PHARR, TX — The Pharr Housing Authority says its new Camellia Court Apartments are nearly ready to open, offering fresh housing options as hundreds of people remain on the waitlist for government-assisted homes. The complex at 920 W. Villegas St. includes 80 units and comes with stainless-steel appliances, energy-efficient finishes, a swimming pool and a playground.
Officials said the project has been in the works for three years. They have not released an exact construction cost, but said the development ran into the millions and was funded through a mix of grants, federal Housing and Urban Development money and housing authority funds.
A waitlist that has stretched to about 800 households
The housing authority says roughly 800 people are waiting for government-assisted housing in Pharr. The new apartments are expected to help ease that demand, though they will not clear the list on their own.
For applicants, the pace has been slow. One resident, Aleixa Najar, said she has been on the waitlist for nearly three years and is listed at number 158. She said she has been told the process would take time because the apartments were still under construction.
Najar said she has lived with her parents, brother and daughter for the past 11 years in public housing in the Las Milpas area and wants a place of her own. She also said she sees both benefits and drawbacks in the delay, even while recognizing the need for more units.
What Camellia Court includes and where it sits in Pharr
Camellia Court Apartments sit at 920 W. Villegas St., giving the housing authority a new site to place families and other eligible residents from its long list of applicants. The 80-unit complex was presented as a major addition to the local public-housing inventory.
Beyond the number of apartments, the project was designed with amenities that are more often associated with market-rate housing. The authority says the property includes stainless-steel appliances, energy-saving finishes, a swimming pool and a playground, all intended to make the complex more functional and attractive for residents.
That combination matters in a market where affordable units are limited and demand remains high. The new development gives the authority another tool to respond to the backlog it has been managing for years.
Funding came from grants, federal housing money and local authority resources
Pharr Housing Authority officials said they paid for the project with a blend of funding sources rather than one single pot of money. The mix included grant money, federal Housing and Urban Development funds and money from the housing authority itself.
They did not give a precise dollar figure for the work, but described the total as being in the millions. That leaves the overall price tag broad, though the authority was clear that the development required a substantial investment.
The financing approach reflects how public-housing projects often come together over time. In this case, officials said the three-year timeline helped bring the apartments from planning and construction to the point where inspections are now underway.
Inspections are underway before residents can move in
Crews are currently inspecting the finished apartments, which is the final step before the first residents can be allowed inside. The housing authority expects move-ins to begin by at least October, assuming the inspection process stays on schedule.
That timeline means the property is close, but not yet fully open for occupancy. Officials have already shown the completed complex to Housing Authority Chairman Mario Liz Cano, who toured the apartments after construction wrapped up.
Neither Liz Cano nor Executive Director Lazaro Guerra was available for on-camera interviews, but the authority’s message was clear: the project is finished, the units are in the final review stage, and the agency is preparing to start filling apartments soon.
Why the new apartments matter for families still waiting
For families stuck on long waiting lists, the opening of Camellia Court represents possible relief, even if the waiting time has already stretched for years. The apartments will not erase the shortage in one move, but they add real inventory in a system where every unit counts.
Najar’s comments reflect that tension. She said the extra housing would be helpful, but she also knows the process can be frustrating for applicants who have already spent years waiting. That mix of hope and hesitation is familiar in places where demand for affordable housing continues to exceed supply.
Once the units are occupied, the housing authority will have a new example of how expanded public housing can respond to local need, one apartment at a time.
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