Webb County Self-Help Center: Home Improvement, Housing Rehabilitation, Tool Lending, Clean-Up Campaigns, and House-to-Line Connections

How it works

The Webb County Self-Help Center is a county program serving colonia residents in its targeted area. It provides several forms of housing help: construction materials for homeowner-performed improvements, a tool lending library, housing rehabilitation, new construction for qualifying residents, house-to-line connections, construction classes, financial literacy classes, computer literacy classes, and periodic clean-up campaigns.

What the money or services cover

• Home improvement materials: The program provides construction materials and instructional construction classes for participants. The homeowner must perform the improvement themselves.
• Tool lending: Eligible residents can borrow needed tools at no cost.
• Housing rehabilitation: The program assists eligible homeowners with rehabilitation of their homes so the home will meet TDHCA Colonia Housing Standards.
• New construction: The program constructs new homes for qualifying colonia residents.
• House-to-line connections: The program assists eligible homeowners with the cost of first-time water and sewer service connections.
• Clean-up campaigns: The program periodically organizes lot clean-up/disposal campaigns for unwanted items.

Amounts and matching

The page does not state a cash grant amount for the current services. It does state that the tool library is free to eligible residents and that construction materials are provided by the program. For past grant cycles, the page lists several funding amounts and project counts, but those are historical and not current award amounts.

How to apply

The page says program requirements include income eligibility and other criteria. It also says the targeted-area resident must use the materials to improve the living condition of the home and must return borrowed tools in good condition within the allotted time.

Timing and deadlines

The page does not give current application deadlines. It says the center provides clean-up campaigns periodically and offers monthly/regular classes, with the center open every Wednesday until 7:00 p.m.