opportunity Home to get $850,000 to go towards improvements at two of their housing properties that will preserve the affordable housing stock in our city. Access to stable housing ensures that our community can participate in and contribute to a growing economy, and this funding will help more families be able to pursue their goals and dreams.”
Casar’s office secured a total of $15 million through the Fiscal Year 2024 federal appropriations process to support 14 community projects, including affordable housing on the West Side of San Antonio.
The $850,000 federal grant secured by Casar will be used for the rehabilitation of the Alazán-Apache Courts as part of Opportunity Home’s Alazán Expansion project. Alazán-Apache Courts is the oldest public housing community in San Antonio. These funds will ensure Opportunity Home can continue serving the families on the West Side of San Antonio. The project will help to revitalize the neighborhood with new affordable housing and investment and contribute to economic development, and will serve families that are primarily 0-15% of area median income, offering the deepest affordability.
“Congress must help with rising rents and costs in San Antonio, which is why we are bringing dollars to rehabilitate Alazán-Apache Courts. Alazán-Apache Courts was the first public housing ever built in San Antonio, and one of the first public housing projects in the U.S.,” said Congressman Casar (D-Texas). “Opportunity Home San Antonio has helped San Antonians with housing assistance for decades. With this $850,000 investment toward Alazán-Apache Courts, we will make sure working families can still afford to live on the West Side in good housing with community services.”