Public housing in Puerto Rico

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Public housing in Puerto Rico is a subsidized system of housing units, mostly consisting of housing projects (Residenciales in Spanish), which are provided for low-income and impoverished families in Puerto Rico, a territory of the United States. The system is mainly financed with federally funded programs from the US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and the US Department of Agriculture (USDA).

Contents

[edit] History

Puerto Rico's Department of Housing, created in the 1970's, succeeded the Urban Renewal and Housing Corporation, or Corporación de Renovación Urbana y Vivienda (CRUV, its Spanish acronym), which was created in the late 1950's to succeed the Puerto Rico Housing Authority, created by Gov. Luis Muñoz Marín and headed by Gen. César Cordero Dávila, to consolidate several state and municipal housing agencies. Puerto Rico Housing and CRUV were responsible for the design and construction of many of the older "residenciales" in Puerto Rico. Famed architect Henry Klumb provided early support for those efforts and one of his protegés, George McClintock was the first Architect-in-Chief of Puerto Rico Housing in the early-to-mid 1950's. Among Klumb's designs are the 1945 design work for the Cataño, San Lorenzo, Lares and Aguadilla Puerto Rico Housing projects, Naranjito Public Housing Project in 1957, Comerío Public Housing Project in 1958, and Residencial Las Virtudes, designed and built between 1969 ad 1976. Klumb had previously done work for several municipal housing agencies, including Mayagüez' and Ponce's.

José Enrique Arrarás was the first Secretary of Housing in 1973, appointed by Gov. Rafael Hernández Colón.

[edit] Organization

Operating funds are provided by HUD for tenant rent subsidizing and for the construction, acquisition, maintenance, and operations of public housing projects, which are in turn administered by several entities throughout the island called Public Housing Agencies (PHAs). The main Public Housing Agency in Puerto Rico is the Public Housing Administration (Administración de Vivienda Pública, or AVP, in Spanish) under the Puerto Rico Department of Housing (Departamento de Vivienda in Spanish). Other Public Housing Agencies include certain municipalities which are authorized by HUD and commonwealth law to operate housing projects independent of the main state PHA. All PHAs can contract a Management Agent (usually a for-profit enterprise) to manage day-to-day operations, including processing tenant complaints, housing unit repairs, and overall project maintenance.

HUD also allows private non-profit organizations and for-profit enterprises to manage housing projects as PHAs, offering program funding and tax incentives in order to compensate for operating costs. However, these types of public housing projects are not as common in Puerto Rico as those which are managed by the state.

The PHA is responsible for providing adequate living arrangements for program tenants, in compliance with Housing Quality Standards (HQS) set by HUD. Additionally, the PHA must manage all federal funds received in an efficient and reasonable way, in compliance with HUD prescribed guidelines and with Chapter 24 of the US Code of Federal Regulations (CFR). Management Agents are also required to comply with these standards.

The USDA provides federal loan programs (including direct loans or loan guarantees) to PHAs for the construction of new public housing projects or acquisition of existing living complexes to convert into public projects.

[edit] Eligible tenants

The tenant rent subsidizing system allows low-income and impoverished individuals and families to reside in a subsidized housing unit just as long as their income status complies with federal regulations. Families wanting to participate must first be included in a Waiting List, which includes all citizens applying for subsidized housing by order of application date. Families must therefore “wait until their turn” for eligibility as the PHA selects families by that order, a process which in Puerto Rico may take several years. Applicants must provide evidence of low-income status (HUD recommends a copy of a filed income tax return) and are Givennnnn a housing unit for which HUD will subsidize its rent.

[edit] Criticism

The public housing system in Puerto Rico has received much criticism both within and outside the island. Critics state that a relatively larger portion of the island’s population participates in this housing system than in the United States, because the program fosters indolence instead of progress. They argue that participants do not see the need of obtaining housing on their own, seeing as it would require obtaining additional wealth through extra work, a fact which is less appealing when considering that this additional wealth would make them ineligible for other federal assistance programs, such as the Temporary Aid for Needy Families and the Nutritional Assistance Program (PAN in Spanish). This situation has led some to state that these programs are actually incentives for low-income families in Puerto Rico to remain in their social status, while some have even gone as far as naming Puerto Rico the “Welfare Island”.[1]

Supporters of the system argue that Puerto Rico’s annual income per person is $12,000 (2004),[1] a figure which is much lower than in the United States and which explains why a relatively larger portion of the island population participates in the system. Furthermore, land values have increased dramatically within the last two decades while unemployment and inflation rates are high, making it difficult for impoverished families to obtain housing on their own.

[edit] List of public housing projects in Puerto Rico

The following is a list of public housing projects located in Puerto Rico, and includes those that are managed by the state, by municipalities, and by private non-profit and for-profit entities:

[edit] Adjuntas

  • Valle Verde Housing

[edit] Aguadilla

  • Aponte
  • Augustin Stahl
  • Cuesta Vieja
  • Ducos
  • Las Munecas
  • Montana
  • Munkeai Apartments I
  • Muneaki Apartments II
  • Puerta del Sol
  • Villa Nueva

[edit] Bayamon and Guaynabo Areas

  • Alhambra

suck it

  • Jardines de Caparra
  • Jardines de Guaynabo
  • José C. Barbosa
  • La Alegría Norte Apartments
  • Flambo
  • La Rosaleda
  • Las Gardenias
  • Los Álamos
  • Los Dominicos
  • Los Laureles
  • Magnolia Gardens
  • Rafael Martínez Nadal
  • Rafael "Falín" Torrech
  • Reparto Valencia
  • Sierra Linda
  • Villas de Mabó
  • Virgilio Dávila
  • Virgilia Dávila
  • Zenón Díaz Valcárcel
  • Bayamón Housing
  • Country
  • Miraflores

[edit] Carolina

  • Torres De Sabana
  • Sabana Abajo
  • Flambo

[edit] Caguas

  • Gautier Benitez
  • Brisas De San Alfonso
  • Turabo Heights
  • Juan Jimenez Garcia
  • Jose Castellon
  • Brisas del Turabo
  • Jardines de Condado Moderno
  • Bonneville Heights
  • San Carlos
  • 2 Villa del Rey
  • Caguas Tower
  • Santa Juana Apartments

[edit] Cataño

  • Juana Matos
  • El Coquí

[edit] Hormigueros/ZETA ENTERPRISES

  • Gabriel Soler Catalá

[edit] Lares

  • Casa Castañer

[edit] Las Marias

  • Las Guajanas Elderly Center

[edit] Mayaguez/ZETA ENTERPRISES

  • Columbus Landing - RQ004001
  • Franklin D. Roosevelt - RQ004003
  • Sabalos Gardens - RQ004004
  • Cuesta Las Piedras - RQ004006
  • Manuel Hernandez Rosa (Candelaria) - RQ004009
  • El Carmen - RQ004010
  • Rafael Hernandez (Kennedy) -RQ004011
  • Mar y Sol - RQ005005
  • Ext. Sabalos Gardens - RQ005012
  • Ramirez de Arellano - RQ005053
  • Monte Isleño - RQ005054
  • Jardines de Concordia - RQ005111
  • Mayagüez Gardens - RQ005174
  • Flamboyan Gardens - RQ05241
  • Parque Sultana - RQ005245
  • Mayagüez Housing I - RQ005250
  • La Arboleda - RQ005254
  • Yagüez - RQ004008

[edit] Moca

  • Moca Housing

[edit] Morovis

  • Mariví Apartments

[edit] Ponce

  • Égida del Policía (Police Officers Elderly Center)
  • Las Américas Housing
  • Llana-Laura Towers
  • Roberto Lopez Nussa
  • Aristidez Chavier
  • El Monte
  • Valle Alto

[edit] San German/ZETA ENTERPRISES

  • EL RECREO - RQ003091
  • MANUEL FIDEL ROSSY - RQ005145

[edit] San Juan Area

  • Alturas de Cupey
  • Los Cedros
  • Las Gladiolas
  • Puerta De Tierra
  • Bahía
  • Juan Cesar Cordero Dávila
  • Covadonga
  • Égida de Enfermeras (Nurses Elderly Center)
  • Égida del Policía (Police Officers Elderly Center)
  • El Trébol
  • El Prado
  • Ernesto Ramos Antonini
  • Falansterio
  • Fray Bartolomé de Las Casas
  • Jardines de Berwind
  • Jardines de Campo Rico
  • Jardines de Cupey
  • Jardines de Country Club
  • Jardines de Guayama
  • Jardines de Monte Hatillo
  • Jardines Del Paraiso
  • Jardines de la Nueva Puerta de San Juan
  • Jardines de Sellés
  • La Orquídea
  • La Perla Del Caribe
  • La Rosa
  • Las Cumbres
  • Las Dalias
  • Las Margaritas
  • Leopoldo Figueroa
  • Lopez Sicardo
  • Los Peña
  • Luis Lloréns Torres (Largest Public Housing Project in America)[verification needed]
  • Manuel A. Pérez
  • Monte Park
  • Parque de San Agustín
  • Quintana
  • San Agustin
  • San Antonio
  • San Antonio
  • San Fernando
  • San Jose
  • San Martín
  • Valles de Berwind
  • Villa Kennedy
  • Villa Olímpica
  • Vista Hermosa
  • Litheda Heights
  • nemecio Canales
  • brisas de cupey
  • los lirios
  • los laureles
  • el mirador
  • jardines de cupey
  • antigua via
  • villa espana
  • las amapolas
  • los manantiales
  • villa esperanza
  • villa andalucia

[edit] San Sebastián

  • Villa Soigal Apartments

[edit] Toa Baja

  • El Toa

[edit] Villalba

  • Efraín Suárez
  • Jardines Del Paraiso
This list is incomplete; you can help by expanding it.

[edit] Public Housing Authorities

Public Housing Authorities are government agencies designated by the US Department of Housing and Urban Development to administer federally subsidized housing units.

Source: Public Housing Agency (HA) Profiles, US Department of Housing and Urban Development
PHA Code
(RQ Number)  		 Name   Government
type  		 Type of
public housing
  		 Total rentable units  
RQ005 A2 Puerto Rico Public Housing Authority State Low-Rent 53,610
RQ006 San Juan Municipality of San Juan Local Section 8 5,127
RQ007 Caguas Municipality of Caguas Local Section 8 1,291
RQ008 Ponce Municipality of Ponce Local Section 8 1,608
RQ009 Mayagüez Municipality of Mayagüez Local Section 8 842
RQ010 Moca Municipality of Moca Local Section 8 67
RQ011 Bayamón Municipality of Bayamón Local Section 8 2,207
RQ012 Aguadilla Municipality of Aguadilla Local Section 8 265
RQ013 Trujillo Alto Municipality of Trujillo Alto Local Section 8 679
RQ014 Carolina Municipality of Carolina Local Section 8 741
RQ015 Dorado Municipality of Dorado Local Section 8 277
RQ016 Guaynabo Municipality of Guaynabo Local Section 8 383
RQ017 Guayama Municipality of Guayama Local Section 8 264
RQ018 Cayey Municipality of Cayey Local Section 8 239
RQ019 Peñuelas Municipality of Peñuelas Local Section 8 240
RQ020 Arecibo Municipality of Arecibo Local Section 8 928
RQ021 Guayanilla Municipality of Guayanilla Local Section 8 146
RQ022 Toa Baja Municipality of Toa Baja Local Section 8 244
RQ023 Corozal Municipality of Corozal Local Section 8 139
RQ024 Morovis Municipality of Morovis Local Section 8 53
RQ025 Humacao Municipality of Humacao Local Section 8 276
RQ026 San Sebastian Municipality of San Sebastian Local Section 8 139
RQ027 Loíza Municipality of Loíza Local Section 8 5
RQ028 Manatí Municipality of Manatí Local Section 8 182
RQ029 Maricao Municipality of Maricao Local Section 8 35
RQ030 San Germán Municipality of San Germán Local Section 8 88
RQ031 Quebradillas Municipality of Quebradillas Local Section 8 141
RQ032 Vega Baja Municipality of Vega Baja Local Section 8 277
RQ033 Utuado Municipality of Utuado Local Section 8 197
RQ034 Comerío Municipality of Comerio Local Section 8 118
RQ035 Hormigueros Municipality of Hormigueros Local Section 8 103
RQ036 Fajardo Municipality of Fajardo Local Section 8 78
RQ037 San Lorenzo Municipality of San Lorenzo Local Section 8 107
RQ038 Juana Díaz Municipality of Juana Díaz Local Section 8 115
RQ039 Hatillo Municipality of Hatillo Local Section 8 73
RQ040 Camuy Municipality of Camuy Local Section 8 156
RQ041 Gurabo Municipality of Gurabo Local Section 8 143
RQ042 Coamo Municipality of Coamo Local Section 8 60
RQ043 Añasco Municipality of Añasco Local Section 8 110
RQ044 Guanica Municipality of Guanica Local Section 8 54
RQ045 Yabucoa Municipality of Yabucoa Local Section 8 117
RQ046 Las Marías Municipality of Las Marías Local Section 8 40
RQ047 Naguabo Municipality of Naguabo Local Section 8 121
RQ048 Sabana Grande Municipality of Sabana Grande Local Section 8 156
RQ049 Villalba Municipality of Villalba Local Section 8 84
RQ050 Río Grande Municipality of Río Grande Local Section 8 78
RQ052 Ciales Municipality of Ciales Local Section 8 74
RQ053 Toa Alta Municipality of Toa Alta Local Section 8 181
RQ054 Barceloneta Municipality of Barceloneta Local Section 8 125
RQ055 Adjuntas Municipality of Adjuntas Local Section 8 52
RQ056 Vega Alta Municipality of Vega Alta Local Section 8 76
RQ057 Patillas Municipality of Patillas Local Section 8 83
RQ058 Santa Isabel Municipality of Santa Isabel Local Section 8 70
RQ059 Aibonito Municipality of Aibonito Local Section 8 58
RQ060 Barranquitas Municipality of Barranquitas Local Section 8 180
RQ061 Cabo Rojo Municipality of Cabo Rojo Local Section 8 107
RQ062 Cidra Municipality of Cidra Local Section 8 190
RQ063 Las Piedras Municipality of Las Piedras Local Section 8 125
RQ064 Naranjito Municipality of Naranjito Local Section 8 123
RQ065 Lares Municipality of Lares Local Section 8 73
RQ066 Isabela Municipality of Isabela Local Section 8 86
RQ067 Rincón Municipality of Rincón Local Section 8 34
RQ068 Arroyo Municipality of Arroyo Local Section 8 217
RQ069 Salinas Municipality of Salinas Local Section 8 97
RQ070 Ceiba Municipality of Ceiba Local Section 8 41
RQ071 Lajas Municipality of Lajas Local Section 8 69
RQ072 FloridaF Municipality of Florida Local Section 8 45
RQ073 Aguada Municipality of Aguada Local Section 8 121
RQ074 Vieques Municipality of Vieques Local Section 8 116
RQ075 Canóvanas Municipality of Canóvanas Local Section 8 34
RQ076 Jayuya Municipality of Jayuya Local Section 8 4
RQ077 Juncos Municipality of Juncos Local Section 8 55
RQ080 Orocovis Municipality of Orocovis Local Section 8 47
RQ081 Luquillo Municipality of Luquillo Local Section 8 69
RQ082 Aguas Buenas Municipality of Aguas Buenas Local Section 8 161
RQ083 Yauco Municipality of Yauco Local Section 8 95
RQ901 A1 Puerto Rico Department of Housing State Section 8 8,510
RQ911 A3 Puerto Rico Housing Finance Company State Section 8 2,577

[edit] See also

[edit] Notes

  1. ^ a b "Trouble on Welfare Island", The Economist, May 25, 2005, retrieved July 13, 2006

[edit] References

[edit] External links