Colonia Self–Help Center Program (SHC)

The CSHC program serves five colonias in each of the following counties: Cameron/Willacy, El Paso, Hidalgo, Maverick, Nueces, Starr, Val Verde, and Webb. Operation of the CSHCs is carried out through a local nonprofit organization, local community action agency, or local housing authority that has demonstrated the ability to carry out the functions of a CSHC. CSHCs provide concentrated on-site technical assistance to low and very low-income individuals and families in a variety of ways including housing, community development activities, infrastructure improvements, outreach and education. Key services include: housing rehabilitation; new construction; surveying and platting; construction skills training; tool library access for self-help construction; housing finance; credit and debt counseling; grant writing; infrastructure construction and access; contract-for-deed conversions; and capital access for mortgages.

Colonia SHCs are funded by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development's "Texas Community Development Block Program"(CDBG) 2.5% colonia set-aside, which is approximately $1.5M annually. CDBG funds are facilitated through a Memorandum of Understanding between the Department and the Texas Department of Agriculture and may only be provided to eligible units of general local governments.