San Antonio City Council recently approved the Source of Income Protections Ordinance for Veterans. SABOR helped advocate for key protection on behalf of local housing providers and property owners including veterans. Our members work every day with veterans and their families, and we are proud to play a role in helping them find a place to call home.
Through conversations with City Council members and stakeholder engagement, the final ordinance was significantly improved from the original proposal and now better protects most small housing providers in our market.
Key changes include an exemption for smaller property owners. The ordinance now applies only to housing providers with more than four units. A “unit” includes a single-family home, duplex, triplex or quadplex.
This was a major priority for SABOR, as discussions with leasing and property management members indicated that approximately 90–95% of their property owners do not own more than four units. Many of these owners are “mom-and-pop” landlords, including veterans and active-duty military members stationed elsewhere who rent out their homes while serving.
The ordinance prohibits housing providers with more than four units from denying otherwise qualified veterans solely because they use federal housing assistance programs such as HUD-VASH vouchers. It also reduced enforcement penalties from the original proposal. Rather than a $500 fine for a first violation, the adopted enforcement structure now includes:
- First violation: Written warning
- Second violation: Mandatory training
- Third violation: $500 fine
Additionally, City Council agreed to revisit the ordinance in six months to evaluate if it is working as intended and determine whether further adjustments are needed.
While concerns remain regarding long-term implementation, the amendments secured through advocacy efforts resulted in a much more balanced ordinance and protected most small housing providers in San Antonio. At the end of the day, we all share the same goal: ensuring veterans have access to housing in our community.
This outcome serves as an important reminder of why REALTOR® involvement matters and why support of TREPAC remains critical. Advocacy efforts like these help ensure the real estate industry has a voice in decisions that directly impact housing providers, property owners, and the communities they serve. For additional coverage on the ordinance and the discussions leading up to passage, visit:
