San Antonio Council Approves Up to $638,370 for Diversion Center Pilot

The San Antonio City Council approved up to $638,370 in funding for the City’s first-ever Diversion Center pilot program on September 10, 2026. The initiative is intended to coordinate services among the City, Bexar County and surrounding area partners.

The pilot is also described as the first step toward establishing a full Diversion Center, with a focus on a continuum of care and aftercare support. District 5 Councilmember Teri Castillo has supported the effort as part of a policy aimed at ending the criminalization of homelessness and substance use.

Castillo introduced a Council Consideration request last October to convene a City-County Ad Hoc Committee for a Diversion & Recovery Center. She said the pilot is intended to create a systemic approach to homelessness and recidivism, while noting that additional work remains to build a centralized program in San Antonio.

As proposed, the pilot would launch in January 2027 at the Center for Healthcare Services (CHCS) Josephine Recovery Center. The 15-bed facility would accept referrals from the Central and St. Mary’s SAPD Substations.

The program would focus on diverting people facing non-violent, low-level offenses, such as criminal trespassing, away from the criminal justice system and into treatment. The proposed pilot would operate for six months.

The Southwest Texas Regional Advisory Council (STRAC) would serve as the main convenor of the pilot. The funding approval represents the first major step toward the proposed diversion program, which would connect participating agencies and service providers through a centralized approach.