Eagle Pass Housing Authority Board of Commissioners Names Criselda Salazar as Executive Director

By: Miguel Munoz, Eagle Pass Business Journal, Inc., Copyright 2017

The Housing Authority of the City of Eagle Pass, Texas Board of Commissioners unanimously named former Interim Executive Director Criselda Salazar as the new Executive Director at their regular meeting held on Thursday, May 25, 2017, filling the top administrative position that had been vacant since September 21, 2016.

Criselda Salazar was previously appointed Interim Executive Director on September 21, 2016 by the Board of Commissioners upon the sudden and unexpected resignation of former Executive Director Maria “Mary” D. Velasquez after being in the position for less than three years.  Velasquez cited “personal reasons” for resigning as Executive Director in September 2016.  Velasquez is currently employed with the Kickapoo Traditional Tribe of Texas Department of Public Housing.

Salazar has over 18 years of experience working with the Eagle Pass Housing Authority, rising through the rank and file of the local public housing agency to its top administrative position during these years.

The Eagle Pass Housing Authority provides important public housing to low-income residents within the City of Eagle Pass, Texas, including a viable Section 8 Program for local landlords and low-income tenants.

The Eagle Pass Housing Authority receives its funding from the United States Housing and Urban Development Department under the current leadership of former Republican Presidential Candidate and Secretary Dr. Ben Carson.  Under the President Trump Administration, significant cuts in federal funding in public housing are being proposed for the 2017-18 fiscal year.  Public housing in Eagle Pass and throughout the United States faces many financial and fiscal challenges during President Trump’s Administration.

Prior to Mary D. Velasquez being appointed Executive Director, the Eagle Pass Housing Authority was under the leadership of former Executive Director Carla Y. Mancha, which is now the Executive Director of the Housing Authority of the City of Brownsville, Texas while earning national public housing projects and awards in that fair Rio Grande Valley community.

The Eagle Pass Housing Authority Board of Commissioners include Chairperson Ana B. Gonzalez, Vice-Chairperson Rolando Salinas, and Commissioners Rudy Valdez and Delfina Garza.  The EPHA Board of Commissioners are appointed by Eagle Pass Mayor Ramsey English Cantu.