Rising Housing Costs Are Driving Homelessness in Bexar County
A new Point‑in‑Time (PIT) count conducted by the nonprofit Close to Home found that 3,625 people experienced homelessness in Bexar County. Nearly 69% were sheltered, while 31% were living unsheltered on the streets.
That includes heartbreaking dynamics: 1 in 5 children in the county live in poverty, many first-time homelessness cases are tied to expired savings or landlord policies, and almost half lack health insurance.
🏚️ Why San Antonio’s Housing Crisis Is Deepening
Rising housing prices are outpacing stagnant wage growth. Terri Behling of Haven for Hope observed that many families fall into crisis without emergency savings or landlord flexibility.
Local policies also play a role: there were over 24,000 eviction filings in 2023, with 14,434 resulting in actual evictions—damaging tenant records and making it harder to secure housing afterward.
🧒 Some Numbers Behind the Faces
The 446 unsheltered individuals counted included:
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132 people aged 35–44 (largest age group)
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A majority identifying as Hispanic/Latino
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Individuals who identify as Black or African representing 17.8% of that group, more than double their county population share
Among these individuals:
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13% had been in foster care, and 41% lacked stable housing afterward
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Nearly 30% were survivors of domestic or sexual violence, including 23 actively fleeing abuse.
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Many faced health and social barriers: 51% reported mental health conditions, 35% had physical disabilities, 220 acknowledged substance use, and about 2% were living with HIV/AIDS.
💡 Identifying the Gap in Resources
Surveys revealed the most critical unmet needs:
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49% lacked access to proper identification documents
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40% needed emergency shelter
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36% needed supportive housing or vouchers
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30% needed employment assistance
For first-time homeless individuals, ID recovery and shelter top the list.
Close to Home and partners emphasize: “Homelessness is solvable—we must scale proven solutions and connect them to long-term housing.”
🏘️ What Local Advocates Are Saying
Close to Home’s Katie Wilson highlighted that although chronic homelessness and veteran homelessness numbers have declined, there's a sharp rise in first-time homelessness due to shifting economic pressures.
Haven for Hope is implementing a "bed-for-all" initiative—ensuring every person in need has a shelter bed and access to case management, a shift proven to improve outcomes.
| Metric | Snapshot Data | |
|---|---|---|
| People experiencing homelessness | 3,625 (Point-in-Time count) | |
| Sheltered vs. Unsheltered | 69% sheltered / 31% unsheltered | |
| Children in poverty | 1 in 5 | |
| Largest age group | 35–44 years (132 individuals) | |
| Race/Ethnicity | Hispanic/Latino majority; Blacks overrepresented | |
| Key causes & conditions | Mental/physical health issues, DV, substance use | |
| Leading needs | ID recovery, shelter, housing support, job access |
🧭 Why This Matters to San Antonio's Future
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Homelessness is no longer limited to chronically unhoused individuals—many are first-time cases due to eviction or sudden economic strain.
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Rising living costs and low housing supply are pushing more families over the edge.
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Without proactive programs—like eviction prevention, ID replacement clinics, and affordable housing investment—homelessness will persist and may worsen.
📬 Brought to you by CallTheCavalryGroup.com — your trusted source for San Antonio real estate, housing insights, and neighborhood trends.
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