Colonias (El Paso, Laredo, Brownsville: mortgage, homes, neighborhoods)

[David Pristupa]

Where are the Colonias located around Laredo, El Paso and Brownsville?
Are they within the town limits? The reason I ask is because I'am considering
working with people living in the Colonias for a non profit organization. Are
these housing units livable or are some fairly decent with water and power. I'am under the impression they are similarto squats in big cities. Some squats are actually pretty decent housing except for the legality. Anybody have experience with these folks?

[caprockvista]

Originally Posted by David Pristupa

Where are the Colonias located around Laredo, El Paso and Brownsville?
Are they within the town limits? The reason I ask is because I'am considering
working with people living in the Colonias for a non profit organization. Are
these housing units livable or are some fairly decent with water and power. I'am under the impression they are similarto squats in big cities. Some squats are actually pretty decent housing except for the legality. Anybody have experience with these folks?

Colonia is a legal definition that is usuable even in my county, not on the border, for acquiring grants for sewage, water services, etc......

We are not needy and don't need assistance....we think very well for ourselves....usually don't owe a mortgage and generally consider our selves very well off in our country homes....thank you.

caprockvista

[HerkyHerk]

Conditions are similar to squats.

Some neighborhoods don't have running water or electricity. Many homes have holes in the walls, the roofs. Also, there are some homes composed of several separate plywood rooms w/ stepping stones between them. Also, most don't have paved roads. And are in flood prone areas. Dogs roam the streets, naked children play in the yards and in the street. You can find them all over Brownsville/the Rio Grande Valley. They are not hard to find. Some that come to mind are Cameron Park near Brownsville, as well as Olmito.

I do not know of colonias in/around Laredo or El Paso, b/c I'm not from there. But I have lived in the Valley/Brownsville area.

[nmnative505]

David...I am currently living in the Laredo area so I found a few names of the colonias in this area. It appears that most of them are either in the north part of town near Mines Road, off of Highway 359 which is east of town, and on Zapata Highway which runs south out of Laredo. These are the kinds of places that don't have running water or paved roads as I have witnessed both on the evening news and in person. One colonia near Laredo was on the news last night because their water was shut off, the residents believe it was shut off because it is being sold to an oil company instead. But, the residents are being told it was turned off by someone unknown to city leaders! Unbelievable that these people have to walk with buckets to get their water supply and that they have to live in these conditions, especially when compared to the massive amounts of wealth just sitting a few miles near them.

If you need any further info please let me know how I can help....below is the list of names I was able to track down:
Colonias in/near Laredo: Pueblo Nuevo, Larga Vista, Los Altos, Los Corralitos, Ranchitos Pequenitos, Los Minerales, San Carlos, Penitas West.