Click here for the winners of the CDQS Design Competition

Mission of Casas del Quinto Sol Housing Development

To make the colonias a better place to live by investing in efforts to expand affordable homeownership opportunities for those underserved by traditional markets.

Program Description

In November 2003, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) commissioned a study to locate a site for a proposed initiative called the Model Colonia Initiative.  The purpose was to assess the conditions in an unincorporated community, i.e., identify the primary physical infrastructure needs and possible solutions for those needs, with particular emphasis on a long-range land use and zoning plan, flood control/drainage plan, water, wastewater, utility, roads, and housing. The community selected was Vado/Del Cerro, New Mexico .  

HUD defines a colonia as a rural community located within 150 miles from the U.S./Mexico Border that is lacking in basic infrastructure such as water, wastewater, roads, flood control and/or housing.

On April 8, 2003, the Doña Ana County Commission issued Resolution 2003-46, officially designating the Vado/Del Cerro Community as the initial Model Colonia for the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Model Colonia Initiative. An extensive Master Planning Initiative developed an inventory of the community's priorities, which included affordable housing.  As a result of the Model Colonia Initiative, the Colonias Partners formed the Casas del Quinto Sol Affordable Housing Initiative.