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A Message from

the Executive Vice President

The Future of Housing in San Antonio
Last month, I shared information with you on the incredible amount of work
the Mayor’s Housing Policy Task Force (MHPTF) completed and the hundreds of
hours that the members of the Task Force invested to create solutions for the severe
affordable housing problems the city of San Antonio is facing.
In reviewing the report that came out of the MHPTF, the evolving affordability
crisis is severely impacting our city’s residents. I wanted to share two paragraphs
from the introduction of this 53-page report with you this month.
“The problems are complicated by San Antonio’s high poverty rate,
Kristi Sutterfield historical racial and economic segregation and aging affordable housing
Executive Vice President stock. When combined with population growth of an additional one million
people by 2040 and declining new home production, today’s affordability
challenges are anticipated to worsen exponentially if proactive interventions
are not made.”
“Like water, energy and transportation, the MHPTF believes that housing (and housing affordability) is
a cornerstone of the economy and essential to the City’s function. Without it, the economy suffers, creates
a cycle of job loss and increased affordability gaps. As such, leveraged public-private spending to produce
nearly 18,700 units over the next 10 years needs to be made a priority at levels commensurate with other
essential infrastructure.”
The study sought to define what ‘affordable’ means and our federal government has defined ‘affordable’ by
the rule that no household should spend more than 30% of its income on housing so that there is money for food,
transportation, health care, and a higher quality of life. Sadly, this is not the case for over 50% of San Antonio’s
homeowners and renters alike.
The Task Force developed a 10-Year Funding Plan that supports the five action items that I listed in my last column.
In addition to the 10-Year Funding Plan, they have recommended that the city create an executive position in the City
Manager’s Office to lead housing and neighborhood related activities and integrate these with all city functions. In my
opinion, this is the first step in addressing the crisis our city is facing.
The report also calls for a proactive program to stabilize the homeownership rate in San Antonio by increasing
the production, preservation, and rehabilitation of affordable homes. It also cited a trend that is alarming. In 2005,
230,000 households (54% of all households in San Antonio) could not afford a median priced home and by 2016 that
number had increased to 294,000 households which is 59% of all households in our community.
We will all need to come together to be part of the solution to the housing crisis. It will take not only the city’s
dedicated leadership to increase affordable housing units but also involvement from the private, nonprofit and
philanthropic sectors.
We are all vested in the residential construction industry and I urge you to support our city as they move forward
with much needed changes in the very near future. Revising the City charter to allow bond revenue to be used for
affordable housing is only one solution to achieve balance and stabilize our aging neighborhoods.
We are all passionate about housing and the future of San Antonio. We need to be pro-active in supporting down
payment assistance grants and loans and think outside the box so that every citizen has the benefit of safe, decent
and affordable housing.
If you would like a copy of the report, please email me at KSutterfield@sabuilders.com or call the Association at
210-696-3800. Thank you for being a member of GSABA. I hope to see you at the upcoming Parade of Homes
October 6th through the 14th in Miralomas!

Warm Regards,

8 OCTOBER 2018 | GREATER SAN ANTONIO BUILDERS ASSOCIATION