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San Antonio Urban Ministries was emerged in the 1960s as an outreach of The John Knox Presbytery. Supported by Mission Presbytery since 1976, Urban Ministries began to address the needs of the inner city through the efforts of several of the city’s Presbyterian Congregations.

Over the past years, Urban Ministries has grown to a large ecumenical effort involving 22 churches of Christian denominations. The primary focus is to bridge gaps with ethnic or geographic areas of the city, nurturing programs that meet community needs.

Celebrating more than three decades of service to the community, Urban Ministries has served as an umbrella agency to many programs that have become viable agencies of their own today. Habitat for Humanity, Victoria Courts Childcare, and Youth Alternatives are just a few of the agencies that were spun off during the first two decades. Through the volunteer and financial support of Mission Presbytery, and its member churches, Urban Ministries creates a better quality of life for 2,500 families or approximately 10,000 individuals annually.

As a recognized ecumenically-based agency, our mission today is meeting youth and mental health needs within our community.

Over 1,700 children are enrolled in the After School Kare (ASK) program which provides the most affordable care for elementary age children on the school campus from the time school is dismissed until 6 p.m.

Fairweather Lodge (FWL) serves 40 homeless adults during the year who suffer from chronic mental illness. Supported housing and employment are the components of the program in which individuals can live independently as productive members of the community.

In the year 2004, Urban Ministries opened Fairweather Family Lodge (FFL)- first housing facility for homeless women who suffer from mental illness and their children. It is the first of its kind to our City, and we are grateful for the opportunity to serve this population which is the fastest growing in the country. We expect numerous supportive challenges with this population who will need to master parenting skills while dealing with their diagnosis. The children of this population require special attention.

Urban Ministries has been privileged to co-sponsor its third cottage-apartment complex that provides independent living for persons recovering from chronic mental illness. Regal Village Apartments, Monarch Place Apartments, and Viceroy Apartments are model projects in South Texas that offer a "home" to those persons who are able to function independently but have no place to reside.