But the law allows cities to make narrow exceptions when it comes to city-funded properties, as well as for veterans seeking to use either a\u00a0VA Supportive Housing (VASH)\u00a0<\/a>or Housing Choice Voucher (known as Section 8) within city limits.<\/p>\n On Thursday, the City Council unanimously approved a plan to pursue the latter, requiring landlords<\/a> who own five or more properties to accept such applicants \u2014 even if that landlord wasn\u2019t previously in the vouchers pool \u2014 or face escalating punishments<\/a> if they don\u2019t.<\/p>\n The vote came after an emotional, hours-long discussion in which many veterans urged the council to pursue a solution they said places only a minimal burden on property owners, when compared to what veterans give up in service to their country. <\/p>\n Many said they had first-hand experience of struggling to find housing, or had a friend or relative who did. <\/p>\n Some said they had even previously lived on the street.<\/p>\n \u201cThere are not enough landlords who accept vouchers of any type. Opportunity Home oversees over 13,000 vouchers, and yet, there are only a little over 2,000 landlords that accept them \u2014 many who are known slum lords,\u201d said a formerly homeless veteran who identified herself as Molly, but did not give her last name, during public comment. \u201cI know the state doesn\u2019t allow a source of income discrimination for all vouchers, but it does for veterans. So with love, true love, why wouldn\u2019t we honorably desire to protect all veterans?\u201d<\/p>\n At the same time, numerous property managers and landlords in attendance sought to explain a business model they said actually relies on small margins \u2014 and could cost them their properties if late payments put them behind on their mortgage.<\/p>\n \u201cOne of the problems with the program is delay of payment, which takes 30 to 60 days after inspection is completed,\u201d said Karen Fisher, a former Air Force nurse who went on to own and manage single-family rental homes. <\/p>\n \u201cIf I hold the slot for a voucher, I am now in default of my mortgage and put in financial hardship,\u201d Fisher said. \u201cMandating this ordinance for small business owners like me is not feasible.\u201d<\/p>\n The council voted 11-0 in favor of the ordinance, after voting down Mayor Gina Ortiz Jones\u2019 attempt to broaden it out to all landlords and assess the fine more quickly.<\/p>\n Fort Worth approved a similar<\/a> ordinance in 2024, and a previous San Antonio City Council\u00a0considered doing the same<\/a>\u00a0in 2024.<\/p>\n In both cases, the American GI Forum was a driving force behind the policies, in hopes of demonstrating success at the city level will help pave the way for a statewide policy change later down the line.<\/p>\n \u201cA city solution \u2026 we can have it right now \u2026 versus going through legislation where it takes almost 100 days going through the process, and then sometimes, it falls back,\u201d said Pete Bernal, commander of the American GI Forum of Bexar County. \u201cThat\u2019s the whole reason why we started here, and then we can move it up to the state level and the national level.\u201d<\/p>\n The ability to relocate<\/p>\n In a city that is home to more than 90,000 veterans, San Antonio city leaders estimate roughly 2,000 of them receive either a\u00a0VASH or Housing Choice Voucher \u2014 nearly all are of whom are currently placed in housing.<\/p>\n But proponents of the new ordinance<\/a> say they\u2019ll now be able to more easily find housing close to VA clinics, which are concentrated on the North Side<\/a>, or relocate from the limited housing options currently available to voucher holders.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat the stats don\u2019t show is where veterans would prefer to live if given the option,\u201d said Jones, an Air Force veteran who revived the ordinance<\/a> after it stalled under a previous council. \u201cThey don\u2019t show the number of veterans that are many, many miles away from the VA clinic that they would prefer to live closer to, if there was an opportunity to do so.\u201d<\/p>\n Council was largely sympathetic to that idea, but not ready to make overnight voucher recipients out of all of San Antonio\u2019s smaller landlords.<\/p>\n The original proposal Jones submitted would have applied to all rental units and created a $500 fine if they were found out of compliance.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/CityCouncilMeeting_ProjectMarvelUpdate_VeteranHousingVouchers_18_05.07.2026_AmberEsparza.jpg\")
San Antonio Mayor Gina Ortiz Jones addresses the council during a meeting on Thursday. Credit: Amber Esparza \/ San Antonio Report<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/CityCouncil_PlanningCommunityDevelopmentCommittee_VeteranHousingVouchers_03_04.28.2026_AmberEsparza..jpeg\")
Veterans and veteran-focused group members speak to the council about housing for veterans during a Planning and Community Development Committee meeting on April 29, 2026. Credit: Amber Esparza \/ San Antonio Report<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/CityCouncilMeeting_ProjectMarvelUpdate_VeteranHousingVouchers_04_05.07.2026_AmberEsparza.jpg\")
Diana Flores Uriegas holds a sign in support of housing vouchers for veterans at a city council meeting on Thursday. Credit: Amber Esparza \/ San Antonio Report<\/p>\n