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Inter-American Relations Committee concerned about improving housing availability
The Inter-American Relations Committee for the McAllen Economic Development Corporation is
concerned about improving the availability of housing in Reynosa for maquila workers.
"Some of the common issues, but are not limited to, include transportation, education and housing," said Jimmy Santos, chairman of
the Inter-American Relations Committee.
Critical issues are discussed by the Bi-national Committee, consisting of 10 people from McAllen and Reynosa. who try to identify issues that need to be addressed and improved.
"We felt that the issues we were talking about affected Reynosa citizens, and the maquila industry, which is closely linked to the economic considerations for the city and the Valley," Santos said. "This is how we
became involved in the housing problem."
In light of an influx of people from southern Mexico into the area, housing is scarce. It's not an unusual sight initially to see families of maybe eight or nine, including
aunts, uncles and cousins, living in the same home.
"There is a tremendous drive among these people to better themselves. All these people want is the opportunity to work," Santos said.
The committee
identified that housing needs can be addressed at two different levels. The first one is through the government-subsidized housing program normally provided for entry-level employees.
Funded by a social security
type tax, the vast majority of such housing is located near industrial parks. Since many of the workers don't have an automobile, they have to live within a short walking distance from work.
"Some maquilas do
work with the employees in providing or subsidizing somekind of the transportation," Santos said.
Another type of housing in critical shortage is middle-income housing.
"Very frequently, maquilas hire employees
of higher skills such as, human relations managers, industrial engineers, highly trained computer technicians and production managers," Santos said.
When maquilas attract these people to the border area to work, they
place the employee in a hotel until the worker can find a home for the family that stayed behind. What happens in most cases is that if adequate housing is found, it is going to be expensive or scarce, or, in many
cases, non-existent.
The committee toured the housing areas in Reynosa and conducted a survey of all these areas. "We identified areas where some of these homes are located," Santos said.
Middle-income housing is not located near industrial parks.
One of the things they discovered is that, if they can find housing for employees, they will be able to attract more employees. They also ensure that the
area the employee relocates to has a quality of life similar to the area the employee came from.
"Of course, the initial benefit is that if you're going to do this, you're going to have a reduction in your turnover
rate," Santos said.
A maquila will be able to retain an employee for a longer period and there will be less absenteeism.
"This is why they are critically interested in middle income housing," he said.
Financing is a very complex process.
"Normally, the person needs to have worked for a maquila for at least a year. Once the application is completed, the process takes several months," said Santos.
Geo, a
national construction company, has stated that 600 people inquire about housing in Reynosa, about 20 percent could purchase a home, and 20 percent would not qualify because their income is to low. The vast
majority, 60 percent, could not afford the down payment," Santos said. |
