U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
Office of Community Planning and Development
Located in the region known as the Lower Rio Grande Valley or "The
Valley," Hidalgo County is in the southern part of Texas. It is bounded on
the west by Starr County and on the north by Brooks County. To the east are
Kennedy, Willacy, and Cameron Counties. South of Hidalgo County is the Rio
Grande River, which divides the United States from the Republic of Mexico.
For purposes of the Community Development Block Grant, Hidalgo County
is considered an urban county. The cities within its consortium are Alamo,
Alton, Donna, Edcouch, Elsa, Granjeno, Hidalgo, La Joya, La Villa, Mercedes,
Palmview, Penitas, Progreso, Progreso Lakes, San Juan, and Weslaco.
The Consolidated Plan for Hidalgo County has a budget of $11.5 million, $9.3 million of which comes from Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds, $1.9 million from HOME Investment Partnership Program (HOME) funds, and $315,000 from Emergency Shelter Grant (ESG) funds.
The Consolidated Plan for Hidalgo County was developed with the assistance of the Hidalgo County Consortium cities, public housing authorities, and local nonprofit organizations. A questionnaire was sent to 11 public housing authorities and 60 local nonprofit organizations, and over 22 public hearings were held among the various cities, to determine the various needs of the communities.
Hidalgo County covers a large area -- approximately 1,556 square miles --
and is divided into 4 precincts that include 16 consortium cities. According to
the Texas Water Department Board, there are about 868 colonias in the county.
Colonias are identifiable, unincorporated areas that lack basic infrastructure
and decent housing.
The 1990 census reported the county's population as 383,545, a 35
percent increase from the 1980 census. The annual growth rate is 3.2 percent.
Hidalgo County's population is 85 percent Hispanic.
Households are large. The average Hidalgo household had 4.06
residents in 1990. The Colonias Factbook lists the average colonia household at
4.8 persons.
Of the 103,514 households in Hidalgo County, 22,248 are classified as
extremely low-income (earning 30 percent or less of median family income
[MFI]); 16,594 are very low-income (earning 31-50 percent of MFI); and 18,921
are low-income (earning 51-80 percent of MFI).
Hidalgo County leads all Texas counties in agricultural production, including cotton, citrus, grain sorghum, and sugarcane. Manufacturing employment increased in the 1980s, while in the 1990s the retail sector has shown the largest growth. Of special importance to the Hidalgo County economy has been trade with Mexico, which accounted for much of the region's growth. Despite this the county's unemployment rate in March 1995 was 19.2 percent.
Approximately 62 percent of housing units in Hidalgo County are
single-family homes. Mobile homes are the second most prevalent type of housing,
comprising 20 percent of all dwelling units. The high number of mobile homes is
attributed to the "winter Texans" who come to the area during the
winter months, and to the low-income families who find it an affordable way to
live.
In 1990, 71 percent of the households were owner-occupied. Hispanic
households were more likely to rent than white households. The elderly made up
17 percent of the homeowners. Because of the high demand for housing, Hidalgo
County had only a 4 percent vacancy rate in 1990.
Large housing units are also in high demand because the county's
average household size is greater than four individuals. The 1990 census
reported that 91 percent of owner households and 94 percent of renter
households lived in overcrowded conditions. Residents of colonias are three
times as likely to live in substandard housing as urban or rural households.
Hidalgo County has a total of 103,514 housing units. Of these, 8,652 substandard
units and 30,902 units that are considered substandard, but suitable for
rehabilitation.
Extremely low-income households in Hidalgo County are more likely to be
large and headed by an elderly person on a fixed income or by a single parent.
Such households are also more likely to include persons with disabilities. Of
the 22,248 extremely low-income households, 11,755 are renters, and 10,493 are
homeowners. While overcrowding was an issue for this category, affordable
housing was a greater concern. Among renters, 6,295 pay more than 30 percent of
their income for housing and 4,591 pay more than 50 percent of their income for
housing. Among homeowners, 6,045 pay more than 30 percent of their income for
housing, and 3,806 pay more than 50 percent of their income for housing.
Among very low-income households, 5,765 are renters, and 10,829 are
owners. Households in this category are also more likely to be headed by an
elderly person on a fixed income or by a single parent and were more likely to
include persons with disabilities.
There are 13,297 homeowners in the low-income household category. As
in the other lower income groups, low-income households face specific problems,
such as overcrowding, substandard housing, and inability to acquire a home.
Households in this category often included younger families with children,
families with parents employed in low or moderate wage jobs, or elderly
households.
The 1994 State of Texas Comprehensive Housing Affordability Strategy (CHAS)
Committee unanimously decided to abstain from using the 1990 census data on its
homeless population because it found that census takers severely underestimated
the number of homeless persons in Hidalgo County and the State. This decision
was supported by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).
An acceptable count of the homeless population and their shelter
needs in Texas is currently unavailable. Mujeres Unidas/Women Together, which
offers programs for battered and abused spouses, shelters up to 1,159 clients
in immediate physical danger.
The Hidalgo County American Red Cross, Community Service Agency,
Mujeres Unidas/Women Together, and the Salvation Army offer services that assist
individuals and families at-risk of becoming homeless. Many of those at-risk
live in rural areas. The Texas Department of Aging estimates that almost 23
percent of rural households are impoverished, compared to only 17.2 percent of
urban households.
There are 10 public housing authorities (PHAs) in the Hidalgo County Consortium and the county has its own public housing authority. The PHAs administer 1,331 public housing units and 1,476 Section 8 certificates and vouchers. The certificate program assists 1,276 families and elderly and disabled households per month, and the Voucher Program provides housing for 200 county residents.
The Consolidated Plan for Hidalgo County identified the following barriers to affordable housing:
Hidalgo County consulted with the County Health Department, which says that no incidents of exposure to lead-based paint have been reported.
About 10 percent of the total population is over the age of 65, and 19
percent of that population is over the age of 80. Nine percent of elderly renter
households and 17 percent of elderly homeowner households are classified as
very low- or low-income households.
Supportive services such as transportation, meals, and recreational
events are offered by organizations such as Amigos del Valle, Inc.; Tender
Loving Care; Sunglo, Inc.; CASA Real; El Recreo; and Casa del Sol. For those
with more intensive needs, Hidalgo County has several congregate care
facilities.
During the past year, the Palmer Drug Abuse Program provided services
to 1,548 persons. The Valley AIDS Council, Corazon Unidos, and Hidalgo County
Health Care Corporation provide services to the 220 persons in the county with
HIV/AIDS, but there is no housing exclusively for persons with HIV/AIDS. There
are no residential facilities for the mentally ill or physically or
developmentally disabled.
The Consolidated Plan for Hidalgo County identified more youth and senior centers as strong community development needs. More health facilities, better transportation services, infrastructure improvements, and employment training were also identified as current community development needs.
The Consolidated Plan for Hidalgo County identified the following housing priorities:
The Consolidated Plan for Hidalgo County identified the following community development priorities:
Because of the high unemployment rate, the county's Office of Education and
Training provides job training programs to 4,000 persons per year. The goals of
the county's antipoverty strategy are to place trained persons in permanent
jobs in the public or private sector and remove them from the poverty level to
a better standard of living.
In addition, the county seeks other sources of funds to provide the
necessary infrastructure and encourage the development and expansion of local
industry and business in the area.
The county participates as a grantee in a number of Federal programs
including Job Training and Partnership Act funds, Community Service Agency
(HHS), and the Head Start Program. In 1994 Hidalgo County was one of four
counties designated as a Rural Empowerment Zone.
The Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs provides
funding for infrastructure development activities in the colonias. The Texas
Parks and Wildlife Grants assist in constructing recreational facilities
throughout the county. The Texas Water Development Board provides funding for
water and sewer needs.
Local revenue in Hidalgo County covers basic community services. The
county is committed to community development and has continuously established
partnerships with local school districts, municipal governments, and economic
development corporations to create an environment that is attractive to new and
existing businesses.
Local lending institutions will continue to be asked to actively
participate in the implementation of this strategy. Local lenders have
demonstrated their commitment to housing with the participation in the HOME
First-time Homebuyer Program and in Community Reinvestment Act initiatives.
In addition to its membership in the Coalition of Social Service Agencies and its establishment of the Urban County Advisory Council, the county works with various public agencies and nonprofit organizations in the coordination of the Consolidated Plan.
Key projects among the 125 identified by the Consolidated Plan for Hidalgo County are:
MAP 1 depicts points of interest in the jurisdiction.
MAP 2 depicts points of interest and low-moderate
income areas.
MAP 3 depicts points of interest, low-moderate
income areas, and minority concentration levels.
MAP 4 depicts points of interest, low-moderate
income areas, and unemployment levels.
MAP 5 depicts points of interest, low-moderate
income areas, unemployment levels, and proposed HUD funded projects.
MAP 6 is a map, sectioned by neighborhood, which
depicts points of interest, low-moderate income areas, unemployment levels, and
proposed HUD funded projects.
MAP 7 depicts points of interest, low-moderate
income areas, unemployment levels, and proposed HUD funded projects within one
of the four neighborhoods indicated in MAP 6.
MAP 8 depicts points of interest, low-moderate
income areas, unemployment levels, and proposed HUD funded projects within
another of the four neighborhoods indicated in MAP 6
.
MAP 9 depicts points of interest, low-moderate
income areas, unemployment levels, and proposed HUD funded project(s) from a
street level vantage point; in addition, a table provides information about the
project.