SAN ANTONIO, Texas — The City of San Antonio has partnered with Corazon Ministries to initiate a pilot program for collecting sharps, which includes placing drug needle disposal kiosks in the downtown area. The city is currently second in Texas for the number of individuals experiencing homelessness, following Dallas.
This new pilot initiative was shared in a press release on Wednesday by District 1 City Councilor Dr. Sukh Kaur. San Antonio’s latest effort in harm reduction comes as its homeless population surpasses those of Houston and Austin. Notably, many in this growing homeless demographic face challenges with drug addiction and mental health concerns.
During a visit to the kiosk locations near several parks common among the homeless, it was observed that individuals were gathered outside Corazon Ministries seeking services like hot meals and health assistance, mere blocks from the newly installed kiosks.
The demand for services provided by Corazon Ministries and similar nonprofits has surged in recent years, a trend that shows no signs of slowing down.
According to the September 2025 Point in Time (PIT) study, the total number of homeless individuals in San Antonio, including those in shelters and those without, rose by 7.5 percent from 2024 to 2025, and by 6.9 percent from 2023 to 2024. The 2020 PIT assessment estimated around 3,000 homeless individuals. Projections indicate that this number could climb to about 3,625 by 2025, marking a 23 percent increase since 2020.
This harm reduction pilot program is part of broader efforts by various nonprofits, including Corazon Ministries and the Bexar Regional Harm Reduction Coalition. This coalition runs the only legal syringe exchange program in Texas, which was approved by the state Legislature in 2007 as a pilot initiative confined to Bexar County.
Unfortunately, federal funding previously available through grants for harm reduction efforts, including syringe exchange programs, has been cut. This change is due to a July executive order signed by President Trump that prohibits federal funds for initiatives labeled as “harm reduction” or “safe consumption.”
The order specifies that the Secretary of Health and Human Services must ensure that “discretionary grants issued by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration for the prevention, treatment, and recovery of drug use and disorders fund evidence-based programs and not those that do not yield adequate results, like ‘harm reduction’ or ‘safe consumption’ programs, which merely encourage illegal drug use and its associated harms.”
Randy Clark, a seasoned professional with 32 years in the U.S. Border Patrol, previously served as Division Chief of Law Enforcement Operations, overseeing nine Border Patrol stations in the Del Rio, Texas area. Follow him at @RandyClarkBBTX.
