Commissioners pick colonias for next self-help housing contract, authorize application

Maverick County Commissioners on July 25 approved the county\'s application steps for the next Colonia Self Help Center contract and selected targeted colonias across precincts after an extended discussion about eligibility metrics and outreach.

A program representative told the court the county is finishing its current contract and described recent accomplishments: "we are currently finishing up our existing self help center contract ... we've completed 9 housing rehabilitations," and proposed that the new contract focus on Loma Bonita (Precinct 4), Pueblo Nuevo (Precinct 2), Quemado (Precinct 3), Chula Vista 1–5 (Precinct 1) and a fifth precinct area to be decided. Commissioners discussed HUD low-to-moderate-income thresholds, noting the program uses older census data (the representative said the agency still relies on 2015 data for some calculations) and that flood-zone constraints and population distribution affect eligibility for some colonias.

Officials weighed whether to run door-to-door surveys (the representative estimated about 200 surveys could be required to materially change low/mod income percentages) and discussed complementary programs such as the Amy Young elder/disabled repair grant and HOME funding that could support relocations out of flood zones. After debate, the court voted unanimously to proceed with the precinct assignments and authorized submission of the Colonia Self Help Program application package to the state agency identified in the record as "DDHCA," authorizing the judge to sign the resolution.

What happens next: staff will finalize application materials and the judge will sign the resolution authorizing submission; commissioners asked staff to continue refining outreach and eligibility verifications prior to final award decisions.