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Researchers traced the first colonias in Texas to the 1950s and early 1960s. This is when developers created subdivisions in unincorporated areas that had absolutely no value. They were mostly invisible due to physical isolation. Properties were divided into small lots, which would be bought by low-income families. To this day residents are mostly Hispanic and about 65% of the population was born in the United States. The colonia community then exploded in the 1990s where the number of residents almost doubled from 1990 to 1996. Colonia residents face significant challenges with the lack of financial mobility, in order to escape the colonia bubble. In the June of 1996, the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs successfully obtained a waiver from HUD to set new housing standards for colonias. The new standards provide a basis for safe and sanitary housing to alleviate the existing health risks in the area.

Sociology of Globalization
Colonias constantly face problems with the increased globalization in the world. The US-Mexican Border is most affected by this globalization where growth of colonias turned to informal housing as a survival strategy. People shifted from the traditional agricultural labor to work in transportation, construction, and manufacturing which made room for colonias to grow at the borders. As technology is constantly improving, less and less unskilled workers are required to work which makes colonias such an attractive housing option. In these times, the government cut back on social welfare spending which restricted programs for affordable housing. Colonias are structural responses to this globalization and the diminishing wages for labor. Policies of trade liberalization and the border’s strategic location create an economy of low-wage work that has attracted many migrants.

Economy of Colonias
Since colonias consist of low-income communities, families cannot afford goods in a formal economy. The average household income in colonias is about $3,000 lower than the average household income of the U.S. In a random survey by the Texas Department of State Health Services, it was founded that half of the families make less than $834 a month. The unemployment rate for families in colonias is 18% compared to neighboring cities with a 11% unemployment rate. This leads them to supporting a parallel economy of street vendors and flea markets. And since most people living in colonias are Hispanic, they lack English language skills that prevent them from seeking assistance. Unemployment is popular in colonias as most people lack the necessary education. About 70% of colonia residents have not graduated from high school, which hampers their job mobility and suppresses wages.

“Progressive Realization” model (Informality, Illegality, Inequality)
As the social distance between the upper class and lower class expands, informality expands. Less opportunities are available to the uneducated and poor. The rich get richer and the poor get poorer. Most colonia residents buy their land on a contract for deed because they do not have enough to qualify for financing. This is when land ownership stays with the seller until the whole purchase is paid off. This land eventually ends up to be worthless as the market for colonia housing is very low. To date, the housing quality of colonias continues to be unregulated. However, Larson has proposed a policy of progressive realization where policies gradually extend standards in colonias. Incentives such as microcredit programs are being implemented which then allows families to reach acceptable levels of housing quality.

Infrastructure of Housing
Colonias lack all of the essential physical infrastructures and public services: clean water, sanitary sewage, and adequate roads. Houses are often built little by little and often start as shabby tents of wood and cardboard. Only 54% of colonia residents in Texas have sewer service and about 50% drink water from a non-tap source. Most houses cannot even pass inspections to qualify for repairs and further improvements. Owners always add their own improvements and rarely use builders because of their economic status. The housing situation in Cameron County, Texas lacks certain infrastructure and requires $44 million to upgrade all of the homes. Financially, families living in colonias lack the assets to add improvements in order for sustainability. Fortunately in 1995, colonia legislation prohibited developers from selling homes without wastewater treatment.

Housing Issues
Colonias are known to make housing affordable for the poor. However, families living in colonias are still paying on average, 58% of their income on housing. An average two-bedroom apartment in Albuquerque, New Mexico costs $830. That is about 20% of the average income in the U.S. Furthermore, without a clean title many families put their life savings into houses that cannot be easily sold. Because of the legal uncertainty that accompanies informality, colonias housing are uninvestable. It is hard to resell their homes for more unlike middle class homes, which raise in price. Not only does colonia housing cost too much in perspective to the resident’s earnings, but also the living conditions are significantly worse.

Environmental Injustices/ Cumulative Impacts
Minority communities usually bear more of a burden of hazardous waste facilities. Low income, rural communities are prime targets for placement of environmentally hazardous facilities because of their inability to fight back and file lawsuits. Most of these undesirable facilities are located within a 10 mile radius in some of New Mexico’s colonias. These include landfills, power plants, waste facilities, etc which all have negative impacts on the communities life-long health. Furthermore the legal options available to colonia residents against the placement of these hazardous waste facilities are slim. First off, many are unaware of the public benefits they are qualified for that may be extremely helpful. Applying for public benefits is then a struggle when extensive documentation and many visits to state offices are required. Immigrants then face extra barriers like language barriers and fear of retaliation against family members without any form of identification.