La Joya, TX – Congressman Henry Cuellar (TX-28) announced $124,811 in federal funding to Public Housing Authorities in Hidalgo County. Specifically, Hidalgo County Housing Authority received $108,144 and La Joya Housing Authority received $16,667. These funds, awarded through the CARES Act and distributed by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), will be used to ensure that low income families have a decent, safe, and affordable place to live during the coronavirus pandemic.

“It is critical that we ensure the safety of Americans living in public housing, as our nation continues to combat the coronavirus pandemic,” said Congressman Henry Cuellar. “The health and safety of the American public is top of mind; these funds will provide both public housing authorities with the necessary resources to assist low-income families during these difficult times. I’d like to thank Mike Lopez, Executive Director of Hidalgo County Housing Authority and Ruben Villarreal, Executive Director of La Joya Housing Authority for their efforts in helping strengthen family units - by keeping them safe and supporting them on their journey to self-sufficiency.

“As a senior member on the Appropriations Committee, I will continue to ensure that public housing authorities have the necessary means and resources to assist those in our community who need it most.”

As a senior member of the Appropriations Committee, Congressman Cuellar helped secure $472 million for public housing authorities to help families assisted by Housing Choice Vouchers (HCV) and Mainstream vouchers to prevent, prepare for and respond to the coronavirus.

The eligible coronavirus-related activities include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Procuring cleaning supplies and/or services to maintain safe and sanitary HCV units, including common areas of PHA-owned Project Based Voucher (PBV) projects.
• Relocation of participating families to health units or other designated units for testing, hospitalization, or quarantine, or transportation to these locations to limit the exposure that could be caused by using mass transportation.
• Additional costs to supportive services vendors incurred due to coronavirus.
• Costs to retain or increase owner participation in the HCV Program, such as incentive or retention costs (e.g. the PHA offers owner an incentive payment to participate in recognition of added difficulties of making units available for HCV families to rent while stay-at-home orders or social distancing practices are in effect).
• Costs for providing childcare for the children of PHA staff that would not have otherwise been incurred (e.g. children are at home due to school closings, PHA staff are working outside of regular work schedules, etc).

Hidalgo County Housing Authority

The Hidalgo County Housing Authority was initially created to serve the farm-working families and migrant families of in the County. Since its establishment, the Housing Authority has since addressed the housing needs of low-income families with additional programs, such as Public Housing, Section 8, and Family Self-Sufficiency Programs.

For more information on the public housing application and eligibility requirements, click here.

La Joya Housing Authority

The La Joya Housing Authority serves the greater La Joya area with Public Housing and Housing Choice Voucher Program. Through these programs, people with low to moderate income are provided housing services that are safe, reliable, accessible, effective and efficient.

For more information on how to apply for these services, click here.