Hud approved of the idea, and soon after, HHEC became the first of its kind, in the nation. Incorporting decent housing and education on-site, along with social programs, would bring safety to Houston's Gulfton community and stabelize the community.
In 1995, southwest Houston's Gulfton area comprised over 10,000 apartment units within a square mile. The saturation of apartments caused property management companies to fail at occupying the units. Owners could not sustain their property investments and fled. Backed by HUD loans, owners soon abandoned their loans and left Hud with semi-vacant properties that were left in poor condition.
Hud found poor management, overcrowding, a lack of occupancy and crime all around the Gulfton area. Las Americas Apartments was one of these apartments situated in the Gulfton area with 635 units. Their vacancy was high, with only a 33% occupancy. Vacancy increased as lack of property income could not meet the needs of the apartments or the tennants.
At the same time, gangs of student drop outs ran rampid throughout the neighborhoods, increasing crime, selling drugs and terrorizing families. The neighborhoods were unstable and falling apart. Tenants demanded their neighborhoods be safe.
In 1995, Hud, agreeing with our vision, awarded Las Americas Apartments to HHEC.
HHEC'S MISSION: Deter crime by revitalizing and increasing safe decent housing, thus restoring occupancy at Las Americas Apartments. Additionally, we incorporated onsite education and social programs geared towards lowering the Hispanic dropout rate to curb gang violence.
In 1997, HHEC infused 6.3 million dollars into Las Americas to create decent affordable housing. The resoration brought occupancy up to 93%.
Las Americas Apartments after renovation
Las Americas Education Center
At the same time, HHEC rehabbed a clubhouse and etablished the first onsite charter school, on a HUD property, at Las Americas Apartments. The school was, the first of it's kind, in the country. HHEC managed Las Americas from 1995 through 2010.
*EDUCATION
HHEC renovated an old club building, at Las Americas Apartments, into a pre-k education center. This accomodated the overflow of H.I.S.D'S students, applying for pre-k. The overflow caused H.I.S.D to turn away pre-k children. HHEC approached H.I.S.D. to callaborate on the formation of onsite pre-k school at Las America's Apartments. HHEC's pre-K afforded children the opportunity, like other children, to not "fall behind" in their education. They were not left behind.
HHEC's Pre-k at Las Americas Education Center
Dignitaries including H.I.S.D. Super Intendant Dr. Rod Paige, Mexican Consulate Manuel Perez Cardenas, H.I.S.D Suzanne Sutherland and Kaye Strippling, and others. (above)
In 1995 in the Eastend of Houston, Texas, was a blighted neighborhood. No new construction had emerged in over 30 years. HHEC saw the need for decent safe sanitary housing and built 150 apartments in conjunction with an educational callaboration with H.I.S.D. to ease overcrowding at Carrillo Elementary.
Mayor Lee P. Brown and Fannie Mae award President of HHEC, Michael Marquez for progress in Eastend.
Eastend Apartments facilitates children throughout the community with Gulfcoast Community's Head Start Program
(Above) A callaboration with Gulf Coast Community's Head Start Program allows for onsite early childhood education at Eastend Apartments.
HHEC AWARDS
Recognition Awards:
Recognized by HUD with the Commissioner’s Award, for HHEC’s significant contributions to HUD’s mission to help people create communities of opportunity. Recognized by Assistant Secretary for Housing Federal Housing Commissioner
Certificate of Special Recognition” in recognition of HHEC’s outstanding achievements in establishing Safe Neighborhood Action Plan community, by establishing elementary school classes on site with the support of the local school district, the prenatal care and vaccination center through the county health agency, juvenile anti crime counseling program.