A New Chapter Beyond Housing Emergency Vouchers
When the federal Emergency Housing Voucher (EHV) program began winding down, thousands of households across the country faced an uncertain future. In San Antonio, that included 209 families served by Opportunity Home. For many, the question was simple: Would they lose the housing assistance that had helped them rebuild their lives?
Created through the American Rescue Plan Act in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the EHV program provided rental assistance to people experiencing homelessness, those at risk of homelessness, survivors of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, stalking or human trafficking, and others facing housing instability. As federal funding for the temporary program nears its conclusion, Opportunity Home has been working to transition participating families to the Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) program so they can continue receiving rental assistance without interruption.
Helping Families Stay Housed
To date, 206 families have successfully transitioned to the Housing Choice Voucher program, with three additional families expected to complete the process as they move into new homes. The outcome reflects more than a year of planning that began after Opportunity Home learned in June 2025 that federal funding for the EHV program would come to an end.
The effort required coordination with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), communication with landlords and individualized support for every family. Staff from Assisted Housing Programs, the policy team within Operations Support and the waitlist team at the Unified Application Center — under the organization’s structure at the time — worked together to prepare for the change, answer questions and guide families through each step of the process.
One Conversation at a Time
For Diana Riojas, assistant manager of Housing Voucher Services, those conversations were at the heart of the work. She was involved throughout the effort, from the early planning stages through implementation, helping families understand what the transition would mean for them.
“The biggest concern we heard was, ‘Am I going to lose my assistance? Am I going to be homeless again?’” Riojas said. “Being able to reassure families that their assistance wasn’t ending — it was simply transitioning to another program — was a huge relief.”
For Riojas, the work was also personal. Having grown up in public housing, she understood firsthand the uncertainty many families were experiencing.
“I know what it’s like to have limited resources and feel like there’s no way out,” she said. “I had a lot of help along the way, so being able to give back the help I once received makes this work even more meaningful.”
Looking Ahead
As the federal Emergency Housing Voucher program enters its final phase, 209 Opportunity Home families are on track to maintain the stable housing that has allowed them to move forward. For those families, the end of a temporary federal program marks the beginning of the next chapter — one where home remains the foundation for building the future they envision.