Issue date: 2/26/08 Section: Aggielife

Media Credit: Fred Lambuth [Click to enlarge]

Media Credit: Chad Stoermer [Click to enlarge]

Imagine a place where bathing is a process that includes going outside a trailer and filling up a bucket of water, coming inside and boiling it and repeating these steps several times so there is an adequate amount of water to actually bathe in. Imagine walking to the nearest community Porta Potty to use the bathroom. Imagine living in dread of the rain because of the conditions it would leave the dirt roads in, or having neighbors that suffer from diseases such as dysentery and hepatitis.

The standard of living for those in Third World countries have been brought to the forefront of the media. And the trials mentioned above are a legitimate reality to inhabitants of those areas. However, these realities are hitting closer to home.

There are 400,000 Texans living in colonias. The office of the secretary of state defines a colonia as a residential area along the Texas-Mexico border that may lack basic living necessities such as potable water and sewer systems, electricity, paved roads and safe sanitary housing. The vast majority of colonia residents are citizens of the United States.

Colonia residents must rely on a confusing combination of local, state and federal programs for basic health and human services, environmental services and capital improvements - many of which come and go, depending on the political and economic climate.

"It wasn't until two years ago that the state of Texas via Senate Bill 827, that some recommendations were made. The legislation asks that all different agencies that work there come together to start filing a report," said Oscar Muñoz, Texas A&M's colonias deputy director. "Our committee not only brought together all the agencies that work down there, but also created and set up a classification report that will prioritize work that needs to be done in the colonias."

A&M has been involved with the colonias for several years. The Center for Housing and Urban Development, under the college of architecture, has a special colonias program created by the Texas Legislature in 1991, which encompasses 24 community resource centers borderwide with eight more under consideration.

"We've been out in the colonias for 15 years," Muñoz said. "What we're trying to do is to help them connect with the system, to help them learn how the system works. We help with education, with health, with human services, job training, nutrition for elderly and youth and with housing."

The program has a central office in College Station, three regional offices, 22 community resource centers, four service centers and a combined office and field staff that oscillates between 50 to 75 people. CHUD initially focused on offering a wide range of health and human services, education and workforce development and economic development programs for men, women and children of all ages. It aimed at improving the quality of their lives and furthering their self-sufficiency.

"A&M students have helped real people with real problems to get real solutions," Muñoz said. "And in the college of architecture, there have been many professors that have partnered with us and have had students as a part of their class design and create very affordable housing plans."

Those involved in the program have targeted their attention on improving the quality of life by providing essential tools for living, and giving colonia residents a home and livable community.

"We have had Aggies help us build playgrounds, design houses and help the centers connect to the Internet," Muñoz said. "And there have been students that have personally asked families what they want, and planned and given them solutions."

Page 1 of 1

Article Tools