ORCA serves colonias throughout Texas, including communities located near the Texas-Mexico border and non-border colonias, by providing rural cities and counties with funding for a variety of projects designed to help colonia residents improve their quality of life.

As many as 400,000 rural Texans live in colonias, unincorporated communities that often lack the most basic living necessities, such as potable water and sewer systems, electricity, paved roads and safe housing. Because they are unincorporated, colonias are part of rural Texas, whether they are located within 150 miles of the Texas-Mexico border or on the periphery of a large city in a non-border area. Poverty, sub-standard infrastructure and other circumstances, such as the lack of platting and property title issues, preclude solutions and keep colonia residents stranded in unhealthy living conditions.

The agency's programs support preliminary project planning costs, fund access to first-time water and sewer services, and cover project-associated costs not covered by other sources. Colonias may qualify to receive funding from any ORCA program, including community development, rural health and economic development programs. In addition, ORCA provides funding for the operation of seven Colonia Self-Help Centers, the activities of which are administered by the Office of Colonia Initiatives (OCI) of the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs (TDHCA). The services offered by the Colonia Self-Help Centers include tool libraries, housing rehabilitation, and contract for deed conversion.

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