Youth Housing Stability
At the February workshop, participants toured local developments and learned from national experts about trauma-informed design and community-driven housing models. They then collaborated in design teams, integrating youth input to create supportive housing concepts tailored to different subgroups. Key themes included: prioritizing safety and mental health, incorporating green and communal spaces, enabling youth employment and social connection, and integrating developments into neighborhoods while addressing NIMBY concerns.
The workshop underscored the need for accessible, stable housing solutions co-designed with youth input. It also highlighted the financial complexities of building deeply affordable housing, especially when federal funding increases costs. The event concluded with a call to action for continued partnerships and implementation of trauma-informed, inclusive housing practices to support San Antonio's vulnerable youth.
Report Summary: The Youth Housing Stability Workshop, held in San Antonio in February 2025 and sponsored by ULI's Homeless to Housed Initiative, convened real estate professionals, service providers, civic leaders, and youth with lived experience to tackle youth homelessness through design-focused solutions. It built on the October 2024 Youth Housing Stability Summit, which identified three critical service gaps: housing access, case management, and behavioral health services. The summit emphasized the unique needs of subpopulations such as LGBTQ+ youth, those aging out of foster care, and justice-involved individuals.
At the February workshop, participants toured local developments and learned from national experts about trauma-informed design and community-driven housing models. They then collaborated in design teams, integrating youth input to create supportive housing concepts tailored to different subgroups. Key themes included: prioritizing safety and mental health, incorporating green and communal spaces, enabling youth employment and social connection, and integrating developments into neighborhoods while addressing NIMBY concerns.
The workshop underscored the need for accessible, stable housing solutions co-designed with youth input. It also highlighted the financial complexities of building deeply affordable housing, especially when federal funding increases costs. The event concluded with a call to action for continued partnerships and implementation of trauma-informed, inclusive housing practices to support San Antonio's vulnerable youth.