Colonias and public policy in Texas and Mexico [electronic resource] : urbanization by stealth / Peter M. Ward.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Ward, Peter M., 1951-

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Slums--Mexican-American Border Region.

Slums.

Urban poor--Mexican-American Border Region.

Urban poor.

Slums--Texas.

Urban poor--Texas.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (308 p.)

Edition:

First edition.

Place of Publication:

Austin : University of Texas Press, 1999.

Language Note:

English

Summary:

Today in Texas, over 1500 colonias in the counties along the Mexican border are home to some 400,000 people. Often lacking basic services, such as electricity, water and sewerage, fire protection, policing, schools, and health care, these "irregular" subdivisions offer the only low-cost housing available to the mostly Hispanic working poor. This book presents the results of a major study of colonias in three transborder metropolitan areas and uncovers the reasons why colonias are spreading so rapidly. Peter Ward compares Texas colonias with their Mexican counterparts, many of which have developed into fully integrated working-class urban communities. He describes how Mexican governments have worked with colonia residents to make physical improvements and upgrade services-a model that Texas policymakers can learn from, Ward asserts. Finally, he concludes with a hard-hitting checklist of public policy initiatives that need to be considered as colonia housing policy enters its second decade in Texas.

Contents:

Introduction to the border region and to the case study cities

Land and housing production in the colonias of Texas and Mexico

Servicing no man's land : ambivalence versus commitment in the Texas-Mexico colonias

Settlements or communities? Social organization and participation in the colonias

Social services to colonias : shifting the focus toward means rather than ends

Conclusion

Texas colonias and the next policy wave.

Notes:

Description based upon print version of record.

Includes bibliographical references (p. 269-278) and index.

Description based on print version record.

ISBN:

0-292-79998-5

OCLC:

967562045