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The SARAH StoryIn 2015, the South Alamo Regional Alliance for the Homeless (SARAH) was designated as the Continuum of Care (CoC) lead agency for San Antonio and Bexar County. As the region's CoC, SARAH secures and distributes funding for direct service providers in the housing and homeless community and provides guidance to improve policies and programs. SARAH is responsible for collaborating with, listening to, and collecting data from the housing and homeless community to ensure everyone has a place to call home.
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Our Mission
We exist to ensure everyone has a place to call home in San Antonio and Bexar County.
Our Values
We are Empowering Partners.
We see the potential in people, lead with trust, embrace differences, and elevate strengths.
We are Relentless Learners.
We strive to be subject matter experts and recognize setbacks as opportunities for growth.
We are Resourceful Problem Solvers.
We embrace optimism, innovation, and excellence as we face adversity and tackle problems.
We are Systems Leaders.
We cultivate collaboration and nurture the health of the whole.
We see the potential in people, lead with trust, embrace differences, and elevate strengths.
We are Relentless Learners.
We strive to be subject matter experts and recognize setbacks as opportunities for growth.
We are Resourceful Problem Solvers.
We embrace optimism, innovation, and excellence as we face adversity and tackle problems.
We are Systems Leaders.
We cultivate collaboration and nurture the health of the whole.
Katie Vela
Executive Director |
Richard Huron
Director of Finance & Administration |
Chelsey Viger
Community Development Associate |
SARAH Team
Billy Mahone III
Senior Director of Strategic Planning & Partnerships |
Eboni Jett
Senior Director of System Advancement |
Dr. Amanda Hernandez
Equity Development Associate |
Virginia Woodard
Office Manager |
Jennifer Serna
Technical Assistance Specialist |
Patricia Palomo
Training & Technical Assistance Manager |
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Dacey Werba
Strategic Planning Manager |
Judith Andrade
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Joshua Yates
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Board of Directors
Leilah Powell
Board President Executive Director, LISC San Antonio |
Greg Zlotnick
Vice President Director of Pro Bono Programs, St. Mary’s University School of Law |
Phil Beckett
Treasurer CEO, Healthcare Access San Antonio |
Tyler Shoesmith
Secretary Senior Executive Director Office of Continuous Improvement at SAISD |
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Scott Ackerson
Membership Council Chair Executive Vice President at Prospera Housing Community Services |
Kameron Rhys
Youth Action Board Youth Action Board President |
Salena Santibanez
Consumer Seat CEO, GPS Consulting |
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Javier Salazar
County Sheriff Bexar County |
Edward Johnson
Deputy CEO VIA Metropolitan Transit |
William McManus
Chief of Police San Antonio Police Department |
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Nikisha Baker
Membership Council Service Director At-Large President and CEO of SAMMinistries |
La Juana Chambers Lawson
Founder & CEO Tacit Growth Strategies LLC |
Melody Woosley
Director Department of Human Services City of San Antonio |
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Dr. Jack Tsai
Campus Dean and Professor UTHealth School of Public Health Cristina Noriega
Artist CNoriega Fine Arts Inc. |
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CoC Board Meeting Minutes
SARAH CoC Governance Charter
Advisory Board
Youth Action Board
The YAB is comprised of young adults 17 to 25, the majority of whom have lived experience of homelessness. The YAB is responsible for representing the youth homeless community in San Antonio by focusing on long-term solutions to safely house all youth, centering the youth voice in policy change & program development, and advocating for improvements in the homeless response system. To learn more, click here.
Board Liaison: Kameron Rhys SARAH Staff Lead: Suyapa Muñoz |
Lived Expertise Advisory Board
The purpose of the Lived Expertise Advisory Board (LEAB) is to advise and inform the TX-500 Continuum of Care by representing the homeless community in San Antonio. The LEAB is responsible for understanding and advising on improvements for the current homeless response system for adults and families. The LEAB members aim to create a dignified and equitable homeless response system for any of our community members who are at-risk of or experiencing homelessness.
Board Liaison: Vacant SARAH Staff Lead: Dacey Werba |
Board Committees
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HMIS & Data Advisory CommitteeThe purpose of the HMIS and Data Advisory Committee is to collaboratively manage the strategic direction, implementation, and administration of the HMIS. Furthermore, this committee will oversee the CoC’s strategy to collect, analyze, and report data to HUD and to the community. This body will be charged as the initial point of communication for the HMIS Lead to the CoC Board, second only to regular strategic and operational meetings held between the HMIS Lead and Collaborative Applicant staff. This committee will operate in alignment with the priorities of the CoC Board of Directors and the community’s Homeless Strategic Plan.To learn more, click here.
Committee Chair: Phillip Beckett |
Homeless Strategic Plan Oversight Committee
The purpose of the Homeless Strategic Plan Oversight Committee is to ensure coordination across funders in executing strategic plans related to preventing and ending homelessness in San Antonio and Bexar County. This group works to ensure consistent alignment with the Strategic Plan to Respond to Homelessness with funding priorities, RFPs, policies, contracts, implementation requirements, KPIs, and monitoring as feasible.
SARAH Staff Lead: Billy Mahone
Youth Homelessness Steering CommitteeThis group’s purpose is to support system-level evaluation of the youth homeless response system. This group provides quantitative and qualitative input for the Youth Homelessness Demonstration Program (YHDP) implementation process to inform continuous quality improvement (CQI). This group focuses on the YHDP Coordinated Community Plan (CCP) and broader Youth & Young Adult (YYA) initiatives. Click here to learn more about YHDP.
Committee Chair: Tyler Shoesmith
Co-Chair: Sandra Whitley Co-Chair: Toby Darensbourg SARAH Staff Lead: Judith Andrade |
SARAH in the News
Rising housing costs out of reach for people transitioning from homelessness
August 2, 2022 Local agencies struggling to help as rent costs soar, CARES Act funding dwindles 
Report: Chronic homelessness in San Antonio up 77% from 2020
May 26, 2022 The homeless population rate in San Antonio has largely remained steady, according to the 2022 Point-in-Time... |
City of San Antonio aims to turn east-side motel into permanent supportive housing
June 15, 2022 The urgent need for additional permanent supportive housing comes during a time where chronic homelessness... 
Affordable housing advocates prioritize permanent supportive housing after voters pass historic bond
May 9, 2022 More than 600 people with longterm disabilities are on a waiting list for permanent supportive housing in San Antonio |
How COVID Has Changed Homelessness in Texas
June 1, 2022 Pandemic relief funds have provided a “once-in-a-generation opportunity” for homeless support programs... 
Why data is being collected on the homeless population in San Antonio
March 4, 2022 Coordinators say this year’s count is vital because last year the effort was canceled due to pandemic concerns |
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San Antonio aims to house 1,500 homeless people by the end of 2022
November 13, 2021 SAN ANTONIO — The City of San Antonio has joined the House America initiative as part of the ongoing… |
Employment Opportunities
*No Current Openings*
Internship Opportunities
*No Current Openings*
- Paid Holidays: SARAH currently provides Team Members with 16 paid holidays each year, including a floating holiday the month of your birthday!
- Paid Time Off (PTO): Full-time employees begin accruing PTO immediately upon hire. Accrual rates increase with years of service, and up to 160 hours can be rolled over year-to-year.
- Personal and Family Leave: SARAH allows up to 12 weeks of personal or family leave in a rolling 12-month period, including four weeks of paid leave after one year of employment.
- Flexibility: SARAH offers employees the flexibility to work in-office or from home on a day-to-day basis, with in-person meetings and on-site visits required. General SARAH Office Hours of Operation are Monday – Friday, with start times ranging from 7:00a – 9:00a depending on employee availability and preference.
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SARAH Full-Time Employee Benefits
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