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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 MONTERREY 000433 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: SOCI PGOV ECON PHUM MX
SUBJECT: NUEVO LEON'S ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS SOFTEN THE IMPACT OF 
POVERTY 
 
MONTERREY 00000433  001.2 OF 003 
 
 
¶1.  Summary:  Nuevo Leon is the second wealthiest state in 
Mexico, yet it has pockets of poverty comparable to those in the 
less developed and traditionally poorer southern states. 
Nationwide, the poor face increases in the cost of living and a 
drop in remittances from the U.S., factors which impact these 
disadvantaged populations.  So far Nuevo Leon's current state 
government has managed to keep poverty levels down, despite 
increases in the number of poor migrants from other parts of the 
country, because of the state's comprehensive and evaluative 
social program.  Unfortunately, there is no guarantee the model 
will remain once the current state government changes next year. 
 End Summary. 
 
 
 
¶2.  Nuevo Leon has long been known as one of Mexico's most 
developed and economically well-off states, second only to the 
Federal District.  A strong industrial base and Monterrey's 
Group of 10 founding companies have contributed to the state's 
wealth and development.  In 2007, Nuevo Leon's economy grew 5%, 
above the national rate of 3.3%.  It also drew US$1.8 billion in 
foreign direct investment.  Yet, according to 2005 statistics, 
Nuevo Leon, with a population of nearly 4.2 million, has a 
little over one million people at the poverty level (24.6% of 
the total population).  Out of 51 municipalities, six are 
considered to have high levels of poverty.  In comparison, 
Chiapas has 119 municipalities, almost all of which are 
considered to have high or very high levels of poverty. 
According to the National Population Council, poverty levels are 
measured on the basis of nine factors which include education, 
sanitation, housing, utilities, occupation, and population 
density.  The municipalities in Nuevo Leon with high levels of 
poverty are primarily in the rural southern part of the state, 
and in the northern part, which has more migrants. 
 
 
 
The Council for Social Development 
 
 
 
¶3.  The state entity currently responsible for addressing 
poverty issues is the Council for Social Development.  This 
council was established by Governor Jose Natividad Gonzalez 
Paras at the start of his administration in 2004.  The Council 
for Social Development is based on a French model and is run by 
a civilian committee with an executive president.  The committee 
has 23 members, all of which are unpaid, chosen from different 
sectors, such as universities, civic associations and the 
business community.  Currently, the Council has a budget of 
about US$75 million, almost double its original budget in 2004. 
By law, the Council's budget cannot be decreased.  Personnel 
include about 300 staff and 500 temporary project workers. 
 
 
 
¶4.  The Council has six programs designed to meet the needs of 
various disadvantaged populations.  These include Brigades for a 
Dignified Life, mobile units that are dispatched to needy areas 
to provide basic social services; Community Development Centers; 
Everyone in Your Neighborhood, which uses alliances with 
different sectors to improve housing, work and educational 
opportunities; and Productive Projects, which consists of 
workshops and training to teach new skills and strengthen 
community ties.  The Council added two programs in 2006, the 
Assistance for the Elderly and Assistance for the Disabled. 
According to Irma Martinez Jasso, Director of Planning, 
Statistics and Evaluation, these last two programs have proved 
to be very successful and popular since they covered prior gaps 
in service coverage.  She also pointed out that the Council's 
programs are complementary to existing federal programs, and 
residents of Nuevo Leon can receive both state and federal 
assistance.  Some of the Council's programs use a mix of state 
and federal funds.  She notes, however, that the state programs 
are more focused and reach the neediest populations. 
 
 
 
¶5.  Since Nuevo Leon is wealthy and has generated industrial 
employment, it serves as a magnet for migration from other 
Mexican states. Various sources report that migrants who used to 
pass through on their way to the U.S. are now staying in Nuevo 
Leon.  Wenceslao Ceballos Bautista, the Council's Community 
Centers Coordinator, reported that entire communities have 
formed within the state composed entirely of migrants.  Despite 
this, he stated that poverty levels in the state have remained 
about the same. 
 
 
 
MONTERREY 00000433  002.2 OF 003 
 
 
 
¶6.  A unique aspect of Nuevo Leon's social assistance programs 
is that they are evaluated by investigative committees. 
According to Martinez, Nuevo Leon is the only state which uses a 
committee to evaluate its programs.  For example, in 2007 the 
Council published an evaluation of its Community Centers, which 
was the first in a series of investigations to measure the 
impact of all the Council's programs.  The latest study, not yet 
published, compares the Elderly Care program with the national 
social assistance program "Oportunidades."  Martinez believes 
that the Council for Social Development has succeeded not only 
in assisting many underprivileged and previously unassisted 
populations, but also in drawing attention to the issue of 
poverty in Nuevo Leon. 
 
 
 
Nuevo Leon's Disadvantaged Speak Out 
 
 
 
¶7.  In 2006, the Council for Social Development conducted a 
survey of residents in economically disadvantaged areas to seek 
their perspectives on their social and economic situations and 
better understand the conditions of poverty in the state.  Out 
of 59 sectors classified as poor, 817 residents within those 
sectors were surveyed; 439 in the Monterrey metropolitan area 
and 378 throughout the rest of Nuevo Leon. 
 
 
 
¶8.  Survey participants were questioned about work and income, 
well-being and social justice, poverty and vulnerability, 
discrimination, social institutions, and government assistance. 
In regards to food, 48% of respondents in the metropolitan area 
and 57% outside it said they spend 40-60% of their income on 
food.  Given the recent increases in food prices, the percentage 
is likely to be higher today.  Despite this, about 80% of all 
respondents expressed general satisfaction with food, housing, 
public services and life.  In fact, 54% of those in the 
metropolitan area and 60% outside of it stated that life in 
their community is good.  Furthermore, 57% of those in the 
metropolitan area and 49% in the rest of the state claimed they 
were satisfied with their economic conditions.  Yet, when asked 
if the majority of state citizens have decent housing, 49% of 
metropolitan respondents and 46% of non-metropolitan respondents 
said no.  When asked whether the majority of state citizens have 
enough food, 50% and 48% respectively responded negatively. 
This suggests that these residents may be better off than it 
would seem, but that their perception of those around them is 
that they are lacking basic needs. 
 
 
 
¶9.  Respondents' answers also indicated that there has been 
progress in poverty reduction.  When asked if they felt their 
economic conditions were better or worse than that of their 
parents, 71% of all respondents said they were better, following 
long term national trends.  Indeed, Nuevo Leon's poverty rate 
went down in 2005, from 26.4% in 2004 to 24.6%.  Respondents 
were also optimistic about the future, as 87% of them think the 
future economic situation of their children will also be better. 
 In regards to Governor Gonzalez's administration, 69% of those 
in the non-metropolitan area believe that the government is 
doing a better job in addressing poverty issues than before, as 
compared to only 46% of those in the Monterrey metropolitan 
area.  As for government assistance in general, about 80% of all 
respondents believe it helps people to get by, but not to get 
ahead.  Although participants were also asked about the social 
programs offered by the Council for Social Development, few were 
in a position to evaluate these as only 4% of those in the 
metropolitan area and 9% outside of it claimed to be a 
beneficiary of any of these programs. 
 
 
 
A Non-governmental Alternative 
 
 
 
¶10.  An alternative or supplement to state government assistance 
is Caritas, a charitable organization dedicated to serving the 
poor and disadvantaged.  It is part of Caritas International, a 
confederation of Catholic relief, development and social 
services organizations.  Caritas in Monterrey was established in 
1982 and is now considered to be the largest and most well-known 
charitable organization in Nuevo Leon.  It has five programs 
which include health, nutrition, housing, human development, and 
transportation.  Although Caritas has a food and clothing bank, 
 
MONTERREY 00000433  003.2 OF 003 
 
 
it is not predominantly a charity that provides handouts. 
Rather, its work is case-based and consists largely of social 
work.  Its funding comes from both public and private sources, 
including the state government, and has a budget of about US$5.6 
million.  Its personnel consist of 260 staff and 10,700 trained 
volunteers.  Caritas works closely with the Council for Social 
Development, as well as with 50 other organizations. 
 
 
 
11  According to Dr. Sanjuanita Torres, Deputy Director of 
Health Assistance, Caritas handles thousands of cases, 90% of 
which involve health issues.  She noted that about 700,000 
people per year receive some kind of assistance from Caritas. 
In addition to tending to persons who appear at their 100 
parishes and 47 clinics throughout the Monterrey metropolitan 
area, Caritas also has five mobile units that go out every day 
to disadvantaged rural and urban areas.  Dr. Torres pointed out 
that the assistance most commonly requested is food, work and 
medicine.  She reported that its food bank has felt the impact 
of the rise in food prices, noting that corn and vegetable oil 
now costs three times more.  Although she could not say how much 
of an impact these price increases have had on the needy, she 
believes it is significant.  She also noted that they are 
currently conducting a study to evaluate the benefits of its 
food program.  The last study showed a 35% improvement in the 
lives of its recipients. 
 
 
 
¶12.  Dr. Torres gave high marks to Governor Gonzalez's 
administration stating he has given Caritas very good support. 
In addition to assistance with funding, the state government has 
provided training courses on how to improve services.  She noted 
that the private sector has also been generous, naming the 
Texas-chain supermarket HEB as one of Caritas biggest sponsors. 
 
 
 
¶13.  Comment:  It does not appear that cost of living increases 
have had a significant impact on Nuevo Leon's disadvantaged 
populations yet, but it is too soon to tell.  Both federal and 
state government assistance, as well as subsidies, appears to be 
softening the blow.  Nuevo Leon's broad range of social 
development programs is also countering some of the negative 
effects of increased costs and the general economic slow-down. 
Yet, the question remains whether the Council for Social 
Development and its programs will continue to exist once the 
administration of Governor Gonzalez ends.  Even if it does, the 
civilian committee members and many key managers are not likely 
to stay on.  Most of these have taken a long leave of absence 
from their permanent jobs as university professors, business 
consultants, managers, etc. to serve on the civilian committee, 
and they are likely to return to their waiting posts.  Though 
Governor Gonzalez may see the Council for Social Development as 
one of his many legacies, it is likely to be superseded by the 
next governor's desire to leave a legacy of his own.  End 
Comment. 
WILLIAMSON