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(Sharing 3/3/2026) Biweekly CHW message - Noticing More Evictions?

  • Aug 7
  • 8 min read


Noticing More Evictions? 

As of Jan. 1, because of changes made by the last Texas Legislature, courts have fewer tools to delay evictions. Instead of taking 1-2 months, the whole process can now take just weeks. Landlords can send eviction notices by email, if the tenant agreed beforehand. Also, starting Mar. 30, public housing evictions could speed up under a new federal rule. 

What We Can Do

  • Teach tenants to look for the email clause in their lease--they can opt out if they want to stick to paper.

  • Educate that a "Notice to Vacate" isn't the same as an eviction, which must be ordered by a court. But it is a sign that the landlord is ready to go to court, so it's important to take action.

  • People facing an eviction can call the City's Neighborhood & Housing Services Department (NHSD) at 210-207-5910 or go to eviction help online with questions. If a program for help with rent or legal aid is currently open, NHSD will know.

Info to Share:

Beware: Here's a list of the five Top Evictors in 2024 in Bexar County. These remote landlords evicted anywhere from one-third to one-half of their tenants in 2024.

Spotlight: Tax Help

  • Tax refunds will be bigger this year, so don't wait to file.

  • VITA and other agencies will come to the Neighborhood Place for a Financial and Legal Fair, Mar. 7, 9 AM-1 PM, 3014 Rivas (78228), flyer attached. 

  • For active duty military, family members and recent veterans, recommend MilTax--like VITA, it is free.

  • Empower House and River City Credit Union host a workshop on maximizing your tax refund, Mar. 6, 10 AM-noon, 5308 Wurzbach Rd. (78238). Participants will receive a $20 HEB gift card. Register

  • Helping newcomers navigate the tax system? Switchboard's free 1-hour self-paced course clarifies your role and boundaries as a facilitator, connects you to free, trusted filing resources and explains tax filing scams. See all Switchboard's financial resources.

Update: Measles and Other Infections

  • Barely two months into 2026, we've already seen 1,136 measles cases in the U.S. and 4,966 cases in Mexico--a big jump from last year at this time.

  • Utah, Florida, Arizona and South Carolina have the largest ongoing U.S. outbreaks.

  • In Mexico, the current epicenter is the state of Jalisco, which includes Guadalajara, a 2026 FIFA site.

  • If you're traveling for spring break or FIFA, make sure you're fully vaccinated against measles. Programs for uninsured adults and uninsured/underinsured children are explained here.

  • A new video playlist from Voices for Vaccines shows how to use a respectful, relationship-centered approach to address trending vaccine concerns like: Did sanitation, not vaccines, reduce infections? Do HPV vaccines increase cervix cancer? Have childhood vaccines never been compared to placebos? Each video is less than 3 minutes long, so check them out!

  • While Texas respiratory virus levels are low, Bexar County flu levels are at least moderate still. Continue to use precautions. The Community Engagement Alliance (CEAL) made the attached RSV-flu flyer as a reminder.

  • Data dashboards: CDC | Metro Health | DSHS | TexWEB wastewater | Walgreens Respiratory Illness Index | National wastewater 

Health Navigation Resources of the Week

·                  Double Up Food Bucks are now available at the Mission Marquee Farmers Market, which opens for the season Mar. 7, 9 AM-1 PM.  They join Pearl Farmers Market in matching SNAP dollars, up to $30.

·                  Free adult dental care

o        Wesley Health & Wellness Center, 1406 Fitch (78211) and Dixon Health & Wellness Center, 4212 E. Southcross (78222): Check eligibility

o        Grace Pavilion Community Outreach opened up applications for their annual free dental care event, in June.

o        Ephesus SDA Church, 4123 E. Houston St. (78220) runs a dental ministry, first come, first served, on first and third Saturdays at 9 AM.

o        For people experiencing homelessness, the San Antonio Christian Dental Clinic operates out of Haven for Hope.

o        Low cost adult dental care providers include the Palo Alto College Dental Hygiene Clinic (free for seniors!), UT Dentistry's Student Dental Clinic,  CentroMed, Communicare and La Misión Family Clinic.

·                  Helping someone manage medical costs? New guides from Community Catalyst offer tips like, ASK: "Are you part of my insurance network?" DON'T ASK: "Do you take my insurance?" (Some providers who are out-of-network will say they “take” your insurance — but what they mean is that they will bill your insurance. This isn’t the same thing as being “in network.”)

o        Guide 3:  I Am Uninsured and Need Medical Care

o        Guide 5:  I Am Unable to Pay for My Care Up Front

Upcoming Events and Opportunities  

  • Train-the-Trainer: Healthy Cooking for Diabetes is a free learning opportunity from the SA Food Bank and the Community Engagement Alliance that will be offered in March and April. See flyer for info.

  • Applications are open for Vote-ER's Civic Health Fellowship for healthcare workers, including CHWs. Info session Mar. 4, apply by Mar. 15, read more here.

  • Know someone who needs a smoke alarm? The Red Cross' annual Sound the Alarm event happens Mar. 28, this year in neighborhoods around the Joe Ward Community Center (78228). Request a home visit 

  • The CHW Section of the American Public Health Association issued a call for abstracts for the annual conference, which takes place in San Antonio this year. Abstracts are due Mar. 31. 

  • The American Journal of Public Health is developing a special supplement on "ways of knowing" within the health sciences, with an emphasis on indigenous ways of knowing, transforming community-led health research, and redefining rigor in health research. They seek peer reviewers with lived experiences and/or expertise in these areas. You do not need a college or advanced degree. Reviewers outside of academic institutions will receive $200 from Evidence 4 Action for each completed peer review. Learn more.

  • 2 Mar.-20 Avr., 5:30 PM-7:30 PM, taller gratuito para el manejo personal de la diabetes, de Metro Health, Biblioteca Las Palmas, 515 Castroville. Para más información: Juana Gonzalez, juana.gonzalez@sanantonio.gov, 210-207-0711

  • Mar. 3, 7 AM-7 PM, Election Day. Ride to the polls free with VIA by presenting your voter registration card when you board. Why March elections matter. Voter guide

  • Mar. 4, 9 AM-1 PM, mammograms at Empower House,  847 E. Drexel (78210). Register; if uninsured, call 210-704-4100 to arrange assistance.

  • Mar. 4, 9 AM-4 PM, UT Health Obesity Day Health Fair, with free health screenings, talks from dietitians, resources and giveaways, 8435 Wurzbach Road, Suite 211 (78229)

  • Mar. 4,  12 PM-1 PM, Capacitación para Promotores/Usando Cuentos y Fotonovelas para Enseñar,  por Zoom, CE disponible. Para más información: Martha Castilla, CastillaM@uthscsa.edu, 210-660-3270

  • Mar. 5, 9 AM-noon, Bexar County CHW Partnership meeting. Video call link: https://meet.google.com/hri-qskt-oez

  • Mar. 5, 9 AM-1 PM, Communicare women's health bus at the YWCA, 2318 Castroville Rd. (78237)

  • Mar. 5, 2 PM-3 PM, Intergenerational ACEs and Intergenerational Healing training from ChildSafe, virtual,  register

  • Mar. 5, 6 PM-7:15 PM, free bystander intervention training to support the disability community in public spaces, Right to Be. Info and registration

  • Mar. 6, 9 AM-11 AM, Haven for Hope spring resource fair with more than 100 vendors, 1 Haven for Hope Way (78207). Info

  • Mar. 6 & 12, noon-3 PM, Yanawana Herbolarios People's Clinic, Maverick Park, 1000 Broadway (78215). More info

  • Mar. 6, 11 AM-1 PM, Healthy Start community baby shower, Las Palmas HEB Community Room, 515 Castroville Rd. (78237), flyer attached.

  • Mar. 6, noon-1 PM, Communicating with Confianza health literacy ECHO: "Solidarity in Primary Care: Everyone's Role and More." Learn more and register

  • Mar. 8, noon-4 PM, Right Health resource fair with giveaways, San Antonio Botanical Garden, 3298 N New Braunfels (78209). Info

  • Mar. 10 & 12, 1 PM-3 PM, fall prevention workshop for older adults, Texas Diabetes Institute board room, 701 S. Zarzamora (78207), flyer attached.

  • Mar. 10, 1 PM-2 PM, online fentanyl awareness training from SACADA. Register.

  • Mar. 11, 1 PM-2 PM, Neighborhood Housing & Services Department’s rental assistance application portal opens (second Wednesday of each month)

  • Mar. 12, 8 AM-2 PM, Communicare women's health bus and DSHS children's dental care (10 AM-1 PM), Coker United Methodist Church, 231 East North Loop Road (78216), appointments preferred, 210-233-7199 or email Sonia Cavazos, scavazos@mhm.org 

  • Mar. 12, 9 AM-noon, First Baptist Church health fair, 227 4th St (78205). Info

  • Mar. 12, 6 PM-7 PM, Stop the Bleed training from University Health, Bibliotech EDU, 626 N. Flores (78205). Register

  • Mar. 13, 9 AM-2 PM, Latched Community Resource Day for people who are pregnant or have children under 3 years old, Bethel AME Church, 225 North Swiss Street (78202). Register

  • Mar. 13, 10:30 AM, Children's Shelter community baby shower at the SA Hope Center, 321 N General McMullen (78237), flyer attached.

  • Mar. 14, 9 AM-1 PM, mobile primary care and women's health bus at the YWCA, 2318 Castroville Rd. (78237)

  • Mar. 16, 6:30 PM-8 PM, online domestic violence training by NAMI and the P.E.A.C.E Initiative. Registration link will become available here.

  • Mar. 28, 10 AM-2 PM, WEHR health fair including vision, dental, well woman, pediatric services and vaccines, Windcrest United Methodist Church, 8101 Midcrown (78239). Info and pre-registration

  • Each week, Westcare puts out a packed, magazine-format roundup of upcoming community events—read it by clicking here. 

  • San Antonio Compassion posts flyers for resources and upcoming events here.

Logistics—How Do I Get…  

VACCINES 

  • Uninsured? For recommended childhood vaccines and some adult vaccines, click the green buttons on this page for Texas Vaccines for Children and Adult Safety Net providers.

  • Insured? Use a pharmacy--it's fast and no-cost to you. The American Pharmacists Association offers this pharmacy map -- filter by walk-in vaccine access, handicap accessibility, hours of operation and spoken languages. (No matter what the map says, it still helps to make an appointment.) 

  • Homebound seniors: Medicare will pay a doctor or other care provider to give flu, COVID-19, Hepatitis B and pneumococcal vaccines in the home, more info here.

  • Everyone is still eligible for COVID vaccines this year, and it is still covered by insurance. Hate the side effects? Look for the non-mRNA formulation (the "protein vaccine" here). 

    • No prescription is required at the major national pharmacy chains.

    • For those without health insurance, this is the best discount coupon I've found ($89 as of January 2026)--still pricey, but cheaper than the treatment pills. 

  • If you are unable to get the vaccine, remember the old standbys of clean air, frequent handwashing, masking, staying away from others who are sick (and also when you're sick). More info

TESTING

  • The federal program for free home tests has ended. Some health insurers still cover these.

  • How to Use Home COVID and Flu Tests:

    • Lab tests are preferred for people with symptoms. If you are unable to obtain a lab test, then repeat your home COVID test every 48 hours for a total of at least two tests.

    • If any result is positive, stay home and away from others for at least 24 hours—until your symptoms are getting better and you’ve haven’t had a fever for at least 24 hours (without taking fever reducers). What to Do If You Feel Sick (CDC)

  • Before throwing out an expired home test, see if the expiration date was extended by checking the Expiration Date column of the FDA’s List of Authorized At-Home OTC COVID-19 Diagnostic Tests.

TREATMENT 

  • Medications must start quickly (within 5 days of symptoms for COVID, within just 2-3 days for the flu)—so don’t delay getting a test and a diagnosis. 

  • If you are at risk for complications and need antiviral pills: Low-cost online visits are available. Some people are eligible for co-pay assistance from the drug manufacturer. Learn more. 

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