Mission

AYUDA is a bilingual, grassroots non-profit organization for the purpose of advocating for quality health care, better housing, improved environmental protection standards, quality education and leadership training for low-income families and residents in El Paso County’s lower valley region, called colonias, defined as by the federal government as “rural or unincorporated subdivisions, located within 150 miles of the U.S.-Mexico border (and) characterized by substandard housing, inadequate plumbing and sewage systems, lack of access to safe and sanitary water and disproportionately high rates of poverty and unemployment.” AYUDA works to eliminate obstacles that prevent access to quality water and adequate housing in colonias. Additionally, AYUDA advocates for quality education programs for children and adults. AYUDA’s target area includes colonias that surround the rural town of San Elizario, located east of the El Paso city limits.