Congressman Henry Cuellar (D-TX-28), long a champion of homeownership, announced today that he successfully included language making residents of colonias eligible to participate in the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) Self-help Homeownership Program (SHOP). The program will help those who live in communities that lack some of the most basic living necessities, such as potable water and sewer systems, electricity, paved roads, and safe and sanitary housing, according to HUD. For decades, Congressman Cuellar has sought to prevent the creation of new colonias.

In the Texas Legislature, Congressman Cuellar passed the landmark H.B. 1001 to help stop the growth of colonias in Texas. He also sponsored legislation that created colonia self-help centers to provide home financing assistance and other services. As Texas Secretary of State, the congressman continued this work by expanding the Border/Mexico Affairs Office to help the colonias.

Colonias are located within 150 miles of the U.S. – Mexico border in Arizona, California, New Mexico, and Texas, and have existed for decades. According to the Texas Attorney General, 500,000 people live in the 2,294 colonias in the state of Texas. Compared to the four other states on our southern border, Texas has the largest population living in colonias and the largest number of colonias along the Mexican border.

The following six Texas counties have the highest concentration of colonias: El Paso, Maverick, Webb, Starr, Hidalgo, and Cameron; 369,500 people reside in the colonias in these six counties alone. Congressman Cuellar represents Webb and Starr counties and shares representation of Hidalgo County.

"I have stood in the one-room, tar paper and tin houses with dirt floors and no running water. As Americans we must not rest while some among us live in third-world conditions,” Congressman Cuellar said. “It has taken me nearly 20 years to finally shut down the creation of new colonias, and now it is time to give colonia residents the opportunity to leave and raise their kids in safe homes and safe neighborhoods."

First established by Congress in 1996 by the Housing Opportunity Program Extension Act, SHOP is a competitive grant program intended to make it easier for Americans to own their own home. In Fiscal Year 2015, HUD made available nearly $10 million for the program. National and regional nonprofit organizations with experience implementing the self-help model are eligible to apply for SHOP funding.

Specifically, SHOP funds must be used to buy land and make improvements needed to build new homes for colonia residents. As a condition of the money being awarded, residents must contribute to the construction of their new home. SHOP units must be safe, and sanitary and in compliance with state and local housing codes and zoning requirements. These homes must also meet standards for energy efficiency, water conservation and accessibility. The program also requires that these units be sold at affordable prices.

For more information about HUD’s Self-help Home Ownership Program (SHOP) please visit: 
http://portal.hud.gov/hudportal/HUD?src=/program_offices/comm_planning/affordablehousing/programs/shop