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Recovery resources in San Antonio: housing, food, jobs, IDs and legal help

In San Antonio, most of the help people in early recovery need beyond treatment is free or low-cost and starts with a phone call. Chartered Oxford Houses offer sober housing. The San Antonio Food Bank helps with food and with SNAP, Medicaid and TANF applications (210-431-8326). Workforce Solutions Alamo helps with jobs and training (210-224-4357). Texas RioGrande Legal Aid gives free legal help to people who qualify. CentroMed, CommuniCare and University Health's CareLink charge by income. And the Center for Health Care Services (CHCS) runs Bexar County's OSAR (210-261-3076), which screens you for state-funded treatment. Below is who to call for what, who qualifies, and what to bring.

Updated October 27, 2026. We checked each organization and phone number on its own website or a state or federal agency's. General information, not medical, legal or insurance advice.

If you need help now: call 911 in an emergency. In a mental health or substance use crisis, call or text 988, any time. In Bexar County, the CHCS 24-hour crisis and substance use line is 210-223-7233. If you or someone you live with could overdose, keep naloxone in the house: see free Narcan in Texas.

Who to call for what

You needStart hereContact
Treatment you can't pay forThe CHCS OSAR: a free screening and a referral to state-funded care210-261-3076
A sober place to liveChartered Oxford Houses: sober living homes in San Antonio on Find CareEach listing has the house's phone
Food, or help applying for SNAPSan Antonio Food Bank: Client Services and its benefits team210-431-8326
A job or trainingWorkforce Solutions Alamo career centers210-224-4357
A Texas IDYour birth certificate and Social Security card first, then Texas DPSSteps below
Legal help, or a record sealedTexas RioGrande Legal Aid956-996-8752
A doctor without insuranceA community health center; University Health's CareLinkFind a Health Center; 210-358-3350
CounselingOur guide to free and low-cost therapy in San AntonioCHCS, health centers and university clinics
Help in a crisis988; the CHCS crisis line988; 210-223-7233

Free screening and state-funded treatment (OSAR)

Texas pays for drug and alcohol treatment for people who can't afford it. The way in is an OSAR (Outreach, Screening, Assessment and Referral) program: it screens you for free and refers you to state-funded detox, outpatient or residential care. HHSC says the only requirement for an OSAR is living in Texas; whether the state helps pay for the treatment itself depends on your income, expenses and other resources, and some people pay part of the cost.

HHSC's OSAR list names the Center for Health Care Services (CHCS), Bexar County's local mental health authority, as the OSAR for Bexar County and the counties around it in HHSC's Region 8, such as Atascosa, Bandera, Comal, Guadalupe and Medina. Call 210-261-3076, or the 24-hour line, 210-223-7233. A counselor works out what care you need, from outpatient counseling to detox or a residential program, and helps you get a spot. CHCS's own adult outpatient substance use treatment and crisis services are listed in its program directory.

Detox and sobering. CHCS's Restoration Center, 601 N. Frio St., has crisis care, a sobering unit and detox (help getting through withdrawal safely). Its line is 210-225-5481.

Not sure which OSAR covers you? Call 2-1-1 (877-541-7905) and ask for the OSAR for your county. Who qualifies, who gets in first and what it costs are in our guide to free and state-funded rehab in Texas.

Sober housing

A sober living home (a recovery residence) is shared, alcohol- and drug-free housing with peer support. It isn't treatment, and Texas doesn't license these homes.

  • Oxford Houses. Cima Find Care lists 40 chartered Oxford Houses in San Antonio, with who each house is for, its beds and its phone number: see sober living homes in San Antonio. Openings change daily, so each listing links to Oxford House's own live list. The residents run the house and split the bills; Oxford House of Texas puts the usual cost at about $120 to $140 a week, bills paid. There's no set length of stay: you can stay as long as you stay sober, pay your share and follow the house rules.
  • Other homes set their own rules and rent. Texas accreditation is voluntary (Health and Safety Code chapter 469): ask a home for its TROHN certificate (TROHN is the Texas affiliate of the National Alliance for Recovery Residences) and check it with TROHN. Since September 1, 2025, only accredited recovery houses can receive state money.
  • Get every fee in writing, with receipts. Free rent offered if you go to a particular treatment program is a warning sign: paying or receiving anything of value for referrals to recovery homes or treatment is a federal crime (EKRA, 18 U.S.C. 220), and Texas's Patient Solicitation Act bans it too. You choose your own treatment.
  • Living in a sober home helps you get an ID. A group home or halfway house can give you a notarized letter confirming your address, which Texas DPS accepts in place of two proofs of residency (see IDs).

How to choose a home, what to ask about medication and drug testing, and your rights under fair housing law: sober living in Texas, explained.

Food and SNAP

  • Find food today. The San Antonio Food Bank's Get Help page lists where it hands out food. For help finding a distribution near you, call Client Services at 210-431-8326.
  • Get help applying for benefits. The food bank's benefits assistance team helps people apply for and renew SNAP (food benefits), Medicaid and CHIP, and TANF cash help for families with children. Call 210-431-8326 or 1-800-246-9121 (Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Saturday, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.), or walk in at 5200 Historic Old Hwy 90, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Appointments are encouraged. Bring proof of identity, address, income and expenses.
  • Or apply yourself at YourTexasBenefits.com, the state's site for applying for SNAP, Medicaid and other benefits. You can check a pending application there or by calling 2-1-1.

A drug felony doesn't by itself keep you off SNAP in Texas. The state ended its lifetime ban on September 1, 2015. Under the current rule (Texas Works Handbook A-230 and 1 TAC 372.501), a person with a felony drug conviction from that date on loses SNAP for two years for violating a condition of parole or community supervision, and for good after another felony drug conviction while getting SNAP. Deferred adjudication isn't a conviction for this rule. If the rule applies to you, HHSC checks that you're following your parole or probation conditions when you apply and when you renew, using Form H1806, Parole or Community Supervision Report, when there's no other proof.

Jobs and job training

  • Workforce Solutions Alamo is the public workforce board for San Antonio and the 13-county Alamo region. Its career centers offer employment information, training and support services at no cost to job seekers, most of them open weekdays, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. (career center locations). Its regional career advisor line is 210-224-HELP (210-224-4357). The centers hold weekly virtual information sessions on jobs, careers and child care assistance.
  • Ages 16 to 24: Workforce Solutions Alamo's Youth Empowerment Services offers no-cost help to eligible young people facing barriers to school, training or work.
  • Fidelity bonding. The Texas Workforce Commission gives employers a free bond for a new hire's first six months, which covers the employer against theft, forgery or embezzlement by that employee. It's meant for people employers see as a risk, including people with an arrest or conviction record, people with a history of substance use and people on public assistance. You or the employer can ask for it at any Workforce Solutions office. It doesn't cover poor work or injuries. See TWC: Fidelity Bonding.
  • Your record and job applications. After an expunction, and in most cases after an order of nondisclosure, you generally don't have to list the offense on a job application. See clearing or sealing a record.

IDs and vital records

Housing, jobs, benefits and many clinics ask for ID. If you've lost yours, get the documents in this order:

  1. Birth certificate (born in Texas). Texas DSHS Vital Statistics charges $22 for a certified copy. Ordering online through Texas.gov needs a mailing address that matches your current Texas driver license or ID; if you don't have one, order by mail or in person. Fees aren't refunded, even if the record isn't found. Foster youth and homeless youth (as federal law defines them) get a birth certificate free, with a certification of homeless status, by mail or in person (Health and Safety Code 191.0049).
  2. Social Security card. A replacement card is free from Social Security; don't pay a website to get one. Many adults can request it online with a my Social Security account; otherwise apply with Form SS-5 and one proof of identity. Social Security: 1-800-772-1213. Often you only need to know your number, not the card.
  3. Texas ID card from the Department of Public Safety. It's $16 if you're 59 or younger and $6 at 60 or older, good for six years; a replacement is $11. Bring proof of identity (DPS form DL-17 lists what counts) and two documents that show you live in Texas. If you live in a homeless shelter, a group home or halfway house, or get services from a nonprofit, a government agency or a transitional service provider, someone there can instead give you a notarized letter or DPS form DL-5 confirming the address and that they get mail for you. They don't have to come with you (DPS residency rules).

Fee waivers that exist: a Texas ID is free for foster youth and homeless youth, for victims of family or dating violence and their children, and for veterans with a service-connected disability of 60% or more who meet DPS's rules (DPS services and waivers). We found no fee waiver for other adults.

Leaving prison or state jail? Texas Department of Criminal Justice case managers help eligible people order a replacement Social Security card, a certified birth certificate and a DPS ID before release, and hand them over at release (TDCJ Reentry Program). DPS's list of identity documents includes a TDCJ-issued ID.

Texas RioGrande Legal Aid (TRLA) gives free civil legal help to people who qualify, with a branch in San Antonio. Apply through its hotline, 956-996-8752 (956-996-TRLA), Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; family law applications are taken on Tuesdays and Thursdays only.

  • Who qualifies: you need a legal problem TRLA handles, in its service area, and you must meet income, asset and other rules set by federal law and its funders, including immigration status rules. Some projects have their own limits; ask when you call.
  • Record clearing: TRLA's reentry team handles expunctions and orders of nondisclosure, corrects wrong criminal records, helps with getting a driver license back and with occupational licenses, and refers people to housing and job training.

Clearing or sealing a record

Texas has two ways to keep an old arrest or case from following you. Which one fits depends on how the case ended.

ExpunctionOrder of nondisclosure
What it doesClears the arrest from your criminal history record. You generally don't have to mention it on a job application.Seals the offense from the public. Courts, law enforcement, licensing agencies and some other government agencies can still see it.
Usually forArrests that didn't end in a conviction, such as an acquittal or charges that were never filed, and Class C misdemeanor deferred adjudication. A conviction can't be expunged.Deferred adjudication you completed, and some misdemeanor convictions
The lawCode of Criminal Procedure chapter 55A (since January 1, 2025; it replaced chapter 55)Government Code chapter 411, subchapter E-1
  • Waiting periods for nondisclosure (Government Code 411.0725 and 411.0735): after deferred adjudication for a felony, five years from your discharge and dismissal; for a misdemeanor, none or two years, depending on the offense. After a misdemeanor conviction, a Class C can be sealed once you finish your sentence; other misdemeanors wait two years after the sentence ends.
  • What blocks it (411.074): a new conviction or deferred adjudication during your supervision or waiting period, other than a fine-only traffic ticket, and some offenses, such as those involving family violence, which never qualify.
  • Veterans treatment court graduates can ask for nondisclosure two years after finishing the program (411.0727), except where the case was for driving while intoxicated.
  • Immigration: neither an expunction nor a nondisclosure takes away the duty to list the record on immigration forms.

The Texas courts publish model nondisclosure petitions, and TexasLawHelp.org explains expunctions and nondisclosures step by step. A lawyer can tell you which one fits your case: ask TRLA.

Health care on a sliding fee

Community health centers funded by the federal Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) see you with or without insurance, charge on a sliding scale by income and family size, and can't turn you away because you can't pay. Find the nearest ones by ZIP code with HRSA's Find a Health Center. HRSA's list of Texas health center grantees includes these in San Antonio, among others:

Health centerWhat to knowCall
CentroMed (El Centro del Barrio on HRSA's list)
Clinics across Bexar and Comal counties		You may qualify for a sliding fee based on income and family size, and no one is denied care for being unable to pay. Its eligibility staff help you apply for state programs, insurance or discounts. Bilingual therapists see children and adults, including for substance use.210-922-7000
CommuniCare Health Centers (Barrio Comprehensive Family Health Care Center on HRSA's list)
Several San Antonio campuses		A sliding fee discount for families with income under 200% of the federal poverty guidelines. Uninsured patients meet an eligibility specialist first; bring proof of identity, income and residency. The discount lasts a year, then you update it.210-233-7000
  • University Health's CareLink is a financial assistance program, not insurance, for Bexar County residents who don't have and can't get health insurance, with household income at or below 250% of the federal poverty guidelines. Once you're enrolled, CareLink sets a monthly payment plan based on your household income and size. Enrollment is by appointment: call CareLink Member Services, 210-358-3350. Its enrollment flyer asks for ID for each household member, proof that you live in Bexar County and proof of household income for the past 30 days.
  • Medicaid covers children, pregnant women, some parents and caretakers with low income, people with disabilities and people 65 and older. Texas hasn't expanded Medicaid, so many adults without children don't qualify. See how to apply for Texas Medicaid.
  • Rides: Texas Medicaid covers rides to health care appointments if you have no other way to get there. HHSC's Nonemergency Medical Transportation page explains how to set one up.
  • Medication for opioid use disorder: see Suboxone doctors and clinics in San Antonio and our guide to getting Suboxone in Texas.

For counseling, see our list of sliding-scale and free counseling in San Antonio: CHCS, the health centers, UTSA, Our Lady of the Lake and St. Mary's training clinics, and NAMI Greater San Antonio's free groups.

Crisis lines

  • Call or text 988, the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline: free, private and open 24/7, and you don't have to be suicidal to call. For Spanish, call and press 2. Veterans can press 1.
  • The CHCS 24-hour crisis and substance use helpline, 210-223-7233 (210-223-SAFE), or 1-800-316-9241: Bexar County's own crisis line. Anyone in a psychiatric crisis can get help, even if they've never been a CHCS client. CHCS says to call 911 if someone is about to hurt themselves or others.
  • SAMHSA's National Helpline, 1-800-662-4357: free, confidential treatment referrals, 24/7, in English and Spanish.
  • Call 911 for an overdose or a medical emergency.

For families

Treatment and support on Cima Find Care

Cima Find Care is a free directory of addiction treatment in Texas. Cima is never paid for referrals, and you call programs directly (how listings work).

Helping someone in another Texas city? See recovery resources in Houston and recovery resources in Dallas, or recovery resources in Texas for what works statewide.

Questions people ask

Where can I find sober living in San Antonio?

Cima Find Care lists 40 chartered Oxford Houses in San Antonio, with each house's phone number and a link to Oxford House's live list of openings. For other homes, ask for a TROHN certificate: Texas doesn't license sober homes, and accreditation is voluntary.

Where can I get help applying for food stamps in San Antonio?

The San Antonio Food Bank's benefits team helps you apply for SNAP, Medicaid, CHIP and TANF: call 210-431-8326, or walk in at 5200 Historic Old Hwy 90 on a weekday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. You can also apply yourself at YourTexasBenefits.com.

Can I get food stamps with a drug felony in Texas?

Usually, yes. Texas ended its lifetime SNAP ban for drug felonies on September 1, 2015. A person with a felony drug conviction from that date on can lose SNAP for two years for violating parole or community supervision, and for good after another felony drug conviction while getting SNAP.

How do I get a Texas ID if I lost everything?

Start with a certified birth certificate ($22 from Texas DSHS) and a free replacement Social Security card, then apply for a Texas ID at DPS ($16, or $6 at 60 or older). If you live in a shelter, a sober home or a halfway house, a notarized letter from it can stand in for two proofs of residency.

Is there free legal help to clear my record in San Antonio?

Texas RioGrande Legal Aid's reentry team handles expunctions and orders of nondisclosure for people who qualify by income and other rules. Apply through its hotline, 956-996-8752, on a weekday. TexasLawHelp.org explains the difference between the two.

How long until I can seal a record in Texas?

It depends on the case. After deferred adjudication for a felony, the wait is five years from your discharge; for a misdemeanor, none or two years. After a misdemeanor conviction, a Class C can be sealed once the sentence is done and others two years later. Some offenses never qualify.

What is an OSAR, and who is it in San Antonio?

Outreach, Screening, Assessment and Referral: the Texas program that screens you for free and refers you to state-funded detox, outpatient or residential treatment. For Bexar County and the counties around it, it's the Center for Health Care Services: call 210-261-3076, or 210-223-7233 any time.

What is CareLink, and who qualifies?

CareLink is University Health's financial assistance program for Bexar County residents who don't have and can't get health insurance, with household income at or below 250% of the federal poverty guidelines. It isn't insurance: you pay a monthly amount set by your income and household size. Call 210-358-3350 to enroll.

Can I get help finding a job with a record?

Yes. Workforce Solutions Alamo's career centers help with jobs and training at no cost: 210-224-4357. The Texas Workforce Commission's fidelity bonding program gives an employer a free six-month bond when it hires someone with a record or a history of substance use.

Sources

Find treatment near you

Detox, residential, outpatient, medication treatment and sober living across Texas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Missouri, Kansas and Mississippi. Pick a city, then call a program directly.

Not sure where to start? SAMHSA's National Helpline is free, confidential and open 24/7: 1-800-662-4357. In a crisis, call or text 988. In an emergency, call 911.

List your practice on Cima Find Care

Tell us about your practice. We check your Texas license, set up your listing and send it to you to approve, usually within two business days.

Please don't include any client's health information. We use what you send only to reply to you.
Get help now: find treatment near you

Get help now

Find programs near you, then call them directly. Their numbers are on every listing.

Not sure where to start? SAMHSA's National Helpline is free, confidential and open 24/7: 1-800-662-4357. In a crisis, call or text 988. In an emergency, call 911.