San Antonio's public housing waitlist has seen an exponential increase amidst an $18 million financial deficit as Opportunity Home San Antonio grapples with a troubling mix of mismanagement and reduced housing provisions. The public housing and voucher households count has taken a dip below pre-pandemic levels even though federal funds are being utilized to plug operational budget holes—a strategy deemed unsustainable by the now-acting President and CEO Michael Reyes. According to the San Antonio Report, the dire situation led to the termination of former head Ed Hinojosa Jr. earlier this month.
As reported, with that backdrop, the termination of Hinojosa on June 12 was anything but surprising, claiming it was months in the making. "It took several months for the board ... to become aware of the mismanagement. We have not just a fiduciary responsibility, but we have a moral responsibility to do what’s right for the viability and the sustainability of this organization," expressed board Chair Gabriel Lopez when speaking with the San Antonio Report. Hinojosa, who declined to comment, found himself out of the leadership role abruptly after a board decision that arrived without prior warning to him. Reyes, faced with the task of course correction, is actively seeking sustainable financial practices to ensure the future of public housing in the city.
Despite the pressure of an inflated waitlist—now at 113,000 people, up from 35,000—Opportunity Home housed fewer families this year, serving under 15,900 households with public housing and vouchers. "We need to make sure this organization is financially solvent," Lopez told the San Antonio Report, emphasizing the importance of addressing the waitlist and delivering services to the many families in need.
Tackling the issue head-on, Reyes plans to scrutinize each of the agency's nearly 100 properties for budget fixes and improved services. Struggling with public housing's operational costs spiking to $928 per unit this year, when the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development subsidies amount to $440 per unit, Reyes is keen on establishing a transparent budget process that avoids easy but unsustainable remedies, according to a resident's discussion acknowledged by the San Antonio Report. Reyes also has his sights set on alternative sources of funding, including state funds, and is exploring the use of the Rental Assistance Demonstration program to address the agency's financial woes.
Moreover, Opportunity Home's efforts to collect past-due rent added to the turmoil, as a botched initiative to issue notices to vacate backfired. The indiscriminate approach led to public outcry and its eventual retraction by Reyes, signaling a commitment to refining repayment policies and prioritizing residents' well-being. Amidst this challenging landscape, Reyes, who shares personal ties to the public housing experience, vows to maintain compassion while also safeguarding the organization's fiscal health, echoing his predecessor's intent as characterized in a San Antonio Report interview.
