The Brownsville Housing Authority
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The Brownsville Housing Authority
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Brownsville Housing Authority
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Information for Residents
The Brownsville Housing Authority HistoryIn 1939, the Public Housing Administration approved funding in the amount of $650,000.00 for the construction of Tex 7-1, 150 family dwellings. The development was named Buena Vida. Ground breaking for Buena Vida was on Friday, November 3, 1939, at the site bounded by 14th, Ringgold, 16th and Tyler Streets. Tex 7-1 was completed, and dedication was held on August 15, 1940. On June 28, 1940, an application was submitted for the development of Tex 7-2. Funding was approved by the Public Housing Administration for the construction of 50 family dwellings at a cost of $144,000.00. The development was completed and dedicated on September 17, 1942. The development built between Jefferson and Washington Streets was named Bougainvillea. In 1941, Chairwoman, Mrs. Volney Tayler traveled to Washington, D.C. to secure more low-income housing. In 1943, funding was approved for Tex 7-3 in the amount of $157,180.00. The development was completed July 1, 1944 and was named Victoria Gardens. The site for Tex 7-3 is bounded by 18th Street (then), International Blvd. (now), Grant and Lincoln Streets. After World War II, the housing shortage was critical throughout the United States. Brownsville needed 791 additional low-income housing units, but Congressional action was necessary. The Housing Act of 1949 (an amendment of the basic 1937 Act) was a major break-through in the development of an overall national housing policy. It stated in part: "The Congress hereby declares that the general welfare and security of the Nation and the health and living standards of its people require housing production and related community development sufficient to remedy the serious housing shortage, the elimination of substandard and other inadequate housing through the clearance of slums and blighted areas, and the realization, as soon as feasible, of the goal of a decent home and suitable living environment for every American family, thus contributing to the development and redevelopment of communities and to the advancement of the growth, wealth, and security of the nation." In view of the major breakthrough, the Brownsville Housing Authority was approved a total of $2,121,184.00 for 250 units which were to be constructed over a two-year period. Tex 5 was completed in December, 1951 and Tex 4 was completed June 18, 1952. These developments were constructed on property adjacent to McDavitt Boulevard and were named Poinsettia. The Housing Act went through many struggles from 1953 through 1659, over the passage of major housing bills. In view of the struggles, Congress passed the Housing Act of 1961 with, alacrity.In 1959, the Brownsville Housing Authority had submitted a program reservation to the Public Housing Administration for Tex7-6. With the passage of the 1961 Housing Act, the Brownsville Housing Authority was approved $1,541,558.82 for 150 units. This development was constructed on a site bounded by Roosevelt, Lincoln and 21st Streets. It was named Citrus Gardens. The Housing Act of 1965 (Public Law 89-4), besides changing from the Public Housing Administration to a newly created cabinet level, Department of Housing & Urban Development (HUD) established federal assistance, administered through local public agencies, to provide rehabilitation grants for home repairs and rehabilitation. This Act also authorized the leasing of existing private housing by local housing authorities for occupancy by low-income families (Section 23). In April 1966, HUD Commissioner Marie McGuire approved a Program Reservation for housing for the elderly, and in 1967, HUD approved 3 million dollars for construction of Tex 7-7, 200 unit, 14 story elderly high-rise. The site selected was the Incarnate Word Convent. Construction did not get underway until the latter part of 1968 due to delays created by the Committee to Preserve the Convent. The development was completed in February, 1971, and was named Villa del Sol. The 1968 Housing and Urban Development Act (Public Law 90-448) authorized the Neighborhood Development Program under which urban renewal activities could be carried out in annual increments. This act also created the Section 235 (home ownership) and Section 236 (rental) mortgage insurance program with below-market interest rates as low as 1 percent. Changes to the act in the 70's included Community Development Block Grants, and created a new federally assisted housing program Section 8 which authorized federal "housing assistance payment contracts; to sponsors. It also established a "moderate rehabilitation" category under the Section 8 Housing Program. The Brownsville Housing Authority submitted the first application for funds for the Section 8 Program in 1975. The first allocation approved was for 187 units. As of today, the Housing Authority is assisting 2,018 low-income families under the Section 8 Program, of which 132 families utilized the Moderate Rehabilitation Program. This new "leased housing" program-Section 8-was the alternative to government-owned public housing. Even though funds for new conventional public housing were almost non-existing, the Brownsville Housing Authority was able to obtain an additional 144 units of low-income public housing in the 80's. Tex 7-8 were built in 1981, it was named Linda Vista and Tex 7-11, 36 units were built in 1987, and it was named the Citrus Gardens Annex. In the 90's the demand for housing continued to be a necessity for low-income families; in view of grant funds being available through the Department of Housing & Urban Development, the Brownsville Housing Authority was able to apply for and obtain two Grants. In 1994 /1995 the Housing Authority was able to build Tex 7-17,45 units and was named Rose Gardens; in 1997, Tex 7-18, 40 units was built and named Sunset Terrance. The Brownsville Housing Authority has strived and set goals to continue improving the quality of life for our residents by providing them affordable housing and educating them to become self sufficient and outstanding citizens in the community of Brownsville. The Housing Authority continues to provide opportunities for public housing residents to be employed with the Housing Authority as a means of cultivating their economic and social progress.
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Reasonable Accommodations