title
Presentation, discussion and possible action on the appointment of Colonia Resident Advisory Committee members
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RECOMMENDED ACTION
recommendation
WHEREAS, pursuant to Tex. Gov't Code §2306.053, the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs (the Department) is authorized to adopt rules governing the administration of the Department and its programs;
WHEREAS, pursuant to Tex. Gov't Code §2306.582, the Department is required to establish, operate, monitor and fund Colonia Self-Help Centers (CSHCs) in El Paso, Hidalgo, Starr, and Webb counties, and in Cameron County to serve Cameron and Willacy counties;
WHEREAS, in 2001 the Department opened two additional CSHCs in Maverick and Val Verde counties, as authorized by Tex. Gov’t Code §2306.582, to address the needs of colonias in those counties;
WHEREAS, in 2021 the Department opened another CSHC in Nueces County as authorized by Tex. Gov’t Code §2306.582 to address the needs of colonias in this county;
WHEREAS, pursuant to Tex. Gov't Code §2306.585 the Colonia Resident Advisory Committee (C-RAC) is required to advise the Department’s Governing Board on the needs of colonia residents and activities to be undertaken through the CSHCs;
WHEREAS, pursuant to Tex. Gov't Code §2306.584 C-RAC members are required to be appointed by the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs Governing Board; and
WHEREAS, all C-RAC member terms expire on September 2, 2025;
NOW, therefore, it is hereby
RESOLVED, that 18 Texas colonia residents named herein are hereby appointed to the C-RAC to represent their respective county in the CSHC Program for four-year terms that expire on September 3, 2029.
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BACKGROUND
The Department is required to establish CSHCs under Tex. Gov't Code §2306.582 to provide on-site technical assistance to improve the quality of life for colonia residents located in five counties (El Paso, Hidalgo, Starr, Webb, and Cameron/Willacy). Additionally, the Department is authorized to establish other CSHCs if it determines it is necessary and appropriate. Since the creation of the program in 1995, three additional CSHCs have been established in Maverick, Val Verde, and Nueces counties.
Each county selects five of their colonias to receive concentrated technical assistance in housing rehabilitation, new construction, surveying and platting, construction skills training, tool library access, credit and debt counseling, employment and financial skills development, grant preparation, infrastructure construction, contract-for-deed conversions, and capital access for mortgages and other improvements.
The Department’s Governing Board is required under Tex. Gov’t Code §2306.584 to appoint at least five persons who are residents of colonias to serve on the C-RAC. These members must reside in a colonia in a county designated to have a CSHC, and may not be a board member, contractor, or employee of, or have any ownership interest in an entity that is awarded a contract under the CSHC Program. Each county recommends individuals to the Department for C-RAC membership with input from local nonprofit organizations.
The C-RAC evaluates the needs of colonia residents; reviews programs and activities that are proposed for or operated through the CSHCs; and advises the Department’s Governing Board in order for the CSHC Program to better serve colonia residents. The C-RAC is required to meet 30 days before any CSHC contract is scheduled to be awarded or amended by the Department’s Governing Board and may meet at other times as needed. The C-RAC is currently composed of two persons from each CSHC Program county. The C-RAC term of service is four years, and the term limits for all current C-RAC members end on September 2, 2025.
Each county has recommended two colonia residents to serve on the C-RAC starting September 4, 2025, through September 3, 2029. Each proposed C-RAC member has been reviewed for previous participation, and no issues were identified. Approval of the following recommendations will allow the Department to carry out the statutory requirements of the CSHC Program and C-RAC:
COLONIA RESIDENT ADVISORY COMMITTEE ROSTER
|
COUNTY |
NAME |
CITY |
COLONIA |
|
Cameron |
Carmen Julia Martinez |
Brownsville |
Cameron Park |
|
Cameron |
Belinda Vasquez |
Rio Hondo |
Arroyo Colorado Estates |
|
El Paso |
Francisca Hernandez |
El Paso |
Dairyland |
|
El Paso |
Soledad Jimenez |
El Paso |
Agua Dulce |
|
Hidalgo |
Gloria Gale |
Edinburg |
Hoehn Drive |
|
Hidalgo |
Sabina Hernandez |
Weslaco |
Chapa #3 |
|
Maverick |
Hilda Nohemi Chavez |
Eagle Pass |
Chula Vista |
|
Maverick |
Monica D. Avalos |
Eagle Pass |
Loma Linda |
|
Nueces |
Rene Vasquez |
Robstown |
Bluebonnet |
|
Nueces |
Orlando Trevino |
Banquete |
Banquete |
|
Starr |
Imelda Montalvo |
Rio Grande City |
La Puerta |
|
Starr |
Jose Garza |
Rio Grande City |
El Refugio |
|
Val Verde |
Enriqueta Zuniga Vela |
Comstock |
Comstock |
|
Val Verde |
Maria de Jesus Rodriguez |
Del Rio |
Cienegas Terrace |
|
Webb |
Bella Angelica Garcia |
Laredo |
Los Altos |
|
Webb |
Elvira Torres |
Laredo |
Los Altos |
|
Willacy |
Daniel Garcia |
Lyford |
Sebastian |
|
Willacy |
Rosamaria Cantu Rivera |
Sebastian |
Sebastian |