DEL RIO (Texas) NEWS-HERALD

April 18, 2009

A place to call home

By Jennifer Killin
Del Rio News-Herald

Gladys and Elias Ortiz have a home to call their own.

On Friday the couple and their two young sons, Andrew and Joseph, were the first to receive keys to a house in the Villas de Val Verde complex off Hamilton Lane.

According to Del Rio Housing Authority President and Chief Executive Officer Fred Delgado, it took seven years to get to Friday’s grand opening ceremony.

The housing authority applied for a grant in 2002, said Delgado, which was funded, in part, through the United States Department of Agriculture.

The USDA picked up a large chunk of the $4.2 million project, but rising construction costs continued to push back the project’s completion and the housing authority was forced to request additional grant money.

Because of the upped costs, the project was scaled back from 50 units to 42 units.

Of the 42 homes available for migrant farm and ranch workers and their families, eight are two bedroom, 12 are three bedroom, 14 are four bedroom and eight are five bedroom units.

The Ortiz’s are moving into a two bedroom, which is a step up from living with Gladys’ parents.

“It’s nice to live on our own,” said Gladys, who works for Seneca Foods Corporation in Minnesota from June through November.

Delgado said the units are only available to migrant workers and the application process is strict.

“Fifty percent of their annual income must come from migrant work,” said Delgado. “And applicants must show proof of that to qualify.”

While the Ortiz family is happy to have a place to call home, Del Rio Housing Authority Board of Directors Chairman Henry Gomez says he’s happy to see the project complete.

“Finally,” said Gomez. “It’s become a reality and we can provide housing for 42 migrant families.”

Delgado agrees.

“I’m very happy. We worked very hard and I anticipate this will be one of the recognized developments in the USDA network,” said Delgado. “We appreciate the community’s support and will continue to work to provide affordable public housing.”