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Release Date: December 15, 2011 City of San Antonio Communications Office: 207-7234 City Council approves renovation of the former Good Samaritan Hospital building to provide services to veterans in partnership with St. Philip's College The San Antonio City Council approved a partnership with the Alamo Community College District and St. Philip's College to renovate the underutilized historic Good Samaritan Hospital building and provide services to the community. The City will fund the acquisition and renovation of the building which will be managed by the Alamo Community College District. St. Philip's College will lease the property from the City and operate their Veterans Outreach and Transition Center (VOTC) from the facility. Funding for the acquisition and renovation is coming from $2,000,000 of FY 2010 Certificates of Obligation included in the FY 2012-2017 Capital Improvement Budget as part of the Eastside Education and Workforce Development Center project. "The redevelopment of the old Good Samaritan Hospital building is positive for the East Side and all of San Antonio. The St. Philip's Veterans Outreach Center at this location will serve veterans citywide and Eastside residents will enjoy the physical improvements to the building and hopefully additional redevelopment nearby," said District 2 Councilwoman Ivy Taylor. The building was constructed in 1915 as the Corinth Baptist Church and converted in 1948 to a hospital for African-Americans in response to segregation and the need for services. The property has been vacant for a number of years. "St. Philip's has been designated as military friendly for the past three years and on veterans day 2011 we unveiled a monument on campus designed by our students recognizing the five branches of the military. We are proud of this partnership with the City of San Antonio. As the Good Samaritan Hospital, this facility represented a placed for improving the health and wellbeing of our citizens on the Eastside. The impact and reach of this Veterans Outreach and Transition Center will expand well beyond the Eastside and will impact the lives and future generations of many veterans and their families," said Dr. Adena Williams Loston, St. Philip's College president. "As veterans continue to transition from their military careers, this partnership represents perfect timing and the perfect season for St. Philip's and the Alamo Colleges to show their commitment to the men and women who serve our country." Once the building is renovated, St. Philip's College will operate their Veterans Outreach and Transition Center from the location, providing services to veterans in region. The program will: -Offer a veteran-specific orientation to ease the initial transition into college and/or the workforce -Identify and assist veterans and dependents that are job-ready upon separation -Direct veterans to education and training for skills upgrade -Provide counseling to assist in integration to civilian life -Claims assistance |
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