FY 2022-2023 ANNUAL REPORT
We promise to stand with our families and be there for them as they work to achieve and maintain a place they can call home.
BOARD CHAIR + CEO MESSAGE
Fiscal year 2022-2023 marked a monumental shift in our organization’s culture as we rebranded ourselves as Opportunity Home San Antonio, officially launching the rebrand in August 2022.
The rebranding signified a transformation from a bureaucratic agency to an organization dedicated to compassion and equity. To solidify our new organizational ethos, we selected Dr. Jeneise Briggs as the organization’s first Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Director. Dr. Briggs wasted no time in administering our values, forming the Justice, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Group, which consists of employees from throughout Opportunity Home, to develop and instill solutions that advance equity across the organization.
Our employees got behind our new ethos, participating in trauma-informed care training sessions that aided them in assisting residents who may be enduring challenging times and looking to thrive in their communities.
We also made a commitment to developing quality and vibrant communities throughout San Antonio, with 100 Labor, Snowden, Vista at Silver Oaks and Potranco Apartments, serving as examples of the communities currently under development.
In future years, we will continue to create and modify innovative solutions that will give our families ample opportunities to excel in their communities and enjoy a healthy quality of life.
We promise to stand with our families and be there for them as they work to achieve and maintain a place they can call home.
Sincerely,
Gabriel L. Lopez and Ed Hinojosa, Jr.
Board of Commissioners
Gilbert Casillas
Gabriel Lopez
Dalia Flores Contreras
Estrellita Garcia-Diaz
Leilah Powell
Janet Garcia
Executive Leadership Team
• Ed Hinojosa, Jr. | President and CEO
• Diana Kollodziej Fiedler | Chief Financial Officer
• Richard Milk | Policy Officer
• Brandee Perez | Chief Real Estate and Development Officer
• Michael Reyes | Public Affairs Officer
• Muriel Rhoder | Chief Administrative Officer
Senior Team
• Jo Ana Alvarado | Director of Innovative Technology
• George Ayala | Director of Procurement
• Dr. Jeneise Briggs | Director of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion
• Kristen Carreon | Director of Operations Support
• Miranda Castro | Director of Asset Management
• Melissa Garza | Director of Beacon Communities
• Domingo Ibarra | Director of Security
• Aiyana Longoria | Director of Human Resources
• Hector Martinez | Director of Construction Services and Sustainability
• Stephanie Rodriguez | Director of Assisted Housing Programs
• Allison Schlegel | Director of Internal Audit
• Joel Tabar | Director of Resident Services
INTRODUCTION TO REPORT
The years 2022-2023 represent the strides we made in serving our families with compassion while ensuring equitable outcomes with housing opportunities. From a rebranding launched in August 2022, to grand openings, new developments, national awards, and newly forged partnerships, our mission was strengthened and continues into the current fiscal year.
HOUSING FAMILIES
Opportunity Home San Antonio is the largest affordable housing organization in the State of Texas, and one of 39 Moving to Work designees in the United States. Our organization is the stepping stone for many families who are working to become self-sufficient and ultimately achieve their dreams of homeownership, and we believe they can.
Total residents served
Residents served through Public Housing
Residents served through HCV programs
Total residents served aged 61 & older
Total residents served between 18-60 years old
Total residents served between 0-17 years old
41,007
12,993
28,015 5,134 17,429
18,444
STATS
In Fiscal Year 2022–2023, Opportunity Home provided 5,499 families with Public Housing assistance and administered 11,135 Housing Choice Vouchers (HCV). Of these, approximately 1,104 vouchers are designated to assist the homeless, homeless college students, children aging out of foster care and others in need.
And for the first time, Opportunity Home was awarded approximately 284 Emergency Housing Vouchers in 2021 to help individuals and families who endured or were on the brink of homelessness, were fleeing or attempting to flee domestic or dating violence, sexual assault, stalking or human trafficking.
12,993 Public Housing residents received housing assistance
6,186
4,910
1,897
5,499 12,421 564 280 240 284 13,789
VOUCHER BREAKDOWN
Homeless Services Voucher (HSV) | 470
This program provides rental assistance to homeless individuals through a collaborative referral from the Haven for Hope Center.
Set-Aside Homeless Voucher (SHVP) | 200
This program provides rental assistance to homeless individuals through a collaborative referral from the Center for Health Care Services (CHCS) and San Antonio Metropolitan Ministries (SAMM).
Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing (VASH) | 564
The Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing (VASH) program for homeless veterans combines HCV rental assistance with case management and clinical services provided by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).
Mainstream Program | 280
Mainstream program vouchers enable income-eligible disabled families to lease affordable private housing.
Next Step Housing (THRU Project) | 10
A pilot program to assist former foster youths for up to one year if they are attending school or working through a partnership with the THRU Project team.
Move On | 40
Tenant-based vouchers to support a Permanent Supportive Housing (PSH) provider currently partnered with Opportunity Home in their mission.
Family Homeless Program | 20
A modified Project-Base Voucher (PBV) at Opportunity Home properties committed to support Close to Home San Antonio.
College & University Homeless Assistance Program | 50
A rental assistance program to help homeless college students attain stable housing.
Close to Home Housing Vouchers | 100
Opportunity Home allocated 100 tenant-based vouchers specifically for those experiencing homelessness or housing instability, inability to safely isolate or quarantine, or experiencing other housing issues due to the pandemic.
CREATING AFFORDABLE HOUSING
Housing affordability continues to be a critical need in the City of San Antonio. Opportunity Home is at the forefront of developing and constructing new affordable housing communities. Each development is an opportunity to bring affordability to the city to serve the most vulnerable.
Developments completed from July 1, 2022 – June 30, 2023
■ 1604 Lofts
■ Copernicus (SEVEN07 Lofts)
■ Culebra Crossing (Vesta)
■ Mira Vista Apartments
■ The Aspire at Tampico
■ Trader Flats (The Scott)
■ Vista at Interpark
■ Watson Road (Frontera Crossing Apartments)
Developments Under Construction from July 1, 2022 – June 30, 2023
■ 100 Labor
■ Bristol at Somerset
■ Horizon Pointe
■ Josephine
■ Palo Alto
■ Potranco
■ Snowden
■ Vista at Everest
■ Vista at Silver Oaks
■ Westside Reinvestment Initiative (WRI)
Developments in Predevelopment July 1, 2022 – June 30, 2023
■ Alazan Courts Expansion
■ Fiesta Trails
■ Lincoln Heights
■ Springview
■ Victoria Commons
■ Vista at Reed
STATS
■ 10 development projects were under construction from July 1, 2022 – June 30, 2023
■ 2,215 new multi-family units and 9 single-family homes were added to the market from July 1, 2022 – June 30, 2023.
■ 1604 Lofts - 324 Units
■ Copernicus (SEVEN07 Lofts) - 318 Units
■ Culebra Crossing (Vesta) - 325 Units
■ Mira Vista Apartments - 312 Units
RESIDENT RESOURCES + INITIATIVES
■ The Aspire at Tampico - 200 Units
■ Trader Flats (The Scott) - 324 Units
■ Vista at Interpark - 64 Units
■ Watson Road (Frontera Crossing Apartments)348 Units
■ Westside Reinvestment Initiative (WRI)
■ 9 homes - construction begins (in the Villa De Fortuna Subdivision)
Resident Engagement, formerly the Community Development Initiatives (CDI) department, empowers and equips Opportunity Home residents to improve their quality of life and achieve economic stability by providing self-sufficiency service coordination, supportive services and resident engagement activities. Resident Engagement manages and administers the Education Investment Foundation, Inc., Opportunity Home’s 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, committed to assisting Opportunity Home residents through activities that promote individual self-improvement and family self-sufficiency.
List of Services
Resident Outreach
Service Coordination
Administer HUD-Funded Programs:
■ The Family Self-Sufficiency Program
■ Resident Opportunities and Self-Sufficiency (ROSS) Grant Program
■ Elderly & Disabled Services (EDS) Program
■ Jobs Plus at Lincoln Heights Grant Program
■ Tax Credit Supportive Services
■ Choice Endowment Trust
■ ConnectHomeSA Digital Inclusion Program
■ Opportunity Home Fundraising and Nonprofit Management
■ Opportunity Home Grant Management
■ Opportunity Home Volunteer Program
■ Resident Engagement Services
■ Resident Council Training and Coordination
■ Community-Building Events and Additional Resident Activities
Family Self-Sufficiency Program
“ Growing up in a singlemom household with limited education, I faced many challenges. However, through hard work and determination, I was able to pursue my dream of becoming a registered nurse.
”
Michelle Ochoa HCV FSS Participant
Michelle Ochoa can attest to the difficulties of being a mother, student, and housing resident. A mother of three and a soon-to-be graduate of the UT Health Science Center of San Antonio, Ms. Ochoa has stopped at nothing to accomplish her dreams of becoming a nurse.
The Housing Choice Voucher resident will begin her last semester of nursing school in August and will graduate with her BA in Nursing in December 2023. Ochoa credits the Family Self-Sufficiency (FSS) Program for part of her success, noting that the continued support and encouragement she has received have helped her stay motivated to continue her path to success.
During her time with the FSS program, Ochoa has received the honor of being a two-time Community Service Leader Scholar, participated
as a volunteer with UTHCSA Pediatric In-Service Volunteer Organization for Training, and has been awarded a clinical distinction for having more than 180 hours of outside nursing clinical hours. Ochoa has also been a recipient of an Opportunity Home Scholarship and a recipient of the Joshua Longoria "Passion for Life" Scholarship.
The FSS Program commits numerous resources to empower residents to achieve their educational goals. We watch residents succeed and accomplish what they thought would be impossible. We watch dreams become reality by eliminating financial barriers and connecting residents to the resources they need.
Structuring a goal and making me accountable for hitting certain benchmarks with the FSS program was a huge wakeup call because I would've never really had the self-discipline to do that for myself.
Ann Marie Hessbrook FSS Participant En Route to Graduating with Master's
Ann Marie Hessbrook tears up when she talks about the confidence the Family Self-Sufficiency (FSS) Program has given her to achieve her goals. The Woodhills Apartments resident is on track to graduate with her master's in accounting from The University of Texas at San Antonio by May 2022. Ann Marie's long-term goal is to launch her own accounting firm.
There have been times where the San Antonio native said she didn't believe she could pass certain accounting courses and exams, but her resident service coordinator, Barbara Daniels, held her accountable.
"Structuring a goal and making me accountable for hitting certain benchmarks with the FSS program was a huge wakeup call because I would've never really had the self-discipline
to do that for myself," Ann Marie, the mother of one, said. "The FSS program helped me by establishing goals to achieve. It also helped me reinforce accountability because it made me personally responsible for my own success in the program."
Ann Marie aims to be an inspiration to her daughter, Kristina Elizabeth, who she refers to as "Bug" for her love of being outdoors and her "rambunctious" personality.
"She drives me to do everything that I do on a day-to-day because she doesn't take excuses for anything," Anne Marie said. "I don't want to be a reason for her to not achieve her own goals."
SCHOLARSHIPS
We commit numerous resources to empower residents to achieve their educational goals. We watch residents succeed and accomplish what they thought would be impossible. By eliminating financial barriers and connecting residents to the resources they need, we watch dreams become reality.
26 residents were awarded scholarships totaling $39,000
10 Joshua Longoria “Passion For Life” Memorial Scholarships were awarded totaling $5,000
36 youths received REACH Awards totaling $13,000
Education-based Resources
At Opportunity Home San Antonio, we commit numerous resources to empower residents to achieve their educational goals. Learn more about our education-based resources.
With the unwavering support of the Joshua Longoria Passion for Life Memorial Scholarship, I am resolute in pursuing this transformative journey, contributing to a world where nursing becomes a catalyst for igniting a profound passion for life.”
Ciara Williams, Nursing Student Galen College of Nursing
SUCCESS
School supplies distributed
4,453 children received school supplies
ConnectHomeSA (CHSA)
■ 16 events
■ Workshops/Classes
■ CHSA Workshop - Making Flyers Online
■ CHSA Workshop - Understanding Google Drive
■ CHSA Jobs Plus Cohort June
■ CHSA Class Preview/Intro For Jobs Plus - June
■ CHSA Jobs Plus February Cohort
■ CHSA Sun Park Class
■ CHSA Self-Paced Portal Class
■ 64 residents graduated
■ 137 devices distributed (laptops, monitors, desktops)
Outreach
■ CHSA ACP Senior Registration Wheatley
■ CHSA Table Father's Day Event - Central Office
■ CHSA Wheatley Senior Living
■ CHSA Sun Park ACP Info Session
■ CHSA Info Session - Alazan Resident Council
■ CHSA Lila Class Registration
■ CHSA - ACP Info and Registration Event
Special Events
■ CHSA Coding Camp
■ CHSA Digital Inclusion Week Distribution
■ CHSA Wheatley Senior Living
And when the need is great, the help is greater. We fill in the gaps and help families put food on their table or gifts under the holiday tree. We know a home is better when it is filled with what it needs. The 2022 holiday season was extra special because of the partnerships between Opportunity Home and local organizations.
Partners
■ LEAVEN KIDS at Riverside Community
■ Garcia Street Urban Farm
■ Older Adults Technology Services (OATS) From AARP at various EDS communities
■ R3 Student Outreach
■ 100 Black Men
■ MATCH Partners
■ AIT-SCM
■ Alamo Workforce
■ AVANCE
■ Each One Teach One
■ Family Service Association
■ Goodwill Industries
■ Labor On Demand: LOD
■ Resource Group
■ Maestro Entrepreneur Center
■ Project Quest
■ Providence Place
■ RBFCU
■ Restore Education
■ South Texas Leadership Center
■ Workforce Solutions
Amount of food distributed
■ 1,269 distributions
■ 11,713 units served
■ 1,296,063.31 in-kind value
Monetary donations received
$70,758.99
Holiday gifts for elderly and disabled friendly families
■ Partnerships
■ Elf Louis
■ 686 households referred
■ 1,924 children received gifts
■ 754 - Elderly and Disabled
■ 13,366 - Children
FINANCIALS
Closing Fiscal Year 2022 – 2023, Opportunity Home’s independent financial auditor issued an unmodified (clean audit) opinion.
PARTNERS
Our fellow community advocates play key roles in bringing our mission to life each and everyday. With their support, our families have access to much needed support services and activities.
Government
■ City of San Antonio
■ Bexar County Court of Commissioners
■ Texas State delegation from San Antonio
■ The U.S. Congress delegation from San Antonio
Housing
■ U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)
■ Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs (TDHCA)
Education
■ Alamo Colleges
■ BiblioTech East
■ BiblioTech West
■ ConnectHomeSA
■ City of San Antonio
■ Eastside Education and Training Center (EETC)
■ EnVision Center
■ Gary Job Corps
■ Girls, Inc. San Antonio
■ IBC Bank
■ IDEA Public Schools
■ Institute for Health Promotion Research, UT
Health San Antonio
■ JOVEN
■ KIPP
■ Maestro Entrepreneur Center
■ NEISD Adult Education
■ Northside ISD
■ Northwest Vista
■ NXT Level Youth Opportunity
■ Palo Alto College
■ Project QUEST
Resources
■ Aetna
■ Any Baby Can
■ Avance
■ Catholic Charities
■ Cano Health
■ Center for New Communities
■ Communicare
■ Community First
■ City of San Antonio
■ Dependable Staffing
■ Family Service Association
■ Family Violence Prevention Services
■ Frost Bank
■ Gonzaba Medical Group
■ Goodwill
■ Healthy Texas Womens
■ Hotel Emma
■ House of Neighborly Services
■ Humana
■ JC Food Mart
■ Junior Achievement of South Texas
■ Labor on Demand
■ MA Salud
■ Martinez St. Women's Center
■ Medico
■ MedTeam
■ Methodist Children's Home MCH family Outreach
■ Neighborhood Assistance Corporation of America
Corporate Sponsors
■ Able City
■ Alamo Architects
■ Atlantic Pacific
■ Bracewell LLP
■ Cantu Harden Montoya LLP
■ Catellus Development Corporation
■ Central Electric Enterprises & Co
■ Coats Rose, P.C.
■ CPS Energy
■ Franklin Construction Ltd.
■ Germer PLLC
■ Greene and Associates, Inc.
■ HomeSpring Residential Services
■ KCI Technologies Inc.
■ Lakeway Security, LLC
■ OCI Group
■ Premier Comfort Service Company, Inc.
■ San Antonio for Growth on the Eastside
■ Saldaña & Associates Inc.
■ The NRP Group
■ VIA Technology, LLC
NATIONAL RECOGNITION
Our innovative and outside-the-box efforts provide opportunities for the organization to obtain local, state and national recognition for projects and initiatives never before seen.
March 21, 2023
Opportunity Home San Antonio received three National Association of Housing and Redevelopment Officials (NAHRO) Awards of Excellence for the development and design of two affordable housing communities during a conference in Washington, DC. The organization received two community revitalization awards for its development of the Majestic Ranch Apartments and the Garcia Urban Street Farm stand in addition to a Project Design award for its work on Majestic Ranch.
FUTURE COMMUNITY
In our road ahead as a provider of housing assistance, Opportunity Home will continue to build on its strengths and successes by continuing to offer affordable housing, promote self-sufficiency and create new partnerships that provide opportunities for families and generations to come.
