We provide the following services, primarily to low-income and needy new arrivals to the US:

• Employment Authorization
• Consular Processing
• Visas
• Family Petition
• Green Card
• Translations
• Interpreter
• English Class
• Spanish Class
• Naturalization or citizenship
• Orientation workshops and introductions
• Notary
• And more

Stress Management

This is a weekly 8-session course to provide information and skills for managing stress and anxiety. The focus will be on what we can control right now to help us feel better. During each group, we will learn and practice a new skill that you can use whenever you feel overwhelmed. Each group is accompanied by a handout that you can keep to practice the skills between sessions and to review the material covered in the group as needed well after the 8-session course.

Resources Group

Adjusting to a new culture can be extremely challenging because everything is different and new including the language, the laws, and the healthcare system. The resource group focuses on connecting you with practical information and resources to help you meet your basic needs. Some of the areas covered include legal referrals and medical referrals, referrals to English classes, resources for food, and providing information on other community resources and programs.

Art Class

The art class meets weekly for two hours. No prior experience is necessary and all skill levels from beginner to advanced are welcome. This class is led by Dr. Karin Montero, CST’s Medical Director who is also an artist. Dr. Montero provides instruction on different art techniques while also facilitating lively conversation that routinely includes a lot of laughter.

In preparation for the week, each group member will be texted a series of images in advance of the art group that you can then use to paint or draw as you practice new techniques during class and between classes. Art is another way to practice mindfulness and many people find it relaxing and healing – this class might serve as a testament to the saying that “sometimes laughter is the best medicine!”

Meditation Group

Meditation is an ancient wisdom tradition that over time has been incorporated in various forms by almost all major religions and spiritual traditions. CST’s weekly meditation group is welcoming of all religious and non-religious backgrounds and spiritual traditions. The objectives of this group are to promote a sense of safety and stability, facilitate healing and empowerment, enhance resilience and well-being, improve emotion regulation, and create community and social connection and support.

Meditation has been linked to improvements in sleep, attention, memory, emotion regulation, blood pressure, and chronic pain. It has also been shown to enhance well-being and compassion. Meditation is simple but not easy so we use the power of coming together in a group format to provide encouragement and support to one another as we establish a meditation practice that fits our daily lives.

Women’s Yoga Class

CST hosts a weekly yoga class that is open to all female-identified clients. Yoga is an ancient mindfulness practice with origins in northern India and a philosophy that emphasizes connecting the mind, body, and spirit. In this class we also place a special emphasis on practicing kindness and compassion towards ourselves by meeting ourselves where we are, befriending our bodies, and cultivating appreciation for what our bodies can do.

Yoga has been linked to health benefits such as improved sleep, increased strength and flexibility, and improvements in circulation, blood pressure, mental clarity, and well-being, among others. If you would like to learn more about this group, availability in the class, and to discuss options to get connected with the materials that you will need, please see your CST counselor or point of contact.

Survivors Support Group

This group aims to promote empowerment, resilience, and healing by leveraging the power of social support and the wisdom and experience that exists within the group. This group will provide information about common reactions to distressing life events, and discuss and share coping strategies and community resources.

Above all, this group seeks to provide a safe space for people to connect with other survivors who have also had to leave their country and face many challenges in adjusting to a new country and culture.

Click here for Group Event dates and times

Free

The work of the Secretariat for Mission in the fields of Life, Justice and Peace focuses on issues such as abortion and post-abortion healing, assisted suicide, the death penalty, human trafficking, homelessness, poverty, immigration, foster care, healthcare, religious freedom, and environmental justice, aiming to develop an authentic human ecology for the communities of San Antonio.

To build a culture of life, justice, and peace in our communities and beyond, the Archdiocese offers educational and formational lectures, information, and resources on the Works of Mercy and Catholic Social Teaching. We assist in building and sustaining strategic leadership in parishes and with community partners through training, advocacy, prayer and service.

The Financial and Housing Recovery Center is part of the Recovery and Resiliency Plan for the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

The plan includes a section on community resilience, which ensures that households and businesses affected by COVID-19 have the resources and tools to become financially resilient and better prepared to withstand future economic challenges.

Financial Benefits Navigation
Through Financial Benefits Navigation we work with federal, state, and local benefits providers and with community partners, to include referral services such as unemployment, TANF, CHIP, housing authority waitlist registration, utility assistance, rent/mortgage assistance, etc.

Financial Counseling
Financial Counselors through the Financial and Housing Recovery Center, assist residents with budgeting, debt management, credit report education, and linking to positive products through Bank On San Antonio, etc.

Housing is a human need and right. Through Project Home, we advocate for harm reduction and no-barrier houseless shelters, the overturning of harmful local housing policies, and work to create realistic, accessible, rapid housing solutions for those experiencing houselessness.

Our website, disABILITYsa.org, a collaborative online tool for sharing information, resources, ideas, and support between people with all types of disabilities; highlighting organizations and businesses that provide these services; and advancing public awareness, respect, and consideration for the success of people with disabilities.

Since going live in 2007, disABILITYsa has given over 16,000 unique visitors access to useful information about programs, services, legislation, and “real people” stories that impact individuals with all types of disabilities in San Antonio and surrounding communities.

Free

Awaaz advocates provide educational materials, conduct workshops, and participate in panel discussions to promote healthy relationships and awareness of family violence within the local community.

• To educate and empower South Asians in crisis so that they confront their problems and feel comfortable accessing existing services.
• To provide peer support, information, and advocacy to our clients to help them make an informed choice of the lives they lead.
• To reduce the incidence of family violence in the South Asian community by providing education to all on issues of family violence in community forums and discussions.

We focus on helping and empowering those affected by domestic violence, we also educate the general public about it and it’s far reaching ramifications. 

Awaaz advocates work with multiple local agencies in San Antonio to better serve the unique needs of South Asian families affected by family violence. By providing culture-specific education, we aid in advocating for more comprehensive care for South Asians.

Asylum: We represent people from around the world in their search for protection in the United States.

For those we don’t have the capacity to represent, we also provide support in the following areas:

• Preparing for asylum interviews
• Filling out applications for protection and writing declarations
• Searching for human rights reports on conditions in their home country
• Preparing to present testimony in court
• Understanding denials and writing appeals

Unjustified Detention: We help people get released from immigrant detention centers through bond and parole requests, habeas corpus petitions and other federal litigation.

Access to Counsel: We advocate for access to legal representation regardless of ability to pay. Specifically, we help with:

• Language access for non-English speakers
• Reunification of families separated by the U.S. government

We only accept detained cases.

Free or low-cost

Services are provided by Crisis Response Team members. This team is made up of police officers and caseworkers assigned to each SAPD substation.

Services include:

• Victims' services
• Violence prevention
• Crisis intervention counseling
• Case management
• Child and family counseling
• Support groups
• Information and referrals

Click here for tips to keep yourself and your children safe, as well as a checklist of things to remember when leaving an abusive situation.

Students enrolled in Clinical Program courses can earn academic credit while they gain real-world lawyering skills by acting as the attorney of record for income-qualified clients. Second- and third-year law students participate in the Clinical Program by applying for one of four for-credit courses: Civil Justice Clinic-Consumer Protection, Civil Justice Clinic-Family Law, the Immigration and Human Rights Clinic or the Criminal Justice Clinic.

The Clinical Program staff conduct an income and asset screening prior to providing information, advice, referral or representation.

Fuerza Unida organizes monthly meetings facilitated by representatives, which include other non-profit organizations, businesses, lawyers and/or government officials.

We offer a variety of workshops, training classes and presentations focusing on issues affecting our community.

Free

How does Disability Rights Texas (DRTx) help? Our attorneys and advocates work to impact the lives of Texans with disabilities in the following ways:

• Legal assistance: We provide direct legal assistance to people with disabilities whose rights are threatened or violated.
• Protect rights: We protect the rights of individuals and groups of people with disabilities through the courts and justice system.
• Educate policymakers: We educate and inform policymakers about issues that impact the rights and services for people with disabilities.
• Inform about rights: We inform people with disabilities and family members about their rights.
• Referrals: We make referrals to programs and services.

If you would like help or information related to any of the items listed above, visit our Contact Us page.

Click here for a list of service priorities and resources.

Click here to learn how to apply for services.

Headquarters:  512-454-4816

Centeral Texas:  210-737-0499

COPS/Metro's strength is in its members: the religious institutions, labor locals, and other nonprofit and civic institutions that share a concern for community and are rooted in traditions of democracy. COPS/Metro is broad-based and works in the interest of our community's families, as an interfaith organization that embraces a membership of both religious and secular institutions.

As COPS/Metro members, institutions commit to building "organizing teams" or “action teams” of leaders and potential leaders to work on local issues identified by the team. By joining with other institutions that have similar goals and concerns, COPS/Metro members increase their collective power and work to achieve victories on local and city-wide issues. 

Contact COPS/Metro Alliance to learn more about the initiatives launched by member institutions around immigration, healthcare, education and living wages.

Child Advocates is a volunteer position with Child Advocates San Antonio (CASA). CASA Advocates serve as an emotional support and a familiar face to children who face many traumatic changes in their life. By visiting the children monthly and gathering information from all the people involved in the case, CASA Advocates act as a fact-finder and report to the judge about the needs of the child during the life of the case.

Click here for volunteer application.

The Requirements:

• Be at least 21 years old
• Have a valid Texas drivers license
• Have access to a vehicle and proof of insurance
• Complete criminal and CPS background checks
• No previous experience or education required. All training and support provided.

The Commitment:

• Minimum 12 month commitment
• Complete new volunteer training
• Visit child(ren) once per month
• Maintain confidentiality

SALSA assists qualifying applicants with eviction-related matters, including eviction appeals and negotiating with your landlord

Appealing an eviction judgment can buy you more time to stay on the property while you find a new residence.

No appointment is needed, but priority is given to applicants who have already received an eviction judgment, are filing an eviction appeal, or have an eviction hearing that day.

Please bring the following documents:

• notice(s) to vacate (This is the 3-day notice that you receive from the landlord);
• eviction citation (the document you receive from the constable);
• your current lease;
• any other documents you think SALSA should review, such as rent ledgers, deeds, emails/texts, etc.

(Note: We cannot always review every document or take custody of originals.)

Must live in Bexar County’s Precinct 1. (Click here to find your Bexar County Precinct.)

If you do not live in Precinct 1 and would like legal assistance before your hearing, you can call St. Mary’s University School of Law, Center for Legal and Social Justice (CLSJ) Housing Hotline at (210) 570-6135.

Free

COPS/Metro's strength is in its members: the religious institutions, labor locals, and other nonprofit and civic institutions that share a concern for community and are rooted in traditions of democracy. COPS/Metro is broad-based and works in the interest of our community's families, as an interfaith organization that embraces a membership of both religious and secular institutions.

As COPS/Metro members, institutions commit to building "organizing teams" or “action teams” of leaders and potential leaders to work on local issues identified by the team. By joining with other institutions that have similar goals and concerns, COPS/Metro members increase their collective power and work to achieve victories on local and city-wide issues. 

Contact COPS/Metro Alliance to learn more about the initiatives launched by member institutions around immigration, healthcare, education and living wages.

Federal retirement, health care, life insurance, compensation and other benefits for current and retired federal employees are complex and often amended. NARFE keeps members informed of any changes that might occur, helping you take charge of your federal benefits and financial future.

Must be active or retired federal employee.

Located in the Kitchen Dining Room.

No fees.

Provides a variety of services suited to meet the developmental and emotional needs of each child at both our residential and non-residential facilities.

Play therapy techniques are used in individual and group counseling that is offered to help children process and heal from domestic violence.

Ongoing family case management services with a focus on the spectrum of needs of every child client are provided while maintaining an emphasis on meeting the academic needs of children identified as victims/survivors of family violence. Services are provided to every child.

For more information, call administration at 210-930-3669.

Legal representation through FVPS is generally focused on the areas of family law such as

• Protective Orders
• Divorce
• Child Custody
• Modifications, and Enforcements
• Or a combination of those services.

How to Apply

Applications for legal services with FVPS must be filled out. It is also important to include any relevant documents with your application, such as police reports, photos of injuries, court orders and documents, and any documents from Child Protective Services.

Apply online using fillable form(s) OR print, fill out, and mail downloadable form(s) to:

FVPS Legal Services Department
ATTN: Natalie Pruitt,
7911 Broadway,
San Antonio, Texas 78209

Fax: to 210-314-1016
Email to [email protected]
Phone: (210) 821-3823 or 210 930-3669 ext 2223

Once your application has been received and reviewed by the Department, you will be notified whether your application has been accepted.

Free for eligible participants.

Meets the specialized needs of active and veteran military service members and their dependents through partnerships with San Antonio's military installations.

For more information, call 210-930-3669.

• 24-hour Crisis Intervention and Emergency Shelter
• Individual case management services
• Individual and group counseling for adults
• Individual counseling for children
• Legal services and advocacy
• Adult education
• Parenting Education
• Prepares families to transition to independent living through housing programs
• On-site primary medical and dental care
• On-site after-school program
• On-site pet shelter

Services are available in both English and Spanish.

COPS/Metro's strength is in its members: the religious institutions, labor locals, and other nonprofit and civic institutions that share a concern for community and are rooted in traditions of democracy. COPS/Metro is broad-based and works in the interest of our community's families, as an interfaith organization that embraces a membership of both religious and secular institutions.

As COPS/Metro members, institutions commit to building "organizing teams" or “action teams” of leaders and potential leaders to work on local issues identified by the team. By joining with other institutions that have similar goals and concerns, COPS/Metro members increase their collective power and work to achieve victories on local and city-wide issues.

Contact COPS/Metro Alliance to learn more about the initiatives launched by member institutions around immigration, healthcare, education and living wages.

We all breathe the same air, drink the same water, and eat food grown on the same earth. These fundamental facts transcend religions and beliefs, and can be used as a means to promote peace, love, and understanding in our congregants and in the world. Because the future of our congregation and all life on earth depends on finding sustainable solutions to environmental problems, we pledge to educate and involve the congregation and the larger community in environmental actions as an integral part of a spiritual practice. 

Our congregation became an accredited Green Sanctuary with the Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA) in April 2013. The process is designed to involve multiple facets of congregational life, including Worship and Celebration, Religious Education for adults and children, Environmental Justice, and Sustainable Living—which include grounds, parking lot, transportation, facilities, kitchen, food, recycling/reusables, office and cleaning supplies, energy use, investment policies, congregation policies, congregation committees, etc. To learn more about the UUA’s Climate & Environmental Justice programs visit their website.

Activities of the Green Sanctuary Team have included campus recycling, installing a rainwater catchment system, installing a bike rack on campus, and purchasing forty solar panels through Big Sun Community Solar. We have also felt the importance of reaching out to learn more about the original peoples of our area, which have included the Estok Gna / Carrizo Comecrudo Tribe of Texas in the Rio Grande Delta, and the Tap Pilam Coahuiltecan Nation in Bexar County. We strive to encourage more green building practices and provide workshops for the church community, raising awareness through concerts and films. Recently, our congregation has endorsed the Energy Innovation and Carbon Dividend Act, which was introduced to Congress in April 2021. 

We also participate in San Antonio’s annual riverbank clean up – the Basura Bash. This intergenerational activity provides the opportunity to witness the San Antonio River ecosystem and the waterways that feed into the San Antonio River, while cleaning up debris from the riverbanks.

For more information about the Green Sanctuary Team, contact [email protected]. 

The First Unitarian Universalist Church of San Antonio values the inherent worth and dignity of all people. RJ-BLMG recognizes that the United States was built on a legacy of slavery, racism, and oppression that continues to take new, ever-changing forms that serve to perpetuate the status quo. We will not succumb to the temptation to ignore the racial realities of our country and are dedicated to learning and sharing knowledge about racial inequality and injustices as they exist today, especially among Black Americans. We engage in active support with local, national, online, and UUA sponsored groups, to help break the tyrannical systemic oppression of people of color.

To say that “Black Lives Matter” does not mean that Black lives are more important than other lives, or that all lives do not matter. Instead, the systemic devaluing of Black lives calls us to bear witness, even as we acknowledge that oppression takes many intersecting forms. 

The RJ-BLMG works within the church and with community partners to educate and organize antiracism efforts. Please review “Before You Go to a Protest” if you are considering attending a community event. For more information about the Racial Justice-Black Lives Matter Group, contact [email protected]. 

Click here to learn more.

Rainbow Inclusion is a committee that plans actions related to LGBTQ concerns and interacts with the church staff and leadership. It is also a social group that gathers for lunch, outings, and various social activities. Newcomers are welcome!

Details on upcoming events will be announced on the events section of this website, on the weekly “What’s Happening” email, on the Church’s Facebook and Twitter pages, and the Yahoo group announcements. Also, visit and like the Rainbow Inclusion Facebook page.

Our congregation is proud to have been recognized as a Welcoming Congregation by the Unitarian Universalist Association since 2002.

For more information, click here or email us at [email protected]. 

San Anto Gente Engaged with Unitarian Universalism is our local Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) group. It was inspired and formed as First UU hosted the Diverse Revolutionary Unitarian Universalist Multicultural Ministries, or DRUUMM’s, Family Reunion in the Fall of 2018. This call was answered by the BIPOC members of our congregation, as well as white allies. 

The mission of SAGE-UU is threefold: to provide fellowship to BIPOC friends and members of First UU, to promote leadership locally and nationally from within our BIPOC communities, and to develop and lead culturally relevant worship. Since the formation, we have had our members join the First UU Board of Trustees, as well as our Worship Committee. We have successfully lobbied as a group to rename our buildings to remove the honoring of slavers, and to bring more BIPOC perspectives to the pulpit. We have also developed worship services by us, for us, and to the betterment of our entire congregation

For more information about SAGE-UU, visit their Facebook page.

The Social Justice Committee coordinates the social justice activities and projects of First UU, both within the church and in the larger community. These activities are largely determined by the interests of our members and include advocacy, support of community organizations, and hands-on volunteer opportunities. These initiatives can range from once annual events to ongoing organizational activities.

The Committee promotes and participates in numerous activities and communicates with other First UU Justice groups such as the Racial Justice-Black Lives Matter Work Group, the Rainbow Inclusion Committee, and the Green Sanctuary Team.

In the larger community, the Committee works with many active groups and organizations and participates in events throughout the city, such as the Martin Luther King Jr. Day March, the International Women’s Day March, the Cesar Chavez March, Gay Pride Celebration, CROP Hunger Walk, and events promoting peace and justice, reproductive rights, concerts raising awareness about the death penalty and the environment, and more. Please review “Before You Go to a Protest” if you are considering attending such an event.

Throughout the year, members of our congregation also serve those in need in the local community by preparing meals at Haven for Hope for unhoused residents and preparing or distributing food for the hungry at the San Antonio Food Bank.

Since 2014, the Social Justice Committee has presented the Courageous Love Award to San Antonio area social justice heroes.

For more information about the Social Justice Committee, contact [email protected]. 

Virtual court kiosks are computer stations that help community members connect with courts and find legal help. All kiosks are accessible in English and Spanish.

At a virtual court kiosk, you can

• Attend a virtual court hearing or meeting
• Learn about legal issues
• Learn about virtual court and file forms online
• Get legal help

Free

In Texas, an expunction means the Court destroys all records of both the arrest and any court proceedings, so they can’t ever be found on any government-maintained database by anyone. Any record of the expunction also gets destroyed. It’s like the arrest (and the expunction) never happened.

In order to receive an expunction, a Petition must be filed with a court that has jurisdiction requesting that all records pertaining to a specific offense(s) be destroyed. If a court finds a petitioner is entitled to an expunction they will issue an Order granting the expunction.

In Texas, you can expunge an arrest as long as you didn't get convicted or receive some type of community supervision. You can also expunge a Class C Misdemeanor if you've completed a deferred adjudication (probation, treatment, or community service).

Click here for fee information.