DEPARTMENT: Neighborhood and Housing Services
DEPARTMENT HEAD: Verónica R. Soto, AICP, Neighborhood and Housing Services Department Director
COUNCIL DISTRICTS IMPACTED: City wide
SUBJECT: Proposal for the Establishment of a Renter’s Commission
SUMMARY:
Discussion of the establishment of a Renter’s Commission as requested by Councilmember Treviño, District 1.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
A Council Consideration Request (CCR) was sponsored by Councilmember Treviño on June 19, 2019 requesting a discussion of the creation of a Renters’ Commission.
ISSUE:
On June 11, 2019 Councilmember Treviño submitted a Council Consideration Request (CCR) for a discussion of the establishment of a Renters’ Commission. If established, the Commission would be comprised solely of residential renters from different backgrounds to advise the City Council on matters related to affordable housing accessibility, transportation, green and other public spaces, land use, renter laws/rights, public health and safety, education, economic growth, and life in San Antonio.
The CCR noted the following from the 2012-2016 American Community Survey:
1. Renters occupy approximately 46% of the housing units in San Antonio.
2. The median rent for San Antonio has increased by nearly 18% since 2010.
3. The median household income for renters is $33,690 compared to $63,719 for owners.
4. Nearly 50% of renters in San Antonio spend more than 30% of their gross income on rent.
The Housing Commission (HC) was reconstituted in January 2019 to oversee implementation of San Antonio’s Housing Policy Framework. The HC’s charge does not focus specifically on either renters or homeowners, but rather the varied housing needs of San Antonio as a whole. However, over the past six months, the HC has been involved in a wide variety of issues including the Risk Mitigation Fund used primarily to assist renters at risk of displacement and concerns related to San Antonio Housing Authority evictions.
NHSD and the HC are currently working on the development of an implementation plan that will identify the roles and responsibilities of each of our housing partners to include the City, San Antonio Housing Trust, San Antonio Housing Authority, Housing Commission, and other partners. It will also include needs and opportunities that are not being addressed and recommend the appropriate entity for action.
ALTERNATIVES:
This item is for briefing purposes only.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no fiscal impact associated with this request at this time.
RECOMMENDATION:
A renter’s commission will be addressed during the implementation plan development and staff will return to the appropriate City Council Committee with the implementation plan and recommendations for the renter’s commission in summer 2020.