Community Development Block Grant - Colonias

Information by State  Esta página en español  Print version   Want More Information? Colonias Quick Facts Related Information Tax Credits Equal Cash! HUD and the IRS are working together to cut your tax bills by making sure you know about all of the tax credits and help available to you. more... CPD Notice 04-03 - May 4, 2004 The purpose of this Notice is to provide guidance to field offices and grant recipients on closing out HUD Colonias Initative grants funded by the Fiscal Year 1998 HUD Appropriations Act PDF | WORD Colonias/Migrant Farmworker Practitioners Conferences This webcast series covers some of the issues facing practitioners who work with underserved communities along the U.S./Mexico border (colonias) and migrant farmworker communities across the country. Captioned and uncaptioned versions of the webcasts are available. Without Captions | With Captions Community Partners Make a Difference this Winter in New Mexico John and Carolina Guiterrez Arellano and their three small children of Sunland Park, a New Mexico border colonia, are thankful to have a home even though it has no gas, electricity, central air or heat, or an inside bathroom. more... CPD Notice 03-10 - Oct. 8, 2003 Provides information and guidance for the four border states on best practices in distributing funds to communities with substandard living conditions along the U.S./Mexico border, known as “Colonias”. more...

This page provides resources regarding HUD's Colonias program, including relevant notices & legislation, information to help you contact your local HUD office, and other news about CDBG's Colonias program.

What is the Colonia Set-aside Program? Texas, Arizona, California and New Mexico set aside up to 10 percent of their State CDBG funds for use in colonias. The set-aside funds are used for all CDBG-eligible activities that meet the needs of colonias. Most of the funds have been expended on water and sewer and housing assistance.

The Legislation The National Affordable Housing Act of 1990, section 916, required the states of Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, and California to set aside 10 percent of their CDBG funds in FY 1991 for colonias. For FY 1992 through FY 1994, HUD, in consultation with representatives of the colonias, determined an appropriate set-aside percentage, not exceeding 10 percent, for each of the four states. The set-aside was voluntary in FY 1995; it was required by the appropriations act in FY 1996, and made permanent by the 1997 appropriations act. Since 1997, Texas, New Mexico and Arizona have set aside 10% of their CDBG funds for colonias, while California has fluctuated between two and five percent during those years.

Definition for the Colonias Set-aside Program For the purposes of this program, the definition of a colonia is any identifiable community in the U.S.-Mexico border regions of Arizona, California, New Mexico, and Texas that is determined to be a colonia on the basis of objective criteria, including lack of a potable water supply, inadequate sewage systems, and a shortage of decent, safe, and sanitary housing. The border region means the area within 150 miles of the U.S.-Mexico border excluding Metropolitan Statistical Areas with populations exceeding one million.

Border Area HUD Field Offices To contact your local HUD office:

	HUD Texas State Office
	HUD San Antonio Area Office
	HUD New Mexico State Office
	HUD Arizona State Office
	HUD California State Office
	HUD Los Angeles Area Office

Useful Information for Colonias
Learn about the many additional resources to assist migrant farm workers and colonias. You will find useful links to health, economic development, capacity building, mapping and information tools, and many other resources.