Habitat for Humanity Joins Harlingen, Rotary for Housing Project

Leaders with the City of Harlingen, Habitat for Humanity of the Rio Grande Valley, and the Rotary Club of Harlingen formally announced a cooperative partnership to improve neighborhoods on Wednesday, October 29, 2014.

The partnership plans to organize and implement the first Habitat for Humanity projects in Cameron County, Habitat for Humanity of the RGV Executive Director Veronica Villegas said. The City of Harlingen and the Rotary Club of Harlingen invited Habitat for Humanity to extend its opportunities for home construction and neighborhood improvements to Harlingen at the urging of District 3 City Commissioner Michael Mezmar.

A vacant lot on Washington Avenue near the Harlingen City Lake will become the partnership’s landmark site in Harlingen.

“I had been thinking about an impact project for Harlingen since I learned about some innovative community improvement programs at the 2013 National League of Cities convention,” said Mezmar, who is a Rotary Club member. “When Rotary President Kathy Preddy chose Habitat for Humanity as the signature annual project for Rotary, we sat down with City Manager Carlos Yerena. Our ideas merged and we realized the city and the club could form an effective team with Habitat for Humanity to benefit the quality of life for many people.”

Yerena also announced today (Wednesday, October 29, 2014) that a Texas National Guard crew is scheduled to visit the City of Harlingen in January for a fourth Operation Crackdown to demolish abandoned buildings and houses where there is evidence of criminal activity. Funding for Operation Crackdown comes from federal law enforcement seizure of monies and properties related to drug trafficking cases. The Texas National Guard, local supporters, and the City of Harlingen together razed 86 structures in the past three years and more than 20 dilapidated, unsafe buildings are on the list for the January mission. The city has worked with private contractors and property owners to raze another 138 unsafe buildings since 2010.

Mayor Chris Boswell said he’s proud to announce that the Harlingen Police Department working in conjunction with the National Guard’s Operation Crackdown have been significant factors in the drastic reduction in the crime rate for the past three years. In fact, the city has realized double digit crime reductions for each of the last three years with the current year-to-date crime reduction at 20 percent.

Boswell said that Habitat for Humanity will empower more families to reach common goals.

“Combining Operation Crackdown’s success in helping prevent crime with Habitat for Humanity building houses in existing neighborhoods will convert vacant property into new houses as families renew and revitalize our neighborhoods,” he said.

Mezmar said the partnership will energize families and neighborhoods with funding, land, volunteer labor, and open doors for a wide range of opportunities. Businesses, churches, schools and community service groups are invited to join the projects.

Villegas said that Habitat for Humanity will develop schedules for volunteers, provide home design options, and gather donations and materials. Families must meet income qualifications and agree to invest “sweat equity” – time and labor – working on their construction project. The 1,100-square-foot house planned for 213 E. Washington Ave. will have three bedrooms and two bathrooms.

“We don’t want to just build one house at a time. We want to continually find lots for the Habitat for Humanity with assistance from the city because we know residents, groups and businesses will feel the positive effects of the Rotary Club’s enthusiasm,” she said.

Boswell concluded the press conference by stating the City of Harlingen is proud to have its existing neighborhood cleanups, neighborhood watch groups, and recycling projects that have been underway for years to continually improve the quality of life for all citizens and visitors by making Harlingen one of the cleanest and safest communities in the Rio Grande Valley.

Habitat for Humanity of the Rio Grande Valley is part of the international Habitat for Humanity organization the assists with house construction and community revitalization projects worldwide. It gained publicity in the United States during the past few decades thanks to the active participation of President Jimmy Carter. The websites are www.habitat.org and www.habitat-rgv.org. The phone number for the office in McAllen is (956) 686-7455.