Hardship Grants San Antonio: Real Local Help With Rent, Utilities, and Food

What “hardship grant” means in San Antonio

People search for hardship grants when they need money fast, often after a job loss, a medical bill, or a car breakdown. It helps to know how help is actually set up in Bexar County so you can go to the right place first.

• Help is paid to the bill, not to you. The city, county, and charities pay your landlord, CPS Energy, or SAWS directly.
• Most help is tied to a specific need. Rent, electricity, water, and food each have their own program.
• Funding comes and goes. Some programs open on set days or close when money runs out, so timing matters.
• It does not have to be repaid. These are not loans.

If you need cash for something that does not fit these programs, such as a car repair, start with 211 and the charities below. Statewide programs, such as One-Time TANF below, are run through Texas Health and Human Services.

Hardship grants San Antonio residents can use, by need

City of San Antonio rental assistance

The city’s Neighborhood and Housing Services Department runs the Rental Assistance Program. It is the biggest source of rent help in San Antonio for renters who are behind.

What it covers

The program can pay up to three consecutive months of rent and utilities, counting past, current, and future months. The caps are $3,500 for rent and $1,500 for utilities, and a household can get help once in a 12-month period. Payments go to the property manager and utility provider. If you have a housing voucher, it covers only your share of the rent.

Who qualifies

• You live inside San Antonio city limits (Council Districts 1 to 10) and have a current lease.
• You had a financial hardship in the past 12 months, such as job loss, reduced hours, large medical bills, or an unexpected car repair.
• Your gross income for the last 60 days is at or below 80% of area median income. For 2026 the city lists $56,350 for one person, $64,400 for two, $72,450 for three, and $80,500 for four.
• You can upload an active notice to vacate or a court eviction citation.
• Your landlord agrees to take part. If the landlord declines, the application is denied.

How and when to apply

The online portal opens on the second Wednesday of each month from 1 to 2 p.m. The city noted that in November 2026 the portal would be closed on Wednesday, November 11 and open instead on Thursday, November 12, from 1 to 2 p.m. Applications do not carry over, so you must apply again the next month if you miss out. After you apply, the city says you will get two calls and an email, and you have 48 hours to respond. Questions go to 210-207-6459, or call 311.

Not covered: RV parks, single-room rentals, and back rent at a place you no longer live. If you are facing eviction, also contact TexasLawHelp.org for free legal information; Texas changed eviction procedures for suits filed on or after January 1, 2026. Our guide to low-income apartments in San Antonio covers Opportunity Home and other longer-term housing.

Help with CPS Energy bills

San Antonio has several layers of help for electric and gas bills. All of them show up as credits on your CPS Energy account.

City of San Antonio utility assistance

The city’s Department of Human Services offers utility assistance for households at or below 150% of the federal poverty guidelines: $23,940 a year for one person, $32,460 for two, $40,980 for three, and $49,500 for four. Priority goes to households with children under 17, people with disabilities, and adults 60 or older. You apply online and need proof of income from the last 30 days, a current CPS Energy bill with your account number, a photo ID, and the four-digit PIN on your CPS account. The city says processing takes 30 days or more. Call 210-207-8198, Monday to Friday, 7:45 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Bexar County and REAP

Bexar County runs its own utility assistance with the same 150% income limit; call 210-335-3666. The county has changed its online application days during 2026, so call to confirm when it is open. Both the city and county also take applications for REAP, a fund shared with CPS Energy that pays toward past-due bills. We explain REAP, the county program, and CPS payment arrangements in our Bexar County electric bill assistance guide.

CPS Energy Affordability Discount

The Affordability Discount Program takes $13.48 a month off electric service and $4.88 off gas, or $18.36 a month combined. You qualify with income at or below 150% of poverty (under $1,995 a month for one person) plus one of these: age 60 or older, a disability, life-sustaining medical equipment, children 18 or younger, or energy costs above 10% of income. You recertify every year. Apply online, at a customer service center, or by calling 210-353-2222.

SAWS water bill help

San Antonio Water System’s Uplift program helps residential customers with their water bills. To qualify you must be the account holder, live in a home valued at $300,000 or less, and have yearly household income at or below the SAWS limit: $19,950 for one person, $27,050 for two, $34,150 for three, and $41,250 for four. SAWS does not list a set discount amount; it depends on your household. Apply by logging in to your SAWS My Account and clicking the Uplift button, or call 210-233-CARE (2273).

If you are behind, ask SAWS about a payment arrangement at the same time. SAWS also accepts customer donations for neighbors in need, so ask whether any extra help is available for your account.

One-Time TANF for families in crisis

Texas Health and Human Services offers One-Time TANF for families with children 18 or younger who face a crisis such as a job loss, losing a home, or a medical emergency and have little money. It pays for basic needs like food, housing, and utilities, and a family can get it only once a year. Apply at YourTexasBenefits.com or with help from the food bank’s benefits team. The state page does not list the payment amount, so ask when you apply.

Charities and faith groups in San Antonio

Charity help in San Antonio has changed in recent years. Here is what the main groups say they offer now.

Salvation Army San Antonio

The Salvation Army’s San Antonio social services page says it stopped civilian rent, utility, and deposit assistance on July 1, 2022, along with hotel and gas vouchers. It still offers emergency food (bring a valid ID), sack lunches on weekdays from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., rapid rehousing for people who are already homeless (by referral through Coordinated Entry or 211), and rent, mortgage, and utility help for veterans. The Social Services Center is at 910 N. Flores; call 210-352-2020 for an appointment.

Catholic Charities of San Antonio

Catholic Charities, Archdiocese of San Antonio runs a Veteran and Family Relief Program that gives case management plus rent and utility help to veterans and their families of any discharge status except dishonorable. Bring a DD214 or VA ID, photo IDs, proof of the last 30 days of income, your lease and eviction notice, or a disconnection notice. For other emergency help, call the main line at 210-222-1294 or the Guadalupe Community Center at 210-226-6178.

SAMMinistries

SAMMinistries helps people who are homeless or at risk of losing housing, including rent and utility help to prevent homelessness. Requests go through an online form on its Get Help page, which opens when slots are available and shows as closed when they are full. You can also call 210-340-0302. If you are already without housing, call 211 or the City of San Antonio homeless hotline at 210-207-1799.

211 Texas

Dial 211 or visit 211 Texas to hear which church funds, community centers, and one-time programs have money this month. 211 is free and run with the Texas Health and Human Services Commission.

Free food while you wait

Bill help can take weeks. Food help is usually faster. The San Antonio Food Bank supplies pantries across 29 South and West Texas counties, and its benefits team helps people apply for SNAP, WIC, and Medicaid at 210-431-8326. Read our San Antonio Food Bank guide for how to find a pantry and what to bring. Money you save on groceries can go toward rent or a utility bill.

Papers to gather before you apply

San Antonio programs ask for similar papers. Having them ready can cut days off your wait:

• Photo ID for every adult, and for city rent help, ID for everyone in the home.
• Proof of income for the last 30 days (60 days for city rent help), plus award letters for Social Security, SSI, or unemployment.
• Your current lease and any notice to vacate or eviction citation.
• Your latest CPS Energy or SAWS bill, the account number, and your CPS account PIN.
• Proof of the hardship, such as a layoff letter, medical bill, or repair estimate.

Our document checklist has a fuller list for other programs.

Avoiding fake grant offers

Real San Antonio programs never charge to apply and never ask for gift cards. Be careful with calls, texts, or social media posts that promise a “San Antonio hardship grant” in exchange for a fee, your bank login, or your Social Security number before you have seen an official site. Apply only through sa.gov, cpsenergy.com, saws.org, the county, YourTexasBenefits.com, or the charity’s own site or office.

Step by step this week

1. Name the bill. Rent, CPS Energy, SAWS, or food each have their own program.
2. Check your income against the 80% AMI (rent) or 150% poverty (utilities) limits above.
3. Gather papers: IDs, 30 to 60 days of income, lease, notices, and your latest bills.
4. Apply on the right day: the city rent portal opens the second Wednesday of the month, 1 to 2 p.m.
5. Call CPS Energy and SAWS to ask for a payment arrangement and enroll in their discounts.
6. Dial 211 for charity funds, and get food from a pantry while you wait.

Related guides

• 211 Texas financial assistance
• Eviction assistance in Texas
• Texas utility assistance
• Catholic Charities emergency assistance

Frequently asked questions

This guide is general information. Each program sets its own rules, dates, and funding. National Relief Program is an independent website and is not affiliated with the City of San Antonio, Bexar County, CPS Energy, SAWS, any charity, or any government agency.