During winter months, these children lack the proper home insulation and protection, which can lead to further health, emotional, or hygiene complications. These homes also had clothes lines with clothing pins all over the wire. If they have to air dry their clothes or set them out to sun dry, they probably do not have a dryer or the means to purchase one. The homes that were being occupied by families were wooden homes with hammered laminate roof tops. There was even a small RV being used as a live-in home. This tells us that there are no specified restrictions as to what is permissible as a home settlement and what is not. There were laminate roof tops, wooden homes, RVs, abandoned constructions and junk yards all within a mile radius. .
The safety of these families is a great concern; their homes are not properly secured or constructed. El Gato Road is the name of the street where Marcia Garza Elementary is located. Less than three yards down that main street, which is walking distance to the campus, there is a vacant lot. This lot has all kinds of trash and construction scraps just lying there. Next to this lot there is a home which is under the same conditions. The question arises as to why city restrictions are not enforced or why this lot is not cleaned up; being that it is so close to a busy traffic street. Is this something that is considered normal for this type of community? While driving through this street and down the colonia, something noticed was that in almost every home, there were people outside. Some of the people were enjoying of a meal in outside tables, others were walking and talking to neighbors, while yet others sat in iron rocking chairs and observed all who walked or drove by. .
The vehicles that were in their homes were older model vehicles and were all outside, for these homes did not have a garage. No attached or detached garage was noted. The vehicles were parked inside the lots, close to the homes' windows and doors and there was no fencing around these homes or their yards.