| Approximately 16,700 people are estimated to be living in the 49 colonias that are located in Webb County in the Texas border region, the area served by Texas A&M International University (TAMIU). The region of Texas bordering Mexico continues to lag behind the rest of the United States despite a significant growth in population and employment. The region ranks high in the nation for its poverty rate, percentage of impoverished schoolchildren, unemployment rate, and share of adults lacking a high school degree.
Nowhere are the border region's problems of poverty greater than in the thousands of colonias located in the area. Although many colonias can be found throughout the rural areas, most have developed in the fringe areas of the border's metropolitan urban communities. Colonias are characterized by substandard housing, inadequate plumbing, poor sewage disposal and wastewater systems, lack of paved streets and drainage, and limited access to clean water. Sixty-one percent of the people living in the colonias live in poverty (nearly twice as many as other county residents) and 21 percent are unemployed. Per capita income is $3,010 compared to $6,771 for the county.
One out of five colonia residents do not have a high school degree. Two-thirds do not speak English at all or not very well. Their physical, social, and economic isolation prevents these impoverished communities from being served by many education, healthcare, economic development, human service, housing, and youth and elderly programs. Along with the colonias' isolation are family poverty, child neglect, drug addiction, teenage pregnancy, and crime. Residents want to learn and work, but lack knowledge of how to even begin. Deep and bitter disappointment over prior experiences in accessing education and training programs often discourages residents to try and avail themselves of these programs. TAMIU, through its Texas Center for Border Economic and Enterprise Development, is working to strengthen the economic infrastructure of the colonias and promote economic self-sufficiency through enterprise development.
|
