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U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
Office of Departmental Operations and Coordination
Southwest Border Region,
Colonias and Migrant/ Farmworker Initiatives
[image: Map of southwest border region]
POVERTY IN AMERICA'S BACKYARD
Migrant/farmworkers and residents of rural communities along the US-Mexican border, known as colonias, experience some of
the worst housing conditions in the United States. Thirty percent of colonia residents live in poverty, and a staggering 61 percent of farmworkers live below the poverty level. These two under-served, rural populations have many similarities yet face unique challenges.
[image: photo of shack like home]
Colonia residents have an average income of just $5,000/year. The vast majority of "persistent poverty" counties are in the Texas border region. In migrant/farmworker communities 33% live in moderate to severe substandard housing, and 34% pay more than 1/3 of their income for housing. *
[image: Colonia family]
MISSION
The Southwest Border Region, Colonias, and Migrant/Farmworker initiatives (SWBR) works to improve the lives of people along the US-Mexican Border and in farmworker communities. SWBR does this by coordinating resources and collaborating with federal, state and local partners. The SWBR office is housed within the Office of Departmental Operations and Coordination (ODOC).
OBJECTIVES
[image: a group of people in a public setting]
COLONIAS
Colonias are rural communities located within 150 miles of the US-Mexican Border that often lack the basic infrastructure most Americans take for granted – running water, electricity, and paved roads. These mostly unincorporated communities began to be developed in the 1950s and continue to exist for a variety of reasons, such as ineffective land use regulations.
Without safe, sanitary and affordable housing, potable water, sewer and drainage systems, colonias struggle with issues often associated with the Third World.
[image: photo of several homes in a Colonia]
Colonia residents often fall victim to predatory practices, such as "contract for deed" land sales. This form of agreement does not give the purchaser the title of the land until it is paid for in full, and failure to make one payment can result in loss of the property.
One major obstacle to improving infrastructure in the colonias is the absence of platting. This lack of platting also inhibits annexation by adjacent, incorporated communities.*
The border region saw a 22% population growth in the 1990s.*
The colonia crowding rate is four times the national average.*
85% of colonias residents are U.S. citizens, 97% are Hispanic.*
[image: Map of the United States showing migration routes of farm workers]
The 52% crowding rate for farmworkers is 10 times the national average.*
88% of farmworkers are Hispanic; 45% have children.*
Areas with the greatest "confluence of serious farmworker housing problems" are Florida and the Northwest.*
ACHIEVING RESULTS
HUD has demonstrated its commitment to the border region and migrant/farmworker communities by establishing an internal task force. Members were challenged to evaluate how HUD had previously met the needs of the colonias and migrant/farmworker communities, and to create a framework to enhance the management, coordination, and delivery of HUD programs and services to these areas.
The task force recommended action items for the target communities that align with the strategic goals of the Department to increase homeownership opportunities, promote decent & affordable housing, strengthen communities, ensure equal opportunity in housing, and promote participation of faith-based and community organizations.
Recently, the Department provided more than 46 million dollars in program funds to the target communities that promote self-determination, encourage self-development, and build self-sufficiency.
Among other accomplishments, the SWBR staff has worked with HUD divisions to successfully implement the Ginnie Mae Targeted Lending Initiative and the Model Colonia has successfully leveraged 12.6 million dollars. In addition, the Federal Interagency Partnership was created to foster interagency coordination. HUD will build on these successes to further improve communities in the years ahead.
[image: a building under construction]
MIGRANT / FARMWORKERS
A migrant/farmworker is someone whose principal employment is in agriculture or an agriculture-related industry like food processing. Farmworkers brave extreme weather conditions and exposure to chemicals in their work, yet are among the poorest members of US society.**
[image: farmworkers in a field]
Migrant workers move from 'home base" communities such as California, Texas, and Florida to points north as the growing season progresses, in movement patterns known as migrant streams. Other farmworkers live year-round in communities with longer growing seasons. **
Across the United States, migrant/farmworkers face severely dilapidated housing, housing crowding issues, and high
housing costs.
* Taking Stock: Rural People, Poverty, and Housing at the Turn of the 21" Century. Housing Assistance Council. December 2002
** No Refuge from the Fields: Funding from a Survey of Farmworker Housing Conditions in the US. Housing Assistance Council. September 2001
COLONIAS SPECIALISTS
San Antonio, Texas
Richard Lopez
Richard_L._Lopez@hud.gov
Las Cruces, New Mexico
Esperanza Holguin
Esperanza_A._Holguin@hud.gov
Tucson, Arizona
MIGRANT/FARMWORKER SPECIALISTS
Miami, Florida
Chris Talcott-Roberts
Christine_Talcott-Roberts@hud.gov
San Francisco, California
SWBR HEADQUARTERS
For additional information contact:
Southwest Border Region, Colonias and Migrant/Farmworker Initiatives
451 7th Street SW, Rm 3120
Washington, DC 20410
Phone: 202-708-3086
Fax: 202-401-1999
www.hud.gov/colonias
www.hud.gov
www.espanol.hud.gov
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