Texas Legislature chartered the Colonias Program in 1991 and asked the College of Architecture at Texas A&M University to oversee it.
Many of the services provided at the program’s community centers, which are tailored to meet the unique needs of each service area. Made possible by partnerships with local entities and mostly operated by county governments or local school districts, they provide classrooms, libraries, medical examination rooms, auditoriums and fully equipped playgrounds. The centers offer colonia residents a place to exchange information, identify problems and develop solutions while serving as a platform for the delivery of a wide range of services and as a community hub and meeting place.
Aiming to reduce isolation, increase self-sufficiency and enhance the quality of life in these communities, the Colonias Program has partnered with more than 400 agencies to provide educational services, GED instruction, economic and community development assistance, and programs addressing literacy, job training, dropout prevention, job referral, health education, youth and the elderly.
