San Antonio’s rental assistance is open, but only in short bursts: the City takes applications for one hour on the second Wednesday of each month, and it says not every application will be reached [1]. If you’re facing eviction, apply in that window, and at the same time ask for a free lawyer through the City’s Right to Counsel partnership with Texas RioGrande Legal Aid [2][3].
Status on November 15, 2026
- City rental assistance
- Open monthly: 2nd Wednesday, 1 to 2 p.m. [1]
- Next window (our count)
- Wednesday, Dec. 9, 2026, unless the City is closed [1]
- Income limit
- 80% of area median income [1]
- Most it pays
- $3,500 rent, $1,500 utilities, up to 3 months [1]
- Free eviction lawyers
- TRLA Right to Counsel, 956-996-8752 [2][3]
- City eviction help line
- 210-207-5910 [4]
- Always on
- 2-1-1 Texas: dial 2-1-1 or (877) 541-7905 [6]
City of San Antonio Rental Assistance Program
The City’s Neighborhood and Housing Services Department runs the program with federal funding, which it says adds a few extra steps [1].
When to apply. The online portal opens at 1 p.m. and closes at 2 p.m. on the second Wednesday of each month, except on City holidays and closures. Applications don’t carry over: if you aren’t reached, you apply again next month [1]. Applying doesn’t guarantee help [1].
Who qualifies [1]:
- Household income at or below 80% of the area median income (table below), based on gross income for the last 60 days.
- A current lease for a home inside San Antonio city limits. The City says residents outside City Council Districts 1 to 10 don’t qualify.
- A financial hardship in the past 12 months, such as a job loss, fewer hours, or an unexpected medical bill or car repair.
- You still owe rent, and you have an active notice to vacate and/or a court-ordered eviction citation.
- Your landlord agrees to accept program funds, signs a Housing Provider Agreement, provides a tenant ledger and registers as a vendor.
| Household size | Income at or below |
|---|---|
| 1 | $56,350 |
| 2 | $64,400 |
| 3 | $72,450 |
| 4 | $80,500 |
| 5 | $86,950 |
| 6 | $93,400 |
| 7 | $99,850 |
| 8 | $106,300 |
What it pays. Up to three consecutive months of rent and utility help, with a cap of $3,500 for rent and $1,500 for utilities. A household can get help once in 12 months [1].
Have these ready before the portal opens [1]: ID for everyone in the home, Social Security cards for those who have them, your lease, 60 days of income records for everyone 18 and older, your notice to vacate or eviction citation, and records for anyone with more than $5,000 in assets. Questions: 210-207-6459, or 3-1-1 [1].
Free lawyers: Right to Counsel with Texas RioGrande Legal Aid
The City partners with Texas RioGrande Legal Aid (TRLA) to give free legal help to low-income households facing eviction or other housing problems, for those who income-qualify [2].
- Call TRLA’s intake line: 956-996-8752, or email righttocounsel@trla.org [2][3].
- Already have a court date or a judgment? Ask City of San Antonio staff for a direct referral to TRLA’s Right to Counsel program [2].
- TRLA serves 68 counties in central and southwest Texas [3].
Free mediation
Before a dispute reaches court, the Bexar County Dispute Resolution Center offers free mediation to Bexar County residents, and it has agreed to work with landlords, tenants and the county’s and City’s rental assistance programs [5]. A written agreement with your landlord about a late payment is worth having in any case; the City recommends putting any such deal in writing [4].
Other places to call
The City’s eviction prevention page lists these, among others [4]:
| Who | What | Phone |
|---|---|---|
| Bexar County Community Resources | Rent or financial help | 210-335-3666 |
| Bexar County Housing Authority | Rent and utilities | 210-225-0071 |
| Christian Assistance Ministry (CAM) | Rent or financial help | 210-223-4099 |
| Salvation Army Social Services | Rent or financial help | 210-352-2020 |
| St. Vincent de Paul | Utilities, rent, medication | 210-225-7837 |
| Catholic Charities Crisis Intervention | Utilities only | 210-226-6171 |
| San Antonio AIDS Foundation | Rent for people living with HIV | 210-225-4715 |
Outside city limits. The City’s program doesn’t cover unincorporated Bexar County. In December 2025, Texas Public Radio reported that Bexar County commissioners advanced a grant of about $500,000 for a Housing Stability Program, run by Catholic Charities, for people facing eviction in unincorporated areas [7]. We couldn’t find an official county page confirming it’s taking applications, so ask 2-1-1 or Bexar County Community Resources before counting on it.
2-1-1 Texas. Dial 2-1-1 or (877) 541-7905 to ask what’s open for your ZIP code [6].
If you’re behind on rent today
- Mark the second Wednesday on your calendar and gather your documents now [1].
- Call TRLA at 956-996-8752 as soon as you get a notice to vacate or court papers [2].
- Call the City’s eviction help line, 210-207-5910, to talk it through [4].
- Ask your landlord whether they’ll accept program funds; the City can’t pay a landlord who won’t [1].
- Go to every hearing [4].
For how a Texas eviction moves from notice to trial and appeal, see BestTexas’s Texas Eviction Process 2026: Step-by-Step Timeline.
This guide is general information, not legal advice for your situation.
Sources
- City of San Antonio Neighborhood and Housing Services: Rental Assistance Program
- City of San Antonio Neighborhood and Housing Services: Legal Assistance
- Texas RioGrande Legal Aid
- City of San Antonio Neighborhood and Housing Services: Eviction Prevention
- Bexar County Justice of the Peace Courts: Civil Cases (mediation information)
- 2-1-1 Texas (Texas Health and Human Services Commission)
- Texas Public Radio: Help coming for those evicted in areas outside San Antonio (December 19, 2025), news report
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When does San Antonio take rental assistance applications?
On the second Wednesday of each month, when the City's online portal opens at 1 p.m. and closes at 2 p.m., except on City holidays and closures. Applications don't carry over, so you reapply each month if you aren't reached. By our count the next window is Wednesday, December 9, 2026.
Who qualifies for City of San Antonio rental assistance?
Households at or below 80% of the area median income ($56,350 for one person or $80,500 for four in 2026) with a current lease inside San Antonio city limits, a hardship in the past 12 months, rent still owed, and an active notice to vacate or eviction citation. The landlord must agree to take the payment.
How much rent will San Antonio pay?
Up to three consecutive months of rent and utility help, with a maximum of $3,500 for rent and $1,500 for utilities, once in a 12-month period.
Can I get a free lawyer for an eviction in San Antonio?
Possibly. The City partners with Texas RioGrande Legal Aid (TRLA) on a Right to Counsel program for low-income households facing eviction. Call TRLA's intake line at 956-996-8752 or email righttocounsel@trla.org, and if you already have a court date or judgment, ask City staff for a direct referral.