Photos: Alina Simone

The lack of affordable housing in Laredo causes families to seek housing in “colonias” which generally do not have water or sewer services. Approximately 11.4% of Webb county’s population lives in the colonias.

Affordability

45% of Laredo households are unable to afford the rent for a two bedroom apartment. Source: HUD. Market Rents Database at www.huduser.org:80/datasets/il/fmr99rev/hud99revtx.txt. 1999. The typical monthly rent for a two bedroom apartment in Laredo is $485. Source: Out of Reach. National Low Income Housing Coalition. 1999. A worker would have to earn $9.33 per hour in order to be able to work 40 hours per week and afford a two-bedroom unit at Laredo’s Fair Market rent. This is 181% of the present Federal Minimum wage ($5.15 per hour). Source: Out of Reach. National Low Income Housing Coalition. 1999. Laredo is ranked as one of the least affordable homeownership markets in the country. Less than half of new homes are considered affordable. Laredo ranks 177th out of a total of 181 markets in terms of housing affordability. Source: National Association of Home Builders. Annual Opportunity Index. 1999.

Housing Shortage

The lack of affordable housing in Laredo causes families to seek housing in “colonias” which generally do not have water or sewer services. Approximately 11.4% of Webb county’s population lives in the colonias. Source: Texas A& M State Data Center. Population Estimates Program. 1998-99. According to HUD, overall vacancy rates for apartments in Laredo are less than 3%. Source: U.S Deparment of Housing & Urban Development. Regional Activity Report. 1999.

Substandard Housing

Nearly one fourth of all Laredo houses are in substandard condition. Of those that are substandard, 80% are believed to be suitable for rehab while 20% are not. Source: 1995 Consolidated Plan. City of Laredo. 1995. Although there are no official estimates, one source has placed the rehabilitation needs of the colonias located in Webb county at 45 million (infrastructure and rehabilitation). Source: Laredo-Webb NHS. 1999.