City of San Antonio, TX

02/02/2023 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 02/02/2023 15:56

$36.4 million in COVID-19 relief funds will support youth, older adults, enhance mental health care and bolster local nonprofits

Published on February 02, 2023

$36.4 million in COVID-19 relief funds will support youth, older adults, enhance mental health care and bolster local nonprofits

SAN ANTONIO (February 2, 2023) - Today, City Council approved $36.4 Million in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) State & Local Fiscal Recovery Funds to assist San Antonio residents and nonprofit organizations recover from the negative impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.

"San Antonio's nonprofit community provides a host of essential services to our city and is crucial to bringing resources to aid our vulnerable residents as they still recover from the aftermath of the pandemic," said Mayor Ron Nirenberg, "We are committed to working with our partners in the community to ensure the safety and social support of our residents struggling with the financial, social, educational, workforce, and mental and behavioral health impacts from COVID-19."

The City is partnering with 59 nonprofit agencies to support our community to assist seniors, youth and families.

"The impact we will see in our community from this ARPA funding will help counter deep systemic and historic inequities in community services and mental health care," said City Manager Erik Walsh. "By leveraging funds from the American Rescue Plan Act, the City is investing in programs that enhance, expand and strengthen safety nets for residents, strengthen education and workforce programming, and improve behavioral and mental health services."

On February 3, 2022, the City Council approved a spending framework for the use of ARPA funds, based on extensive input from the community.

From this framework, the City developed implementation plans with policy direction from City Council Committees and input from the community and stakeholder groups with $36.4 million allocated from these funds for a competitive solicitation process.

Today's action approved $36.4 million in responsive programming that addresses the COVID-19 impacts and programs and strategies identified in these plans.

Older Adults:

  • Social Isolation: Funds will provide transportation, non-center based programming and connection to volunteer and workforce training opportunities
  • Food Insecurity: Funds will provide neighborhood-based access to food, navigation services to coordinate access for homebound older adults, public benefits enrollment and direct financial assistance
  • Increased Responsibility on Caregivers: Funds will provide caregiver connection to resources, education and training, as well as respite care

Youth Services:

  • Lack of Education & Career Opportunities: Funds will focus on services for youth transitioning out of or at-risk of gang involvement through gang prevention and intervention programs, education and workforce case management, pre-apprenticeship and work experiences for justice-involved youth and support to address barriers to successful employment
  • Lack of Higher Education, Workforce Training and Support Services: Funds will focus on services for youth aging out of foster care through enhanced supportive services, mentor and job readiness programs and paid internship opportunities
  • Decreased Higher Education, Workforce Training & Housing Stability for Opportunity & Homeless Youth: Funds will provide education and workforce readiness programs, supportive services to improve education and workforce outcomes and incentives for participation, retention and completion of education and workforce training programs
  • STEM, STEAM & Enrichment Activities: Funds will increase access to low and no-cost after school and summer programs, develop career exploration and digital badging activities, implement improvements to existing programs and provide transportation to programs and services.

Mental Health:

  • Increased social isolation, anxiety, depression and suicide - youth: Funds will increase access to mental health care for school-aged children and youth ages 12 - 19 years old. Funds will also provide increased access for children diagnosed with developmental disorders and provide coordination with local schools
  • Increased social isolation, anxiety, depression and suicide - older adults: Funds will ensure older adults have increased awareness of existing programs and access to services. Funds will also improve older adults' quality of life and quality of care provided by caregivers.
  • Mental health and substance abuse - people experiencing homelessness: Funds will improve access to mental health, substance use and housing resources and will increase access to services for youth aging out of the foster care system

Nonprofits

  • Decreased Economic Security: Funds will provide resource navigation, benefits enrollment, direct financial assistance and connection to workforce training and employment opportunities
  • Financial Hardship & Infrastructure Needs: Funds will improve organizational resiliency, provide capital investments and build capacity