Colonias conference provides a valuable space for ideas
At the end of July, the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas and the Texas State Affordable Housing Corporation (TSAHC) hosted a twoContinue Reading
Tag: Colonias
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May 5, 2015
Video: Colonia children ask for streetlights
In this video produced by our partners at La Unión del Pueblo Entero (LUPE) and A Resource In Serving EqualityContinue Reading
New report shows conditions in Texas colonias are improving, but old and new challenges lie ahead
Texas colonia residents have long lived with poor infrastructure, few economic opportunities, and substandard conditions. But a new report suggestsContinue Reading
Public Radio International highlights housing issues in the Rio Grande Valley
Public Radio International reporter (and former TxLIHIS staff member) Alina Simone spent some time in the Rio Grande Valley last monthContinue Reading
New proposal for colonia funding provides opportunity for Texas
On Friday the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) announced a plan to increase the funding that statesContinue Reading
Packed house demands colonia streetlight program in the Rio Grande Valley
Last Thursday our partners in the Rio Grande Valley, La Union del Pueblo Entero (LUPE) and A Resource In ServingContinue Reading
On being named a 2014 MacArthur Fellow
I am deeply honored today to be named a 2014 MacArthur Fellow by the MacArthur Foundation. This recognition comes to meContinue Reading
TX colonia residents would be thankful if county officials let them have the things others take for granted
Streetlights and storm sewers… This Thanksgiving there not many people are thinking about how grateful they are for their streetlights andContinue Reading
Rare Floor Fight on Model Subdivision Rules Bill
Last Week, HB 611, (Rep Guillen) died on the floor of the Texas house on a record vote. The billContinue Reading
TxLIHIS policy analyst Josué Ramírez supports colonia residents’ search for solutions
Although only 24 years old, Josué Ramírez has taken on a leading role in working with grassroots community leaders toContinue Reading
Texas border building codes: a mostly meaningless and bizarre law
I have been looking into the powers that border counties have to enforce health and safety standards through requiring buildingContinue Reading
Colonia improvements still leave the poor in deplorable housing
Colonias in the Rio Grande Valley are home to some of the poorest Texans. Governmental efforts to improve living conditionsContinue Reading
Colonia Resident Worried About Tropical Storm Don
Channel Five in McAllen ran a story tonight on a resident of a colonia in Cameron County who was dreadingContinue Reading
USDA offers lame excuses while slashing housing funds for the rural poor
US Department of Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack either is poorly informed or being disingenuous about cuts the Obama Administration hasContinue Reading
Where Texas border housing and community development issues stand after the legislative session
Earlier this week I spoke to the National Association of Latino Community Asset Builders about developments during the last sessionContinue Reading
TX Tribune story may lead to a misdiagnosis of colonia conditions and health problems
The second of a two-part Texas Tribune story on the colonias that ran today on the Tribune’s website and inContinue Reading
CNN says, “Impoverished border town grows from shacks into community” – not exactly
Whoever at CNN wrote the headline above does not understand what happened in the Las Lomas colonia. The headline says, “Impoverished borderContinue Reading
What really impedes progress in Texas colonias?
A story in today’s Texas Tribune and the Texas edition of the New York Times presents a sad and confused pictureContinue Reading
I woke last night to the sound of thunder
As other parts of the state literally burn and the Governor calls on Texans to implement a critical part of his disaster response program, prayer for rain, here in the Valley rain clouds are rolling in. As I’ve been writing this post, the lights in my downtown Edinburg office have gone out, interrupting my work. The city streets flood terribly with even ordinary rainstorms like today’s, but colonias have it much worse.
Review shows some progress in border housing since 1997
It will be seventeen years next month since the Border Low Income Housing Coalition was established and proposed a planContinue Reading
Brownsville CDC director discusses recent changes in border low-income housing and colonias
Homebuyers buying new houses through a CDC in Brownsville, Texas have an average income of $19,000. Low-income border families, whoContinue Reading
What would Daniel Boone do? The dilemma of imposing state regulations to improve housing in Texas colonias
“We continued not in a state of indolence, but hunted every day, and prepared a little cottage to defend usContinue Reading
Texas colonia problems need to be put back on the front burner
Eight to ten years ago the colonias were subject to public attention and policy action. Funds were appropriated to provideContinue Reading
The present day saga on one Texas non-border colonia
First Texas had colonias along the border with Mexico. Now “non-border colonias” are an emerging issue. A colonia, in Texas terms,Continue Reading
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July 3, 2008
El Cenizo community leader Lupe De Leon fought for property rights, housing, better living conditions
On Saturday, June 28, 2008, Lupe De Leon died at his home in El Cenizo TX. Mr. De Leon wasContinue Reading
Curbing substandard housing in rural Texas
Watch John Henneberger’s testimony before the Texas Seante International Relations and Trade Committee on substandard rural housing. Read my writtenContinue Reading