Over 600 San Antonio residential notices to vacate have shaken up the local housing authority, Opportunity Home. Tenants deemed delinquent for a year or more received these startling notifications, with amounts due ranging wildly from $1 to over $10,000. In a recent board meeting disrupted by protesters decrying what they termed a "mass eviction," Opportunity Home board members themselves expressed shock at the developments, as reported by the San Antonio Report.
During the meeting, Opportunity Home board chair Gabriel Lopez was quoted saying, “We were operating under the impression that we were dealing with high-dollar delinquencies,” Lopez's remarks reflect the surprise board members felt to find individuals who owed minimal amounts being served alongside those with significant debts. This incident marks the first large-scale issuance of such notices since the eviction moratorium was lifted, signaling a stark change in the aftermath of pandemic leniencies.
In response, the board now demands that eviction efforts focus primarily on households owing upwards of $3,000. This pivot is to help reinstitute rent collection amidst rising deficits, but without losing sight of their guiding principle – to keep residents housed. The board endeavors to strike a balance, acknowledging a long queue for housing while still adhering to their purpose of early intervention and financial assistance to their tenants. However, Brandee Perez, chief real estate and development officer for Opportunity Home, emphasized that a notice to vacate initiates a legal process and should not be immediately equated with eviction.
Residents like Nicole Hammer, however, feel the sting of such notices viscerally. She told the San Antonio Report, “I was kind of shocked about that. … I started crying in front of her.” President and CEO of Opportunity Home Ed Hinojosa, Jr. assures that his staff had proactively reached out to tenants with overdue balances to guide them through the repayment process.
Housing advocate Kayla Miranda insists that despite supposed improvements under Hinojosa's tenure, more can be done to help residents clearly understand their situation and potential solutions. Miranda advocates for a pause on all notices to vacate to clarify the situation and offer personalized consults to affected tenants. With over 113,000 families waiting to secure a place to call home, the pressure to resolve these issues equitably while maintaining operational integrity remains a significant challenge for Opportunity Home and the City of San Antonio.
