San Francisco-based firm to develop a strategic plan addressing homelessness in San Antonio

SAN ANTONIO (KTSA News) – City Council has agreed to hire a consultancy firm based in California to develop a comprehensive strategic plan dealing with homelessness in San Antonio.

The city will pay Homebase/The Center for Common Concerns nearly $129,000 to come up with a plan of action by April.

Councilman Clayton Perry believes the city’s Department of Human Services can do a better job than a firm based in San Francisco.

“They don’t know San Antonio,” said Perry. “They might have a broad perspective on issues with homelessness, but they don’t know San Antonio.”

That being said, Perry voted with his colleagues to approve the contract. The Northeast Side councilman says his constituents complain about the homeless setting up camps in the area and starting fires in wooded areas.

Homebase is expected to complete the report and present it to the city council in April.

“We believe that they have the experience in the trenches where homelessness has gotten completely out of control to help us to identify the things that we can do to prevent that from happening,” said Melody Woosley, director of the city’s DHS.