Paper Houses Across the Border is a 501(c)(3) corporation and our mission is to improve the quality of life for American families and for the impoverished families living in the colonias of Mexico by working cooperatively with the families and institutions in the colonias.

We are a group of unpaid volunteers in the United States and in the colonias of Mexico, working to bring the experience of mission to the people of the United States as we work with the people of the colonias to secure food, shelter, water, education and medical care - especially for the children of the colonias. - Use the slide bar for more information.

The way we deliver help constantly improves and evolves. We strive to help the people reach a position where they do longer need charity.

The purpose of Paper Houses Across the Border is to provide people the startling experience of mission and selfless charity in the colonias of Mexico. We exist to reduce the number of hungry children throughout the world by helping to instill compassion in a generation that hears and responds to the cries of those in need.

Our purpose is also to work with the people of the colonias to improve the lives of the working poor by helping them to resolve medical issues, nutrition issues - especially for children, and to improve education and life in the colonias.

We never share, sell, or rent donor information without your authorization.

Security and happiness for people in the United States as we work with our friends to build a better Mexico with an abundance of job opportunities, healthy children, and a population that is educated and determined to live and thrive in a Mexican democracy.

We operate with the understanding that self-sufficiency and education are the keys to resolving many problems. Pride in self and pride in self-accomplishment are important. We do not exist to support poor people. We exist to learn from the people of the colonias, help them through situations they cannot handle alone, and we exist to help the poor to escape poverty. Most of these people are already doing their part. They need education, small loans, encouragement, and a little help.

Our Principles

Life and individual religious beliefs are sacred and respected.

1. Value and respect customs and traditions.

2. Our role is to provide support, friendship, material, and guidance to help the people of the colonias resolve their problems.

Our role in the lives of U.S. families is to facilitate a relationship with the people of the colonias that improves their spiritual life and promotes happiness.

3. Charity is important, but limited. The people we help must work hard to solve their problems

4. We continually seek to improve the way we operate.

5. Our focus is the colonia (neighborhood) and we work with the residents at the basic neighborhood leave.

6. The children of the colonias are our most valuable asset.

7. We exist to work in partnership with the people of the colonias by servicing their needs and within their guidelines.

8. People should be treated fairly and equitably in recognition of basic human dignity and as a means of enriching life.

9. Face to face encounters, through mission experiences, are the best way to accomplish our purpose and mission.

Paper Houses is a constantly evolving charity. Never-ending improvement in the way we operate is a continual learning process and requires repeated evaluation of our methods, the people we serve, and the institutions we support. Any charity can simply pass money to an orphanage or a food kitchen. We constantly evaluate programs and solicit advice and opinions from the community on a recurring basis.

Primarily, we are searchers. We search at the community level for ways we can fulfill our mission, achieve goals, and create projects that help the people to help themselves.

We work with the people at the bottom. We work with individuals, families, churches, educators, neighborhood leaders, business people and government officials.